Honestly, I’ve been there too. I keep telling myself, “It’s just a shelf, how hard can it be?” Next thing I know, I’m patching up drywall and rethinking my life choices. I totally get what you mean about those little imperfections in old houses. You said:
Sometimes you just have to accept a little imperfection for the sake of sturdiness.
That really hits home. I used to obsess over getting everything perfectly level and flush, but after a few close calls (and one spectacular crash), I started caring more about whether the thing would actually stay up. Have you ever tried those toggle bolts? They’re not the prettiest solution, but they’ve saved me more than once when studs just weren’t where they were supposed to be.
I guess it comes down to picking your battles. Is it better to have a slightly crooked shelf that holds your stuff, or a perfect one that’s always on the verge of giving out? For me, function wins every time... even if my spirit level disagrees.
I hear you on the toggle bolts—those things have bailed me out more times than I care to admit, especially in these older places where the studs seem to play hide and seek. I’ve started mapping out stud locations with a cheap magnetic finder before I even think about drilling, but sometimes you just have to work with what you’ve got. Ever tried using a French cleat system for heavier shelves? It’s a bit more work upfront, but I’ve found it spreads the load way better than just relying on a couple of anchors. Curious if anyone’s had luck with that, or if it’s overkill for most DIY stuff...
French cleats are one of those things I keep meaning to try, but I always end up defaulting to what I know—toggle bolts, molly bolts, whatever gets the job done in these unpredictable walls. I get the appeal though, especially for spreading out the weight. My only hesitation is whether it’s worth the extra effort if you’re just putting up a couple shelves for books or plants. Have you ever run into issues with the cleat pulling out of old plaster, or does it hold up pretty well?
I’ve had some weird surprises with lath and plaster—sometimes the wall just crumbles around the anchor, no matter how careful I am. Does the cleat system help with that, or is it still a gamble? I’m always looking for something that’ll actually last, not just look good for a year or two.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from—sometimes the “tried and true” anchors just feel safer, especially with old plaster. But I’ve actually had more luck with cleats in crumbly walls than with toggles, weirdly enough. The cleat spreads the load out over a bigger area, so there’s less stress on any one spot. That said, if the plaster’s already loose or flaking, nothing’s really going to be perfect. Have you ever tried using a backer board behind the cleat? It can help stabilize things without a ton of extra work.
I’ve run into the same issue with old plaster—sometimes you think an anchor will hold, then the wall just crumbles anyway. I’ve used a plywood backer behind a cleat for heavy shelves, and it made a big difference. Not pretty, but it works when you’re out of options.
