Shelves in the interior - purpose and types

Order in the house, convenience, beauty - do you dream of getting all this at once? Then you need to carefully consider what and where you will store. Bulky cabinets are not always appropriate and convenient. But there is a way out! Wall shelves are a practical and versatile classic. Moreover, now they delight with a variety of shapes, configurations and materials.

Advantages of wall shelves

Wall shelves are still the most popular and most controversial interior element. Some people consider them a useless place for dust to accumulate, while others consider them a stylish accessory and a bright accent.

However, no one is in a hurry to abandon them. After all, this is an ideal place to store cute little things, kitchen utensils, dishes, bottles, books, documents, comics, souvenirs and any collections.

Wall shelves have several clear advantages:

— Open structures perfectly unload space. This is especially valuable in studios and small rooms; — Shelves come in different widths and depths. They can be designed individually; — Depending on the location, wall shelves visually change the space; — Everything that is stored on the shelves is always visible and accessible; — Stylish modern shelves can be a full-fledged independent art object.

Types of wall shelves

Wall shelves are more varied than they might seem at first glance. These are no longer just boards nailed to the wall. Now they are much sleeker, more interesting and convenient.

Classic wall shelves

It’s not for nothing that classics are considered timeless. This is the simplest design: a straight, level shelf is simply attached to the wall.

But even this simplicity leaves room for imagination. Experiment with depth and placement. Alternate between narrow and wide shelves. Place them in a checkerboard pattern or in creative asymmetry.

The main thing is to think about strong fasteners. Especially for loaded shelves for books or dishes.

Corner wall shelves

Compact and functional, they allow you to unload space as efficiently as possible. For example, in small kitchens, bathrooms or storage rooms, where every centimeter counts.

Corner shelves are attached to two walls. This is not necessarily the inner corner of the room.

An interesting option is shelves on the outer corner of a plasterboard structure. Place small flowerpots or stylish lamps on them to refresh the interior and zone the room.

Curly wall shelves

Curly shelves are always individual and original design solutions. The most important thing for them is to select fasteners and calculate support points.

Square, rectangular, triangular and more complex geometric blocks are ideal complements to modern constructivist styles. Round, oval and openwork look interesting in modern style. Zigzags and broken lines are high-tech.

Shelves in the shape of trees, fir trees and houses are suitable for a nursery. And rough structures made of boxes, pallets or untreated boards are for a spacious loft living room.

Hanging wall shelves

The design feature is directly indicated by its name. They are installed against the wall, but are not attached to it, but to a beam or ceiling. For this, all kinds of ropes and cables are used.

The main disadvantage of hanging shelves is instability. Do not store items that are too heavy or fragile. But this is a fashionable and bright design element.

Shelves-niches

Photos, souvenirs, and decorative lamps look stylish in small cozy niches. They are rarely used as a storage system, but the stylish design will complement the interior.

Shelf decor examples

In order for the shelf to be not only functional, but also to become a stylish element of decor, you should think about its design in advance so that it does not disrupt the overall style of your home. Thoughtlessly placing items on shelves can lead to a feeling of chaos and untidiness in your home.

An original wooden shelf made in the shape of a tree branch

In order not to make a mistake with the choice of different shades when painting a shelf, you need to follow the following rules:

• do not use more than three different colors;
• The color of the shelf should be combined with other colors of objects and walls of the surrounding interior; it can be contrasting with the color of the wall on which the product is attached, but at the same time match the shades of the rest of the furniture.

If you like a calm interior without flashy colors, then you may be annoyed by the colorful covers of the books on the shelves. Wrap books in paper of an attractive color and you will make your library pleasing to the eye.

Whatever the purpose of the shelves in your home, do not forget to periodically sort through the things stored on them. Perhaps it’s time to part with something, as unnecessary. You should not thoughtlessly pile everything on them, turning your home into a warehouse for long-outdated things.

Materials

For the manufacture of shelves, all the same materials are used as for furniture sets.

Tree

Almost any type of wood is used to make shelves. As well as plywood, chipboard, MDF and other derivatives.

The main advantages are accessibility, versatility and practicality. Wood will fit into all classic and most modern interiors.

Metal

Although metal is rarely used in its pure form in residential buildings and apartments, it has a place in high-tech and similar styles.

Stainless steel is a convenient and hygienic solution for bathrooms and technical rooms.

Glass

Tempered glass is used to make the shelves. It is stronger and safer. Even if it breaks, it will shatter into harmless, non-sharp fragments that can simply be swept away.

Plastic

Modern high-strength plastic easily withstands loads. It is hygienic and easy to clean, making it suitable for the bathroom.

And it can also be given the most complex and unusual shapes. Such shelves in a stylish glossy color with chrome fasteners will fit into futuristic interiors.

Mirror

Mirror shelves require careful handling and care. But they allow you to experiment with space and lighting.

A reflective mirror with a pendant can greatly expand a room. And decorative candles with reflection look even more romantic.

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Types of shelves

There are many options for ready-made shelves in stores and other businesses selling furniture products. How many varieties of shelves do they have? They may differ from each other in application (there are special shelves for the bathroom, for the kitchen, for the living room and for the bedroom). Shelves can be created from different materials and also from a combination of certain materials. A variety of artistic forging and simple wood textures are also applicable; shelves can be easily created from various types of plastics and even from glass and more expensive materials. Let’s conditionally divide all the shelves into volumetric ones, which the article will not touch upon, and more modest options – these are corner shelves. Such shelves are ideal options for installing them in small spaces.

They help solve some problems with small volumes and areas of premises. Corner shelf options are perfect for a small apartment. They take up little space, and plus you can put the most necessary things on them or simply make them decorative structures that perform a specific role - creating a cozy and beautiful corner. Saving space in the home is achieved by mounting them in the corner of the room. Shelves easily smooth out the corners of the room. It is worth noting, and most importantly, that you can easily create such shelves yourself, since the work does not take much time. Let's take a closer look at how you can make a shelf for your own home and only with your own hands. We read how to make a corner shelf with your own hands and try yourself as a master.

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Types of fastenings for shelves

Nobody has been nailing shelves directly to the wall with regular nails for a long time now. There are a lot of more modern and neat fasteners.

Corners

This is the simplest and most common option for classic straight shelves. They are screwed on one side to the wall, and on the other to the shelf itself.

It is not necessary to take a regular reinforcing profile. There are a lot of elegant decorative corners of various shapes and configurations, with forged elements and decor.

Hidden fasteners

The main disadvantage of corners is their visibility. This is not suitable for all styles.

An alternative is rigid fixation with hidden fasteners:

— Hidden flat hinges are screwed to the shelf “from the inside out” and hung on self-tapping screws in the wall. — The structure is immediately strung on metal pins. But this option is not suitable for glass or steel, and for shelves that are too thin. — A wooden block is mounted on the wall, which becomes the base. Its thickness must match the thickness of the shelf.

Decorative clip brackets

Clamp brackets are most often used for glass shelves. On one side it is screwed into the wall, on the other, a glass plate is inserted inside a bifurcated cylinder.

Modern DIY bookshelf

(Which costs $2000 in the store)

Again, this shelf is in the Art Nouveau style . Student from North Carolina, not having much money to buy, decided to make a shelf that would hold some of his things like a pedestal. He also wanted the shelf to look modern. After a long search, he found a prototype shelf that cost $2,000 in the store. So this student made himself a similar shelf at a cost of $20 .

Of course, it didn’t work out the first time, because... due to the many shelves, I forgot to take into account the thickness of one of the boards. But in the end, after filling the holes from the screws with putty and painting, we got a modern and presentable shelf.

All shelf boards are located at an angle of 90 degrees. to each other. The shelf itself stands at an angle of 45 degrees in relation to the floor.

Photo source: instructables.com. Author: thatticus

Wall shelves in the interior

Wall shelves are both decor and furniture at the same time. This means they need to be carefully selected to match the style of the interior.

Classic style

In a classic style, simple straight shelves made of valuable types of wood are appropriate. They are massive, smooth and symmetrically installed, with elegant gilded or forged brackets. Carved decoration is allowed.

Provence

Light and elegant shelves made of light wood will fit perfectly into Provence. Paint them by hand, decorate them with decoupage, and cover them with lace napkins.

Aged or bleached wood looks good. Painted plywood or chipboard will also work. Unlike the classics, Provence does not require monumentality.

High tech

This is where all the complex futuristic designs made of steel, glass, mirrors, plastic and glossy acrylic come in handy.

Feel free to choose complex geometric shapes, angular shelves, and illuminated shelves.

Modern

The main feature is rounded curved lines. Modernism gravitates towards naturalness and natural asymmetry. Chaotically located wavy wooden shelves look interesting.

Minimalism

Minimalism is a broad concept, so the materials may be different, depending on the chosen direction.

But they are all united by simplicity and conciseness of forms, the absence of excessive decor, smooth smooth surfaces, and invisible fasteners.

Loft

The loft is eclectic. Pay attention to the rough and unfinished massive shelves on the same visible fasteners. Or on suspended structures on a thick rope with knots.

In loft there is no need to sand and polish surfaces to perfection. Everything that is hidden in other styles becomes a demonstrative “trick” in the loft.

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Materials for making shelves

A wide variety of materials are used to make modern shelves, but the most practical products are made from wood, metal, plastic, chipboard and MDF.

Built-in chipboard shelves allow you to use dead zones between pieces of furniture or in wall niches

Made of wood

Wood is a common material for making any furniture. Depending on the interior, it can be aged or, conversely, polished to a shine and varnished. The only place where it is not recommended to use wooden products is the bathroom. Due to high humidity, a shelf made of wood can quickly lose its original appearance.

Three planed boards and a little thick rope are all you need to make such a shelf

Hanging shelves on a loggia can be made from ordinary wooden boards, painted and laid on supports. They are very convenient for storing seasonal items folded in boxes.

Made of metal

A metal shelf in a teenage boy’s room can become a completely harmonious interior detail if the entire bedroom is made in the high-tech style beloved by young people. But hanging such a model above the bed is quite risky; it is better if it is a convenient floor rack.

You can safely hang light shelves made of black wire on the wall of the room

From glass

Glass shelves made of durable tempered glass are placed in living rooms decorated in a modern style. To ensure that the product remains clean and shiny for as long as possible, it can be treated with a special glass spray.

Glass shelves look airy and do not weigh down the interior of the room

Despite the beauty and sophistication of glass models, they cannot be used in a children's room.

And others

As a shelf for a pantry, you can use convenient plywood or plank drawers hung on the wall.

Shelves made of wooden boxes painted in different colors look good

Wall shelf decor

You don't have to limit yourself to complex designs. You can always decorate any shelf in an unusual way. Painting, decoupage, stencils, photo wallpaper, ribbons, decorative tape - all this is at your disposal. Just be sure to take care of a neutral background to avoid excessive clutter.

LED strip lighting is a trend for modern technological interiors. Install it around the perimeter or hide it behind small ledges under the shelf. So the structure will seem to float in the air.

The shelves can be connected to each other with a decorative cord with knots or woven small items. This creates the effect of lightweight hanging shelves.

For storage, you can safely use trunks, chests, caskets, interesting boxes and jars. All this will become an individual decoration for the shelf.

Where to install wall shelves?

Always choose the location of the shelves to suit your interior and preferences. After all, the question of convenience is exclusively individual. But we want to offer you several universal options!

Wall shelves in the hallway and corridor

In small and narrow rooms, too wide and bulky shelves will be inconvenient. But small and shallow ones are useful for storing bags, wallets, and small items at hand.

Low shelves near the floor are suitable for shoes. The upper ones under the ceiling serve as a mezzanine for storing various equipment.

Wall shelves in the living room

It’s easiest in the living room, because you have access to all the different shapes and configurations. Place a small shelf near the work area for accessories or documents. Ideally, at arm's length.

Shelves with books would be appropriate near the soft corner. And if you calculate a convenient location relative to the window, you can arrange a small home garden.

Wall shelves in the kitchen

Functionality is important here. Choose shelves that are strong enough and stable; inclined or hanging structures are not suitable for dishes and utensils.

On kitchen shelves it is better to store those items that you constantly use. This way they won’t get excessively dusty and dirty, which means it’s easier to maintain order. But the decorative collection of services will have to be washed constantly.

Wall shelves in the bathroom

The most convenient option for small bathrooms is multi-tiered corner shelves. They allow you to profitably use unused space.

A shelf by the washbasin or in front of the mirror is useful for storing all kinds of accessories that are inconvenient to constantly put away wet in the closet.

Wall shelves in a children's room

A child is constantly learning about the world, so it is important for him to see, touch and compare things. Shelves are ideal for this.

Choose safe designs without sharp corners. And also - the most reliable fasteners that will definitely withstand if the baby decides to climb up.

Wall shelves in the bedroom

Shelves by the bed or above the headboard can easily replace bedside tables or even a small chest of drawers. Place night lights and cute romantic little things on them that will delight you every day.

= What shelves can be made from:

Installing shelves yourself

The subtleties of installing shelves completely depend on the type of structure and type of fasteners. But there are some general recommendations:

- Be sure to make a sketch. Even for the simplest straight shelves; - Calculate the width and length; — Determine the height of the installation so that it is safe and no one is injured by simply passing by; — Install fasteners only after marking them on the wall; — Check every step with a level; — Before loading the shelf, be sure to check its reliability.

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Photos of interesting ideas for shelves in the interior of a room

Photos of wall shelves with interesting designs will help you decide on the choice of product for your bedroom.

A special selection of photos with ideas for shelves on the wall in the living room for those who want to make the interior of their room not only functional, but also beautiful.

The photos of finished products collected below will help you come up with and make comfortable shelves on your balcony with your own hands.

Photos of such ideas for shelves in the hallway will seem to many to be the idea of ​​a professional designer, but in fact, such products can be made even by amateurs, you just need to put in a little effort.

Shelves on the wall - photo

Need even more ideas? We have collected this selection of photographs especially for you. After all, you can never have too many options and design solutions! You will definitely be able to choose wall shelves that will fit perfectly into your interior!