How to beautifully decorate your interior with shelves
Let's consider a shelf to be a piece of furniture attached to a vertical surface. If the furniture rests on the floor, it is a shelving unit. If the shelves are closed with doors, it is a hanging cabinet.
Functional wall Source behance.net
Unusual design for decorating a children's room Source vannadecor.ru
A shelf in a modern interior can be of any shape: round, multifaceted, anthropomorphic. Therefore, it is difficult to classify them. For the home owner, the problem is not choosing a shape. The home craftsman has difficulty with how to make holes in concrete walls and find a reliable fastening. Let's try to describe the types of shelves, highlighting the most common ideas for placement and filling:
- Shelves on “one nail”.
- Angular.
- Direct.
- Shelves with inclined surfaces.
- Unusual objects on the walls that act as shelves.
Simple straight shelves for children's rooms Source xx.ru.net
Shelves made of plasterboard: corner and straight built-in with lighting Source remontcap.ru
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in interior redevelopment.
How to choose a fixation type?
This is not an easy task, since when choosing a method for attaching shelves, several factors must be taken into account. And they are the ones who will influence the final decision.
- The thickness of the wall itself on which the shelf is fixed. This is one of the main factors to consider when choosing a mounting option. The fact is that it is not always possible to use, for example, a hidden pin fastening. It is better to avoid it if the wall is made of soft materials such as plasterboard. The thickness of the partition should not be less than 10.5 cm if it is made of concrete, and less than 25 cm if it is made of brick. If the wall does not meet these parameters, then it is better to choose another fixation option. In relation to drywall, a shelf can be hung using a hidden fastener only if the wall thickness is at least 10 cm, and only light souvenirs and nothing heavy or giving a serious load will stand on the shelf.
Brackets for mounting shelves in the wall
- The thickness of the shelf itself and its weight also have a serious impact on the choice of fixation method. So, the shelf should not be too soft or damp. If you plan to place only light objects on it, then you can choose a shelf with a thickness of at least 3 cm, and if you plan to place heavy elements and possibly an increased load, then the shelf should have a thickness of at least 4.5 cm and no more than 6 cm.
Relationship between shelf depth and load on each mensolo holder
Important! You can choose the right mount only if you know the answers to the questions: “What will stand on the shelf?” and “Which wall will the product be fixed on?”, only then can you make the right choice.
It is also important to estimate the number of fasteners in advance. So, if the shelf is shorter than 1-1.5 m, then a couple of fasteners are enough. If the length is greater than the specified parameters, then it is better to increase the number of fasteners in order to evenly distribute the load on the product and the wall. Moreover, again, the number of fasteners can vary greatly depending on the thickness of the shelf itself and its quality.
The free space above the sofa is organically filled with shelves to match the walls
Shelves “on one nail”
If there is a hole in a suitable place, you can safely hang a simple shelf on a cord. You just need to work out a reliable scheme for attaching rope, chains or wire. And do not place breakable objects on a wobbly board.
Hanging shelves on one nail Source quietlunch.com
Not only drawers and planks on cords look beautiful on one nail. A basket, a tray of suitable sizes, a window from the window of a wooden house, a cut of a log suspended on chains... Any restless thing turns into an art object. And a place appears where you can place a memorable toy or a gift from a familiar needlewoman.
What types of shelves are there?
Popular design varieties.
Open
They allow you to significantly relieve the tension, which is very important in a small room. Another undeniable advantage of wall-mounted open models is that they clearly demonstrate their contents and provide easy access to objects.
Closed
It is considered a fairly profitable solution. Such shelves do not create clutter in the room and thus allow you to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the room. Closed structures can have transparent and corrugated glass facades or be equipped with sliding, swing or lifting doors.
The photo shows an asymmetrical shelf on a closed wall in the design of a modern living room.
Built-in
They complement and fit into the design of the room as harmoniously as possible. They provide an excellent opportunity to rationally use “dead zones” in the form of joints, openings or niches.
The photo shows the interior of the hall with shelves on the wall built into niches.
Mounted
Hanging shelves on the wall will become an original interior decoration and are especially suitable for lovers of creative ideas. Structures of different sizes and shapes are suspended using chains, cables, belts, ropes and other materials.
The photo shows hanging shelves on ropes in the children's interior.
Transformable shelves
This transformable furniture composition, thanks to its modular design, allows you to vary the elements in any order, as well as remove or add additional parts depending on what items will be stored on the wall shelves.
Corner
Corners in any room remain an area that needs to be softened somehow. Even in the teachings of Feng Shui, the junction of surfaces at right angles is considered a place of bad energy.
Corner shelves for interior accent Source reformtheweb.com
Corner shelves for books and decor in the living room Source psk-remont.ru
There can be a sculpture or ficus in the corner, but corner shelves will create much more space for displaying souvenirs or storing necessary things. The shelves in the corner are mounted on three or four supports. Working with a drill and screwdriver is justified by the appearance of additional usable space. Corner shelves enliven even a boring protruding wall corner in the interior.
Direct
The simple form of such shelves serves as a backdrop for a rhythmic row of objects. Horizontal open shelves can be attached to vertical sides. You can hang a series of parallel shelves on consoles. Lines create the foundation. Connoisseurs of home comfort build a composition that reflects their tastes and achievements.
Shelves on the wall with a TV Source stokemedia.co
Dark wood construction Source pt.decoratex.biz
The side walls and “ceiling” create a whole world in a simple rectangle. It's like a small stage box in the interior. A miniature theater in which books and small works of art play roles. Even a lonely vase, shell, or pair of teas in a rectangular frame take on a special meaning. Inside a rectangular shelf there can be memories and hobbies. Everything that tells the guest about the owner of the house.
Framed photographs are part of the design solution Source spellmicael.com
Fixing the shelf on the wall using hidden fasteners
Step 1. In order to fix a shelf on the wall using a hidden fastening option, you will need to prepare a hammer drill with a drill of a certain section, 2-3 special titanium pins, a building level, a square, a drill and a bit, the shelf itself, and a pencil for marking. The pin is a metal rod that is threaded on one side and smooth on the other. The threaded part will screw into the wall, and the smooth part will need to be fitted with a shelf. Typically the pin diameter is 10-12 mm. The drill is selected with the same diameter as the purchased titanium.
Special metal pin
Step 2. First of all, you need to apply markings to the shelf itself. By the way, you can make it yourself from any part of other furniture that has served its age, rather than buying new one. Using a ruler, you need to set aside the required distance from the end edge of the shelf. In this case, a distance of 12 cm was chosen.
Marking
Step 3. Having chosen the distance, you need, using a square and a pencil, to draw a line perpendicular to the plane of the shelf at the end where the hole for fastening will be drilled.
A perpendicular line is drawn at the end
Step 4. Next you need to find the middle of the end of the board and make a corresponding mark for the drill. It is important to understand that if the shelf consists of two sheets of chipboard glued together, then in this case it is better to drill a hole for fastening not in the middle, but with a slight offset towards one or another board (better - towards the bottom, it will be more reliable).
A mark is placed for the drill
Step 5. Similar markings must be applied on the opposite side of the shelf.
On the other side the same markings are applied
Step 6. Next, to the end of the shelf where the markings are applied, you need to attach a building level and directly on it make marks parallel to those previously applied to the board, as well as marking the edges of the shelf itself. The level cannot be moved while the marking is being transferred. Pencil marks can then be easily erased from the surface of the level, but this technique of transferring markings will make it easy to make markings for drilling holes in the wall.
The level cannot be moved while the marking is being transferred.
Marks are made at the level
Step 7. Then you need to select the approximate location of the shelf on the wall. Having applied it to the surface, you need to mark the boundaries of the product directly on the wallpaper with a pencil.
The shelf is attached to the wall
The boundaries of the shelf are marked
Step 8. Now you need to take a building level with markings and, attaching it to the wall in the selected and marked place, align and transfer the markings from the level to the wall, also using a pencil. In this way, you can easily and quickly make precise markings for the locations for drilling holes for the pins without unnecessary movements.
Transferring markings from level to wall
Step 9. Next, in the end part of the shelf, in the designated places, you need to drill holes for the pins. They should be the same depth as the length of the part of the pin on which the board will be placed.
A hole is drilled in the end
The depth of the hole should correspond to the part of the pin on which the shelf will be placed
Step 10. Now you need to take a hammer drill with a drill of the same diameter as the pin and make holes in the wall in accordance with the previously made marks. To prevent dust from concrete from falling onto the floor, it can be removed immediately using a switched on vacuum cleaner, the hose from which will be held by an assistant.
Holes are made in the wall
Step 11. Both titanium pins need to be installed in place, that is, inserted into the holes in the wall. If they are difficult to enter, you can carefully knock them out with a hammer or screw them into the wall using a key.
The pins are inserted into the holes
Step 12. All that remains is to put the shelf on the pins in the wall, aligning the holes with the metal fasteners. The shelf is installed. By the way, for better fixation, you can add a little glue to the holes of the shelf - then the connection will be even more reliable. This mounting option will allow you to achieve an effect where it seems as if the shelf is supported on the wall by itself.
The shelf fits onto the pins in the wall
Finished shelf without visible fasteners
Video - How to install a shelf with invisible fasteners
Shelves with inclined surfaces
Any deviation from strict horizontals and verticals will catch the eye. Sloping wall shelves in the interior are ideal objects for dividing space and making fun of gravity. Some items, such as stacks of magazines, can even be conveniently stored on slanted shelves. Refusal of the horizontal allows you to create the image of an entire room by hanging just one shelf.
Sloping surfaces for unusual room decor Source morfey.ua
Options for modern surfaces for books and decor Source gipsokarton-blog.ru
Preoccupation with diamonds and angular deviations can become tiresome. Everyday experience says that objects are held more securely on horizontal surfaces.
Unusual objects on the walls
Designers and DIYers compete to see what other objects can be sawed in half and attached to the wall. You can make three versions of shelves from one wooden chair by sawing the chair across the back or along the seat. Halves of iron barrels, old tires, parts of mechanisms and branchy driftwood are hung on the walls. These objects mock the banality of the flat wall. Fitting them into the interior of the room is a challenge for the designer.
Old skateboards used to decorate rooms with practical applications Source apofore.com
Open shelves for the kitchen from old pallets Source maistorplus.com
Original shelves made from unexpected objects are appropriate on staircase landings, on the wall of a long corridor, or in a teenager’s room. In the living room, a custom shelf needs to find a place and justify its intrusion. Next to a classic leather sofa in a room decorated in English or hunting style, shelves made from old brown suitcases will look harmonious.
Accessories from decorated suitcases Source journal.homemania.ru
A shelf made of fancy driftwood will take root in an airy marshmallow bedroom. Only first the driftwood must be refined, painted white, and decorated as if it were randomly hung with jewelry.
Hanging stand for decor from an old guitar Source novamett.ru
The passion for non-standard shelves turns your home into a junk shop.
But people with good taste and skillful hands do it beautifully.
Types of shelves
Each shelf used in the interior belongs to one of the following groups:
- Wall-mounted. Such structures are attached to the walls using fasteners. They are recognized as the most traditional, versatile and reliable.
Illuminated shelves in the interior
- Angular. Located in the corners of the room, between two walls. Thanks to this option, you will be able to save space in the room.
A great place for any cacti
- Built-in. They are usually made from plasterboard. The peculiarity of the products is that they fit very harmoniously into the interior, as they look like part of the wall.
A sophisticated storage solution
- Hanging. Such structures are attached to the wall or ceiling. For this purpose, cables, chains, belts, ropes and other materials are used. This original format will especially interest lovers of creativity.
For lovers of creativity
- Floor-standing. Structures located on the floor or at a distance from it are very convenient. They can be moved to any place at any time.
Adult creativity for a children's room
- Folding ones are convenient because they can always be neatly folded when not needed. This saves space in the room.
Can be folded if not needed
- Racks are a structure made up of a large number of different cells. This interior element is multifunctional. You can use both open and closed options.
Wardrobe shelving
- Shelf module is a structure consisting of several shelves.
Construction of several modules
Shelves for a room can be made of different materials. The most popular include:
- wooden;
Wooden corner structure
- glass;
Glass structures in the interior of the room
- metal;
Shelf in Provence style
- ceramic;
Ceramics in all bathroom details
- from chipboard or fibreboard;
Chipboard when creating a structure
- using several materials at once (combined).
Wall shelf system in minimalist style
Not so common are those made of stone, woven from wicker. They look especially original and unusual.
Artificial stone in decoration
Depending on the design, they can be standard or modern. The latter are carried out with a focus on a specific interior style, taking into account the fact that the furniture should be in harmony with each other.
Shelves in interior style
Depending on the functionality, they can belong to the group of practical (book, kitchen) or decorative. The role of the latter is to add aesthetics to the room. They can be constructed from any material, everything will depend on the taste and preferences of the client.
Decorative element in the interior
What interior style are the shelves suitable for?
In an apartment, in a family home, it is impossible to refuse shelves. A lot of necessary things need to be stored so that they can be quickly found, taken and put in place. Shelves free up tables, maintain order and do not claim a place of honor.
The shelf protrudes forward when, using simple means, it is necessary to recreate the style and atmosphere of the era. A very simple, elegant shelf will do the job perfectly. Let’s imagine it in rooms decorated in different styles:
- Modern.
- Minimalism.
- Loft.
- Neoclassical.
Modern
Neat dark shelves with chrome elements, branching in different directions, give the modern style a minimalist look.
In the Art Nouveau style Source meroom.ru
What to put on shelves for decoration
In the bathroom, in the kitchen and above the work table, necessary, but not the most beautiful, objects are lined up on shelves. But on most shelves, the chaos of things needs to be tamed. Containers, boxes, baskets and jars are used for this. This makes it more convenient to store things. Saves time when cleaning.
Stylish plastic containers on shelves in the bathroom, iron tool boxes in the garage, shoe boxes covered with colored paper on a shelf near the sewing machine. It is with items like these that the passion for decor begins. It’s fun to make baskets and boxes to decorate your home; you can learn crafts together with your children.
Neat shelves for the bathroom Source mit24h.com
How to choose a shelf: tips
- It is necessary to take into account the overall decoration of the room. For example, for rooms furnished in a classic style it is not appropriate to use large, wide shelves. Most often, neat shelves made of high-quality wood are placed there.
- When choosing a material, you need to evaluate the load on the furniture product. And also choose the right fastenings.
- When installing a shelf, you must definitely analyze where it will be safer to do it. Take into account electrical wiring, pipes, etc. If you have small children, it is not appropriate to make such furniture as floor furniture, install it too low, or use low-quality fasteners.
- For small rooms, you can use corner, wall or folding shelves.
- For large rooms, shelving is most suitable. Practical and at the same time they will look very chic.
- An economical option is shelves made of glass, plasterboard, chipboard and other materials.
- Shelves made of wood and its derivatives are not recommended for bathtubs, as they absorb moisture. It is better to design, for example, glass, plastic or ceramic.
- Corner shelves can be good for a balcony.
- It is better to buy a shelf with all the furniture at once during renovation, so that the whole room has the same interior style, a certain color scheme. If you only need a shelf, then we take into account the existing interior.
- If you have the opportunity and desire, it is better to seek advice from a designer who knows all the nuances in this matter.
Showing your imagination, you can make a shelf yourself, or simply choose one by going to the store. But all this should bring pleasure and create comfort, beauty, coziness at home or serve for practical purposes. Ultimately, each person is guided by his own taste.
Best wall ideas
All the best in clothes and furnishings will go out of fashion tomorrow. Designers will declare today's hit old and demand that it be thrown out immediately. But ideas come back from the scrap heap, ennobled. Now it's vintage and antique.
Decorating a shelf for a hunting house in the English style Source bookcase.kz
Two ideas for walls have become part of everyday life forever. A hanger shelf in the hallway made of a metal L-shaped console and two boards: horizontal for hats and vertical for hooks. Grandfathers used a jigsaw to cut lace out of plywood for a shelf in the hallway. Today they are forged with copper flowers, chrome-plated, and plywood laces are cut on a laser machine. This thing is the first to greet the guest at the door.
Broken lines in the corner of the room - book stands Source homemize.com
The second great thing was made by carpenters for kitchens. Two or three tiers, with smooth wooden consoles at the bottom, with a bar for towels and nails for kitchen utensils. If you can find such a shelf made of solid wood, with centuries-old layers of paint, it is varnished and sold for stylish kitchen interiors.
Combination of wooden floors and light wood shelves Source tekras.ru
Another immortal idea came from small apartments in the 60s. This is a shelf in the Art Nouveau style made of intersecting horizontals and verticals of different lengths. Nothing more stylish and modern has been invented for walls.
But design does not stop evolving. Fastening systems have been invented that are invisible, unlike iron hinges. The shelves have become thicker and lighter, thinner and stronger. You can endlessly fantasize about geometry.
The second direction of shelf development is streamlined shapes made of plastic. A novice amateur carpenter trains on simple shelves. And the owner of the 3D printer will begin making useful things and stands for trinkets.
