Shelves above the bed in the bedroom are not only an excellent design solution, but also a very practical way to refresh the design of the room (photo). Such shelves can easily accommodate books, souvenirs, family photos, an alarm clock, creams and even a night light. But the great thing is that with the help of shelves you can decorate an accent wall in an original way.
A shelf above the bed is an interesting way to fill empty space in a bedroom interior
Moreover, such shelves will allow you to permanently get rid of bedside tables, which cannot always be placed in the room for reasons of saving space inside the sleeping space. And even if there is not enough space in the room, shelves above the crib in the bedroom can be an excellent option for wall decoration (photo). You can get acquainted with the various shelf options in this article.
Benefits of using shelves in the bedroom
Decorating your bedroom with shelves is truly a design solution with which you can pleasantly enliven the space and give it uniqueness. The price for the shelves is small, and the practical side will not keep you waiting long.
A large number of existing structures, tailored to suit a wide variety of interiors, ranging from classic style to futuristic high-tech, will allow you to equip the room.
A shelf above the bed can play a purely decorative role and serve as a place to place photographs, figurines and other small items
Also, the shelf can carry a functional load, creating additional storage space
Depending on the style you choose, the number of bedside shelves for your bedroom may vary. For those who care about little things and try to store as much as possible, designs of several hanging shelves are suitable. This option will allow you to modify your interior at any time because the shelves can be:
- Repaint.
- Install elsewhere.
- Place decorative elements on the shelves.
Such shelves are perfect for those who collect collectible editions of books, unusual figurines, or simply want the room to always smell like flowers. You may not yet know what to put on the shelf in the bedroom, but that’s okay, because you can contact a professional interior designer and he will help you with this.
Types of designs
It would seem, why place any other elements above the bed in a small bedroom that can visually reduce its size? But with shelves, the opposite is true: they provide the opportunity to organize even more storage space without cluttering up the space on your bedside tables. And by placing several small or one large mirror on such a structure, you can visually expand the size of the room. You just need to decide on the design features. There are several distinctions:
- One classic large shelf. This option is quite practical and convenient: selected in style and color significantly expands the functionality of the bedroom. It is not mounted very high - so that a person sitting on the bed can easily reach what is on the shelf;
- Modular design of several shelves, located one above one or in a chaotic manner. An even more functional design, since on such shelves you can store both frequently used things (for example, on the lower “floors”), and decorative elements, for example, photographs or framed posters, placing them on the uppermost elements;
- Shelves between cabinets installed on both sides of the bed. Typically, such a design is bought already with cabinets or made to order, because the length of all elements must correspond to the width of the bed. You can choose one or several shelves;
- Shelves in the niche at the head. This option is convenient and safer: there is no risk of getting caught on your head. But it is also not the most ergonomic: to arrange a shelf, you will have to build up the wall to create a niche, and this will certainly “eat up” the space in the room. It is advisable to organize such a niche-shelf in a children's room - there is no risk that the child will get hurt on the sharp corner of the hanging structure.
Solution: a pseudo-niche can be created by a shelving unit installed in a U shape around the head of the bed.
Variety of furniture shelves: varieties and differences
As noted above, shelves are functional furniture, which means they can vary significantly. Furniture shelves can be classified by:
- Material: wood, glass, plastic, metal.
- Placement: corner, hanging, wall.
- Design: combination, multi-tiered, composition, single, console.
- Functionality: shelving, bathroom shelf, kitchen shelves, bookshelves.
Hanging shelves for the bedroom
The designs of such over-bed shelves for the bedroom look very attractive because they have a number of advantages. First of all, this is their financial accessibility. Secondly, this is an opportunity to independently choose the shelf option that suits you. And finally, thirdly, the shelves can be moved at any time and thereby refresh the interior of the room.
Hanging shelves are the most traditional, versatile and fairly reliable option.
Shelves built into niches
Niches can be different: rectangular, round, narrow, wide, etc., and installing shelves in such niches significantly saves space in the room. Of course, it will be impossible to move such shelves without direct intervention in the renovation of the room, however, such shelves are an excellent space saver. Using shelves built into niches, you can forever abandon bulky cabinets and bedside tables.
Built-in shelves fit harmoniously into the interior space due to the fact that they are part of the wall
Modular design on the wall at the head
Using special assembly modules, you can store more things in the room. You can assemble one yourself. To do this, you will need to acquire a furniture panel, the necessary modules and a small number of tools. You can install both floor-mounted and wall-mounted modules. The main thing is that the material used is of high quality and durable, so that the shelf holds tightly.
Shelves assembled from multi-colored modules look very impressive.
Ledge-step behind the headboard and next to the bed
For those who don’t really like large structures, a step ledge is perfect, which is usually placed at a height of half a meter from the floor. This design can be used when you want to add volume to an accent wall.
You can make such a shelf in the form of a step yourself from plasterboard.
Solving practical problems using shelves
Shelves installed above the bed allow you to unload the interior. With their help, it is quite possible to abandon bedside tables. This is especially true if the bedroom size is limited.
A chest of drawers or a cabinet will take up too much precious space, but shelves will allow you to place a bunch of small items and save space.
With the help of shelves, designers often solve another pressing problem - visually changing the geometry and volume of the bedroom. Long narrow shelves can expand the space.
Small shelves along the entire height of the wall will raise the ceilings. Large closed shelving will eliminate excessive emptiness and become the finishing touch of the interior.
Shelves can be classic or modern. Place it around the perimeter of the wall, in the corners of the room, or bend in unusual shapes.
In order for the shelf to complement the interior, and not be a “black sheep” against the general background, it is necessary to correctly select the material and style of the product. For production they traditionally use:
- tree;
- glass;
- metal;
- plastic.
Wood and plastic are most suitable for the bedroom. Glass and metal are used less frequently due to the higher risk of injury.
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Shelf material
The material used to make shelves is wood, safety glass, metal and even drywall.
Shelves of original design can serve as a bright decorative element in the interior of the room
Wood materials
The most common option for making shelves above the bed in the bedroom (see photo) is wood, despite the fact that there are more affordable modern alternatives. This is because wood structures are quite strong and durable.
Wooden shelves can be matched to any style
Other wood materials:
- veneer;
- MDF;
- chipboard;
- plywood;
- furniture board.
Bright shelves made of painted chipboard in a little boy's bedroom
Veneer is a thin wood structure (2-3 mm) obtained by cutting. The veneer can be oak, walnut, beech, or birch. It is economically profitable to use veneer, especially when producing exclusive shelf samples. In this case, veneers of various types of wood can be used.
Veneer is most often used to imitate natural wood on products made from chipboard or MDF.
If you nevertheless decide not to use veneer, but to consider a real tree, then do not forget that its quality is influenced by the environment (ecology) in which the tree grew, its age and the time of felling. But it is advisable to use plywood in the case when you want to recreate the natural color of birch by repainting it in the desired color.
Plywood is a fairly versatile material from which you can make shelves of a wide variety of designs and designs.
Glass
Some may consider choosing glass as a shelf material an unsafe decision. However, at the moment there are quite strong, unbreakable glasses that can be absolutely safely used.
Glass shelves look light and airy and are suitable for modern interiors
The use of glass in the interior visually expands the space in the room. Typically, such shelves are used in bathrooms or cupboards. There are also plastic (for the bathroom), metal (for heavy things) and plasterboard shelves.
Plastic shelves have a modern design and are perfect for high-tech interiors
How to secure
Modern types of fastenings include not only the traditional bracket + shelf option, but also hidden installation options. Moreover, you need to choose how to secure the shelf above the bed based on the load it carries. If the shelf performs a purely decorative function and heavy objects are not placed on it, then the number of support fasteners may be less. And the longer and more massive the structure, the more fastening elements will be needed. There are two types of installation: hidden and external. Both have their own nuances, on which the appearance of the shelf will depend.
Attention! For reliable fastening, you need to pay attention to several factors: the quality of the wall, the material from which the shelf is made, the purpose and dimensions of the structure.
Hidden fasteners
It makes it possible to hide all fasteners out of sight, to make them “invisible”, thereby facilitating the design. Shelves fixed in this way seem more airy and weightless, making the space lighter. For hidden installation the following are used:
- Wooden blocks: the frame of the shelf, which has a cavity inside, is simply “put on” on them and fixed with self-tapping screws.
- Metal rods with a diameter of 10 to 18 mm (but not more than the thickness of the shelf). Several holes are drilled at the end of the shelf, equal in diameter to the metal rods, and the rods themselves are attached to the wall. Then the shelf also “fits” on them. Super glue or liquid nails will help fix the shelf itself to the rods.
It is worth noting that hidden installation is not suitable for glass shelves; only brackets are used for this material.
External (traditional) fastener
For external fastening, corners, brackets, and hinges are used. But such elements can only be used if they themselves decorate the interior. Such fasteners are most often made of metal, but can be found in wood and plastic. The choice of such mounting elements is so wide that choosing one for your interior will not be difficult. Most often, external shelf fastenings are used in loft, shabby chic, Scandinavian, and classic styles. For Provence, forged openwork products will become relevant, for Scandinavian - wooden, for loft - imitating raw metal.
The advantage of external brackets and corners is their ability to withstand significant loads, therefore, if there are heavy boxes or baskets on the shelf, then it is more advisable to choose an external type of installation.
But for glass shelves there are special fasteners with silicone or rubber gaskets that will prevent the glass from cracking during installation and use.
Please note: the recommended distance from the head of a person sitting on the bed to the shelf at the head of the bed should be at least 20-30 cm.
Wall shelves above the bed: design and placement options
Before placing wall shelves above the crib, you should think about your safety. The items that you are going to place on this shelf should be light, and the location of the shelf should be as far as possible from those sleeping. Such shelves can be:
- Built-in. Most often used to create a unique interior.
- Mounted. One of the most common options is when the shelf is attached to the wall or suspended from the ceiling using special fasteners.
- Open. An option for those who want to add more volume to the interior space.
- Closed. Used for storing bedding items (pillows, blankets, sheets, blankets, etc.).
- Combined. They can combine combinations of various materials used in the production of shelves.
Closed shelves perfectly protect things and objects from dust accumulation
Classic shelves
Classic (rectangular) shelves are distinguished by the fact that they are attached directly to the wall. Using these shelves leaves the wall open, which opens up many design possibilities for the room. These shelves are inexpensive and anyone can install them.
A rectangular shelf can be placed between two cabinets on either side of the bed
Whatnots
Such shelves will be an ideal solution for small spaces because they are mobile, i.e. they can easily be moved to another location. A properly selected bookcase can serve as a partition in studio apartments. They are also convenient to use for storing sleeping items: slippers, bathrobes, bed linen, etc.
A floor-type shelf-shelf is a fairly durable structure on which you can place many things and objects
Tips for choosing
There are some nuances and features when choosing shelves:
- In a small child's room, shelves with rounded elements should be installed. Do not choose models with glass and mirror - this may not be safe.
- For schoolchildren, choose models with a large number of shelves and with many sections for school supplies, clothing and office supplies.
Related article: Space children's furniture
- For a teenager, choose deep shelves in a minimalist style.
- For a girl’s room, use light shades of shelves and furniture in non-bright colors.
Color and filling of shelves
When choosing a color for your shelves, you should start from the overall design. Usually soft pastel colors are used in bedrooms, so hanging shelves should match.
Shelves can be contrasting or, conversely, merge with the surrounding space. Both solutions are acceptable in the bedroom interior
Color solution
For example, white color looks very laconic and can refresh the surrounding space. But you shouldn’t forget about other shades if they are appropriate. The main thing is that the color scheme is soothing and spacious to the right extent.
White shelves will stand out effectively against a darker background and attract attention.
Designer delights
Shelves with frosted glass and even backlit are often used as unusual design ideas. If we talk about the classic style, then wood is used as the material. It is customary to place such shelves in niches or hang them on brackets.
Shelves with built-in LED lighting look stylish and original.
But in the Scandinavian style, on the contrary, they try to use hanging shelves decorated with flowers, lamps, framed photographs and figurines. Shelves can be decorated with ornaments if we are talking about country or Provence style. Shelves in the loft style are distinguished by an unusual combination of wood and metal.
Scandinavian-style bedroom with a shelf used to display paintings
Modern bedroom equipped with open shelving
Style and color solutions
Whatever style the bedroom is decorated in, you can always place shelves in it, the main thing is to choose an option that suits all parameters.
For example, simple plain models made of glass or wood are the best choice for a minimalist style.
Children's room in minimalist style
If the bedroom is decorated in a vintage style, then it is better to choose items that resemble antiquity. Simple wooden models are coated with special mixtures that artificially age the wood. Colors can be either dark or pastel.
The shelves can be located not only exactly above the bed, but also on the sides of it
For lovers of classics, it is better to choose massive options made from natural wood.
For shelves, it is better to choose a color that will contrast with the tone of the wall.
For decorative wall models, it is better if the color merges with the color of the wall, then it will create the impression that the objects located on it are floating in the air. The effect will be unforgettable.
If you experiment with materials and colors, you will be able to choose shelves for any bedroom design.
Geometry of placement of wall shelves
The most popular options for placing wall shelves include:
- In a niche above or next to the bed. Rectangular options in which it is convenient to store bedding.
- At the head of the bed. Semicircular and rectangular options, which are great for placing books, gadgets or an alarm clock.
- To the side of the bed. Convenient for placing reading lights, glasses case or medicine bottle.
- In the corner. Suitable for bathroom, kitchen or bar.
For a very small bedroom, a small shelf fixed in the corner of the room is suitable.
The optimal height at which shelves can be placed is a distance from 130 to 160 cm, depending on the convenience and size of the room.
Classic style bedroom with a shelf built into the furniture
Wooden book shelves in a rustic bedroom
Shelves for a bedroom are one of the easiest ways to make a space more comfortable and spacious. Today, manufacturers provide a wide range of shelves, so absolutely everyone can choose something exclusively for themselves.
Use Cases
As a rule, a bedroom is a room in which a minimum of furnishings is used. The main piece of furniture is the bed. Therefore, shelves are used in a room for two purposes:
- to create a stylish and unusual interior. Designers recommend decorating walls with hanging shelves. Thanks to the unusual arrangement of objects or the selection of products created from unusual materials, it is easy to give the bedroom an original look;
- a bed with a shelf is very comfortable, because you can put a night lamp next to it and put a book or mobile phone. A modern fashion trend in interior design is the installation of wall shelves that replace bedside tables. Thanks to this solution, space is saved, and the room seems more spacious and airy.
An important advantage of most shelves is their affordable price. It will not be difficult to choose a product of an original look that will harmoniously fit into the style of the room and will be convenient to use.
Photo of shelves above the bed
Headboard bedside tables: do it yourself
Bedside tables are considered an excellent solution for organizing space and optimizing storage. No matter the size of the bedroom, you always need a place for your phone, books, creams, glasses and other small items.
White wooden bedside tables will look great next to a lightly painted wrought-iron headboard. If you age them slightly, you will achieve the atmosphere of the French countryside. Dark wrought-iron tops are suitable for bedside tables in a dark walnut or wenge shade.
Bedside tables take up little space
You can make bedside tables yourself, spending almost no resources.
Check out interesting ideas from designers who use simple items to add flair to bedrooms and create signature furniture.
- Stool. For a standard rectangular headboard, made of wood or covered with plain textiles, you can easily create bedside tables with your own hands. And if you have an unnecessary stool, then it’s time to start creating. A small bedside table will look good in a loft style, minimalist bedroom design.
- Sand the frame of the old stool and coat it with white paint. Using nails, attach a piece of light wood that has been previously polished and varnished. A simple and stylish item is ready.
- Pallet. Furniture made from pallets is the latest fashion. They are often used to make beds themselves, but we can make an original bedside table. To do this, you just need to find a couple of pallets, clean them and sand them. You don't have to sand the entire surface - only the one you will use. Take them apart into boards and sort them by size. This will make it easier to assemble the bedside table and make shelves. Give free rein to your imagination, make a functional model.
- Wooden box. They also first need to be cleaned of dirt. Then cover the boxes with primer, paint, and protect the surface with clear varnish. Then simply combine them to your taste - stack them on top of each other, mount them on the wall. Plastic or glass can be attached to the top for a smooth surface.
- Solid timber. Combine several wooden beams, adjusted to the same height and width, together and secure them with metal grooves. Pre-treat them with stain and varnish.
