10 Times Open Shelving is Worth the Dusting
Shelf designs that are so attractive you won’t mind the maintenance
Julie Butterworth
11 July 2018
Houzz Contributor and homes, architecture and property journalist. I work on a range of homes websites and edit commercial and editorial digital content at the Royal Institute of British Architects Journal. I have managed subbing departments at magazines Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home and web content teams for Time Inc UK’s Homes Network.
Houzz Contributor and homes, architecture and property journalist. I work on a range... More
Whether floating, built-in or bracketed, open shelving can be such a beautiful sight in a home. But if you’ve been put off by the prospect of dust, perhaps these gorgeous rooms might change your mind.
Range up and over
Shelving can be built in so perfectly that it becomes an intrinsic part of the walls themselves. Take it around and over a doorway and it turns into an architectural framing device for what lies beyond.
The designers of this space have gradually reduced the space between the shelves from the floor up to accommodate most book sizes. There’s not much wasted space here – every shelf earns its keep with maximum storage.
Shelving can be built in so perfectly that it becomes an intrinsic part of the walls themselves. Take it around and over a doorway and it turns into an architectural framing device for what lies beyond.
The designers of this space have gradually reduced the space between the shelves from the floor up to accommodate most book sizes. There’s not much wasted space here – every shelf earns its keep with maximum storage.
Fall for floating designs
A floating shelf doesn’t have the visual distraction of brackets; nor is it constrained by the upright elements of a bookcase. In this home office, short ledges are easy to access and close enough to reach from a sitting position.
The shelves are the same colour as the desk and are spaced evenly above it, so the worktop appears as another shelf that extends from wall to wall.
Short shelves like these demand only the most important contents, and the fact they’re open-ended on one side helps deter clutter.
A floating shelf doesn’t have the visual distraction of brackets; nor is it constrained by the upright elements of a bookcase. In this home office, short ledges are easy to access and close enough to reach from a sitting position.
The shelves are the same colour as the desk and are spaced evenly above it, so the worktop appears as another shelf that extends from wall to wall.
Short shelves like these demand only the most important contents, and the fact they’re open-ended on one side helps deter clutter.
Opt for pigeonholes
Many homeowners and designers are swapping kitchen wall units for open shelving, as it gives the space a lighter feel. These cubes, which line the whole wall from worktop to ceiling, make the most of the space.
Use the openings to house plug sockets and you can slide in all manner of small appliances – a toaster, coffee pot or kettle – and pull them out again when you want to use them.
Keep some pigeonholes open and add doors to others, so it’s still possible to screen less attractive items from sight.
Need some bespoke shelving? Find carpenters and joiners in your area
Many homeowners and designers are swapping kitchen wall units for open shelving, as it gives the space a lighter feel. These cubes, which line the whole wall from worktop to ceiling, make the most of the space.
Use the openings to house plug sockets and you can slide in all manner of small appliances – a toaster, coffee pot or kettle – and pull them out again when you want to use them.
Keep some pigeonholes open and add doors to others, so it’s still possible to screen less attractive items from sight.
Need some bespoke shelving? Find carpenters and joiners in your area
Make them multi-purpose
Open shelving really works when it does more than just, well, add shelving.
This canny built-in design doesn’t just provide storage, it also takes on the role of bedside table, creates a framing device for a panelled headboard, and functions as housing for wall lamps and spotlights.
The whole unit also brings a pleasing symmetry to a simple bedroom scheme.
Open shelving really works when it does more than just, well, add shelving.
This canny built-in design doesn’t just provide storage, it also takes on the role of bedside table, creates a framing device for a panelled headboard, and functions as housing for wall lamps and spotlights.
The whole unit also brings a pleasing symmetry to a simple bedroom scheme.
Line a den
This boxed-in child’s bed makes a perfect den. Shelving is used at one end to display favourite things, at the other for storing more practical things in lieu of a bedside table. The whole thing is so charming that perhaps even children will want to keep it tidy.
Beyond the den, a second run of open shelving provides a practical addition in a study area.
This boxed-in child’s bed makes a perfect den. Shelving is used at one end to display favourite things, at the other for storing more practical things in lieu of a bedside table. The whole thing is so charming that perhaps even children will want to keep it tidy.
Beyond the den, a second run of open shelving provides a practical addition in a study area.
Be decorative
Shelves are such practical beasts, it’s nice, sometimes, to give them over to a purely decorative role. These floating designs in stripped wood bring a natural warmth to a pure white bathroom and are used to display vases and potted plants.
If you have boxed-in piping, this is a stylish way to use it – creating a chimney breast effect with an inset nook for added interest.
Shelves are such practical beasts, it’s nice, sometimes, to give them over to a purely decorative role. These floating designs in stripped wood bring a natural warmth to a pure white bathroom and are used to display vases and potted plants.
If you have boxed-in piping, this is a stylish way to use it – creating a chimney breast effect with an inset nook for added interest.
Wow with colour
Showcase the contents of open shelving by painting the wall behind. Vivid orange packs a punch in this study area.
The built-in shelving and cupboard design is simple in itself and keeps the feel serene for work and study, but the hit of vibrancy is full of character and personality.
If bold brights like this aren’t to your liking, try a subtly patterned wallpaper instead and coordinate with matching stationery and box files.
Showcase the contents of open shelving by painting the wall behind. Vivid orange packs a punch in this study area.
The built-in shelving and cupboard design is simple in itself and keeps the feel serene for work and study, but the hit of vibrancy is full of character and personality.
If bold brights like this aren’t to your liking, try a subtly patterned wallpaper instead and coordinate with matching stationery and box files.
Work that wood
Fabulous carpentry creates storage to covet in this lovely living room. A panelled mantelpiece and fireplace have inspired two almost-but-not-quite matching bookcases, with cupboards below and arched inserts above.
The charm of the scheme lies in the narrow strips of visible wall between shelving and mantel, which help the pieces to stand out. Used for a mix of storage and display, the overall look is homely and comfortable while still being full of style.
Use alcove and spot lighting to help bring a scheme like this to life.
Fabulous carpentry creates storage to covet in this lovely living room. A panelled mantelpiece and fireplace have inspired two almost-but-not-quite matching bookcases, with cupboards below and arched inserts above.
The charm of the scheme lies in the narrow strips of visible wall between shelving and mantel, which help the pieces to stand out. Used for a mix of storage and display, the overall look is homely and comfortable while still being full of style.
Use alcove and spot lighting to help bring a scheme like this to life.
Divide with light
Open shelves can do so much more than provide storage. With the backs removed, they can function as room dividers, breaking an open-plan layout into semi-private areas without losing light.
In this impressive space, the designers have set shelving in front of a lightwell window, running it into the adjacent chimney breast alcove. Keeping book storage above and decorative pieces below helps increase light levels further, opening up the lower half of the room.
Shelving does not have to run full-height to be used in this way. Why not position low-level units to split two areas in an open-plan space – and access the shelves from both sides?
Open shelves can do so much more than provide storage. With the backs removed, they can function as room dividers, breaking an open-plan layout into semi-private areas without losing light.
In this impressive space, the designers have set shelving in front of a lightwell window, running it into the adjacent chimney breast alcove. Keeping book storage above and decorative pieces below helps increase light levels further, opening up the lower half of the room.
Shelving does not have to run full-height to be used in this way. Why not position low-level units to split two areas in an open-plan space – and access the shelves from both sides?
Slot in baskets – or not
Sliding baskets or boxes onto open shelving can provide a mix of concealed and on-display storage.
In this calm and orderly hallway, the baskets function as drawers in contrast to open shelves. Storing some items in containers like this makes cleaning and tidying easier.
The sliding shoji screens help the scheme, too, by bringing in a lighter element and echoing the framing role of the storage.
Sliding baskets or boxes onto open shelving can provide a mix of concealed and on-display storage.
In this calm and orderly hallway, the baskets function as drawers in contrast to open shelves. Storing some items in containers like this makes cleaning and tidying easier.
The sliding shoji screens help the scheme, too, by bringing in a lighter element and echoing the framing role of the storage.
Find this sectioned wall ledge and lots more useful shelving in the Houzz Shop
Tell us…
Why do you love open shelves and where do you have them? Share your experiences in the Comments section.
Tell us…
Why do you love open shelves and where do you have them? Share your experiences in the Comments section.
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NICE ... also we can devide one space into many zones using open shelves
I had these shelving units made bespoke and added doors the base shelves and to enclose the tv for use only in my living room and bedroom. I love them and so does every one that visits. Wall to wall floor to ceiling gives me maxed out usage of wall space that I would never have used before. Love them. I had mine bespoke built by Jankop https://www.facebook.com/jankop.jankop.3?lst=641937908%3A100024764961445%3A1531665870
'bespoked' to fit