Decorating
10 of the Best Shelf Ideas on Houzz
Feel the need for some new shelf action? Find your perfect style – and some smart display tactics – here
The great William Morris once said “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful”. When it comes to shelves, they certainly are useful and definitely have the potential to be beautiful – just take a look at the pretty and practical edit below.
Bring out the baskets
Ah, the perfectly ordered utility room, where everything knows its place – a sight to gladden any tidy taskmaster’s heart… A shelf and basket combo like this one is brilliant in a utility room where there are lots of bits and bobs to store, but none of them pass the ‘nice-enough-to-have-out-on-display’ test. For top neatness marks, go for matching baskets.
Ah, the perfectly ordered utility room, where everything knows its place – a sight to gladden any tidy taskmaster’s heart… A shelf and basket combo like this one is brilliant in a utility room where there are lots of bits and bobs to store, but none of them pass the ‘nice-enough-to-have-out-on-display’ test. For top neatness marks, go for matching baskets.
Climb the ladder
For a freestanding option, a ladder shelf has the look of open shelving, but doesn’t need to be fixed to the wall. This makes it a great choice if you’re renting, as it won’t mark the walls and it can be taken with you when you move. A ladder shelf also works well in a bathroom, as there’s no need to drill into tiles to put it up.
For a freestanding option, a ladder shelf has the look of open shelving, but doesn’t need to be fixed to the wall. This makes it a great choice if you’re renting, as it won’t mark the walls and it can be taken with you when you move. A ladder shelf also works well in a bathroom, as there’s no need to drill into tiles to put it up.
Offset a pair
Rather than fixing one shelf directly below another, try staggering their position on the wall instead to create more of a feature. Keep the shelves looking super chic by displaying accessories that complement the rest of the room in terms of colour and style.
9 tips for styling your living room shelves like a pro
Rather than fixing one shelf directly below another, try staggering their position on the wall instead to create more of a feature. Keep the shelves looking super chic by displaying accessories that complement the rest of the room in terms of colour and style.
9 tips for styling your living room shelves like a pro
See clearly
A range of simple white shelves offers myriad storage options in this colourful craft room. Small jars and paint cans are held on narrow picture-ledge shelves, while wider shelves house clear plastic boxes that are chock-full of supplies, making it easy to search for essentials mid-project. A simple rail between two shelf brackets creates yet another display/storage zone.
A range of simple white shelves offers myriad storage options in this colourful craft room. Small jars and paint cans are held on narrow picture-ledge shelves, while wider shelves house clear plastic boxes that are chock-full of supplies, making it easy to search for essentials mid-project. A simple rail between two shelf brackets creates yet another display/storage zone.
Utilise an awkward space
One of the many joys of floating shelves, such as these ones, is that they can be cut to fit into almost any nook or cranny. Under eaves, in an alcove, around a door – the possibilities are endless. If you’re not too confident with your saw skills, consult a professional to get the best results.
One of the many joys of floating shelves, such as these ones, is that they can be cut to fit into almost any nook or cranny. Under eaves, in an alcove, around a door – the possibilities are endless. If you’re not too confident with your saw skills, consult a professional to get the best results.
Stick to a theme
In the kitchen, ancient plastic beakers and containers are best hidden away in a cupboard, but open shelves are great for displaying pretty matching glassware. Here, triangular sections on the end act as both brackets and useful ‘bookends’, while cup hooks underneath provide another handy storage option.
In the kitchen, ancient plastic beakers and containers are best hidden away in a cupboard, but open shelves are great for displaying pretty matching glassware. Here, triangular sections on the end act as both brackets and useful ‘bookends’, while cup hooks underneath provide another handy storage option.
Blend with the wall
Floating shelves are great for displaying cute toys and mementos in a child’s room, and painting them to match the wall colour behind is a chic move. Going for a dark feature wall and shelving, as seen here, really makes the bright toys stand out.
Discover more ways to bring order to children’s rooms
Floating shelves are great for displaying cute toys and mementos in a child’s room, and painting them to match the wall colour behind is a chic move. Going for a dark feature wall and shelving, as seen here, really makes the bright toys stand out.
Discover more ways to bring order to children’s rooms
Be radical
You can make shelves with planks, shelves with crates, but how about shelving made with skateboards? Great for the teenage (or otherwise) boarder in your life, these are simple to create using standard shelf brackets.
You can make shelves with planks, shelves with crates, but how about shelving made with skateboards? Great for the teenage (or otherwise) boarder in your life, these are simple to create using standard shelf brackets.
Choose a design classic
Want to achieve midcentury modern style in an instant? These String shelves by Swedish architect Nils Strinning will help you ace it and can be added to in order to form a modular system. The String shelf system was designed by Strinning in 1949 and has become one of the 20th century’s foremost design icons.
How have you used shelves in your home? Share your ideas or show your creatins in the Comments below.
Want to achieve midcentury modern style in an instant? These String shelves by Swedish architect Nils Strinning will help you ace it and can be added to in order to form a modular system. The String shelf system was designed by Strinning in 1949 and has become one of the 20th century’s foremost design icons.
How have you used shelves in your home? Share your ideas or show your creatins in the Comments below.
If you really want your shelving set-up to be beautiful, why not use it to display something you collect? Whether that’s tea cups, 1950s glassware or pottery, your arrangement can really elevate a nondescript space. To make the biggest impact, display your objects on a series of shelves instead of just one long shelf. You’ll need to think about the scale of the items you want to put on display, and then size the gaps between your shelves to suit.