Shelving – how to find the right shelf for your home
- Wall shelves, ladder shelves, freestanding shelving units: the many types of shelving
- Glass, wood, metal: shelving materials
- The right size: shelving for every space
- Styling shelves
- Summary
1. Wall shelves, ladder shelves, freestanding shelving units: the many types of shelving
Shelves are a wonderful way to store both practical and decorative items while putting them on display. With such a wide choice available, there's a model to suit every space and every taste.
Compact wall shelves (1) are ideal for small living spaces, where you can arrange plants, paperbacks or decorative items in style. Large freestanding shelving units (2) with lots of compartments provide open storage for files and can be used as a classic bookcase. Semi-closed shelving units (3) in the style of a highboard or sideboard offer closed storage for anything you don't want on show. Ladder shelves (4) are tall and narrow, making them perfect for small rooms, as they offer vertical space for all kinds of items.
2. Glass, wood, metal: shelving materials
Shelves made of natural materials: Shelves made of materials such as wood, rattan or bamboo give your home a particularly natural feel and are perfect for the boho look, which is all about lightness, warmth and a connection to nature. You can use shelves made of natural materials in any room. With untreated materials, however, consider the humidity in the bathroom or kitchen to prevent the material from swelling or warping.
Metal shelves: Metal shelves fit perfectly into industrial-style interiors. At first they look simple and cool, but you can bring them to life with decorative pieces and personal items. The material is easy to clean, so it works well in the kitchen as a shelf for crockery, for example.
Glass shelves: If you like a particularly chic, clean look, choose a glass shelf. Glass shelves look light and airy, and you can decorate them with perfume bottles, crockery or vases, for example. This resilient material is particularly well suited to the bathroom.
Shelves in mixed materials: Shelves made from a combination of materials suit a wide range of interiors. Combinations of metal frames and wooden shelves are particularly popular. They fit equally well into natural, modern and classic living spaces.
Load capacity of shelves:
The material also affects how much weight a shelf can hold. As a general rule, the longer the shelves, the less weight they can bear – unless you pay attention to the thickness of the material, which can vary considerably with materials such as wood or metal. With particularly thin shelves, the side panels shouldn't be placed too far apart, to ensure stability.
3. The right size: shelving for every space
Depth of wall shelves and freestanding shelving units:
To choose the right size of shelf, consider the space available, where the shelf will go and what you'll use it for. First of all, bear in mind that freestanding shelving units are usually much deeper (at least 30 cm) than wall shelves (at least 15 cm). This means they protrude further into the room, which is particularly important if space is tight.
Wall mounting height:
A question that comes up again and again is how high to hang a wall shelf. As a rule of thumb, the top of the wall shelf should never be higher than 2 m. You can also go by your own height: you should still be able to reach the top shelf easily with your arm outstretched.
Space and storage in freestanding shelving units:
Freestanding shelving units come in a far wider range of sizes than wall shelves. The shape and dimensions of the unit depend on the size of the room. Tall, narrow shelving units offer plenty of vertical storage space, while long, wide units can be used as a sideboard and make noticeable use of the available floor space. Even so, both types can offer the same amount of storage.
"If possible, choose a freestanding shelving unit with a maximum height of 150 cm. That way, you can make the most of the top surface for table lamps or other tall accessories, and show off the wall above it too." – Viktoria, interior expert
4. Styling shelves
Think of shelves as a blank canvas you can fill however you like. Freestanding shelving units can be used in the classic way as a library (1) and filled with books. For paperbacks, the shelf should be at least 15 cm deep; for files, large coffee-table books and photo albums, at least 30 cm. A combination of books and decorative items (2) also works well and creates a calm, cohesive look in the living room or bedroom. You can also arrange practical items such as lights or storage boxes (3) on wall shelves to make a room feel homely. In the kitchen, wall shelves are a great way to display crockery and kitchen utensils (4). With crockery, however, keep the shelf's maximum load capacity in mind.
"Always choose a shelf that's at least a little bigger than you need. That way, you not only have room for the essentials, but can also arrange them in a light, relaxed way. A shelf always looks appealing when the eye can find places to rest." – Viktoria, interior expert
You'll find more inspiration on how to style shelves here.
5. Summary – what to consider when buying shelves
- There's a wide variety of shelving: freestanding shelving units, wall shelves, ladder shelves or semi-closed sideboards offer space for practical and decorative items.
- The material defines the look of the shelf. Natural materials create warmth, metal looks industrial, glass appears particularly clean, and combinations of materials bring several styles together.
- With untreated natural materials such as wood or rattan, consider the humidity in the bathroom or kitchen to prevent the material from swelling or warping.
- Check the load capacity: the shorter the shelves and the closer together the side panels, the more weight the unit can hold.
- Freestanding shelving units (at least 30 cm) are usually deeper than wall shelves (at least 15 cm), which is particularly important if space is tight.
- Wall mounting height: mount wall shelves only as high as you can still reach the top shelf with your arm outstretched (max. 2 m).
- You can style shelves however you like. Books, vases and lights can be shown off, while semi-closed units can be used for storage.
Buy designer shelving online at Connox – your benefits at a glance
- A carefully selected range from top design brands
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- Fair delivery costs
- Secure payment thanks to SSL encryption
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Shopping advice at Connox
Would you like to order designer shelving online but need some help? Our customer service team is always happy to help. We'll support you with advice while you shop, make recommendations and answer your questions quickly. Then simply sit back and have your chosen item delivered straight to your door.
