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Installing great shelving systems is relatively easy compared to the great benefit they provide in the long run. Utilizing vertical wall space is something that is often overlooked in homes—big mistake! When done correctly, shelves can provide both extra storage and a beautiful interior design technique. Shelving, in a lot of ways, is changing the aesthetic of many homes, as designers and homeowners alike are choosing to leave items more exposed and show off their favourite possessions.
Have you ever considered exposed shelving in your kitchen? Can you even imagine cabinets without doors? Or have you wondered what it would be like to place your large- and small-format artworks on mini-shelves instead of the stress of individually measuring and hanging them? Whether you have considered these ideas or not, we have combined all of your shelving options, including their benefits and their downfalls!
To show you just how far shelving has come in past years, check out one of favourite designers, Studio Hausen and their amazing LINK shelving system!
Most of us have kitchen cabinets that we wouldn't dare show to the public—stuffed with everything from herbs and spices to (maybe) expired food and a mismatched assortment of coffee mugs. When in doubt, we throw everything in and tell ourselves that we'll deal with the mess later, so the idea of exposing this secret chaos to everyone seems like a no-go.
We suggest you rethink that mindset. Exposed cabinetry can be a great motivator for keeping your kitchen utensils and food well organized and clean. It also gives both you and your guests the advantage of knowing where everything is in one quick glance, rather than having to open every door to finally find a coffee mug! If this thought makes you a bit uneasy, then use this example as a guide to do half and half. Put the crockery and cooking utensils on display and leave the cabinets for food storage!
Adjustable shelving has been around for quite some time—yet now it is incredibly easy to install on your own, even more adjustable than it was before (if you can even imagine that!) and it can be and personalized to your design needs.
We suggest you use adjustable shelving for dining rooms, bedrooms, storage rooms, or bathrooms. These are rooms where, over time, you start to realize what you need and what you don't need—hence why the shelves might need to be adjusted on a near weekly basis. When installing adjustable shelving, we suggest going through your home and deciding upon the items you really need and use quite often—and of course, that you are willing to expose to the public!
Tip: Adjustable shelving is also great for books, as the sizes and thickness of books can vary to a great degree!
Here's a great example of adjustable-exposed shelving in a living room!
Single-shelving units are great for bedrooms and bathrooms! Assuming that clothing already has proper storage space of its own, everyone has little items in their bedroom that they use morning and night and keep within arms' reach. This is exactly what a single shelving unit is made for!
The example shown here is wonderful in that the single shelf behind the bed can hold anything, from books and lotions to a lamp and an assortment of artwork. The versatility of a single shelving unit is incredible—just make sure you don't overcrowd it and make it look too cluttered! A single shelving unit in the bathroom could hold more decorative items, or could be purely functional and hold essential lotions, soaps, towels and anything else you might need.
The slim ridge shelf has risen to great popularity thanks to the furniture company IKEA. They have an extensive collection of slim-ridge shelves in varying lengths and shades for a small amount of money.
Slim-ridge shelves are perfect for living rooms, bedrooms and offices—basically any room where you might want to place art work or tiny plants. They are typically not large enough to hold items other than those—so should be kept out of bathrooms and kitchens since most lotions, or spices and food items will be too large to hold!
As seen here, slim-ridge shelves are great for holding artwork, books or smaller accessories and decor, and are wide enough to allow you to overlap certain pieces! Here is an example of a wide-ridge shelf in action!
An extended tile shelf is a little more difficult to install because it requires an extension of the base wall. You lay the tiles exactly as you would on any wall or floor, but first you must make sure that either the wall has been properly extended, or that you've built a semi-permanent structure to properly hold the tiles.
This extended tile shelf is perfectly executed, and even includes a cubby-hole to hold an extra lamp or decorative accessory! This option is great for both bathrooms and kitchens, where tile surfaces are widely used.
Retail-style shelving is exactly the same as slim-ridge shelving—the difference just depends on how you choose to use it! Retail-style shelving looks great in living rooms, bedrooms, or offices because of its ability to hold notebooks, books and works of art. This type of shelving should be used where you want to display things for both yourself and for guests.
In children's rooms and nurseries they are especially great because items are easily accessible for both you and your child, and it promotes clean-up skills as the child can easily place items back on the shelves after use. They are minimal, simple and easy to clean, making them perfect for almost every space! What's better is that they can be easily customised by cutting them to size and applying a lick of paint.
Want to see more innovative storage solutions? Have a look at these alternatives to a classic wardrobe.
