Shelving can be more than a simple storage solution. There are many ways to turn shelving into a stylish feature within your home. Below are a few different ways to make a statement with your shelves.

Embrace unusual shapes

Thinking of adding some floating shelves? There could be alternative options beyond a single straight piece of wood. 

Hexagonal shelves are one funky option. It’s possible to arrange multiple hexagonal shelves into a honeycomb pattern. These could be used for ornaments or plant pots.

Letter-shaped shelving could also be an option. You could use a single giant letter or you could use a bookshelf to spell out a word. This could be a fun way to personalise your storage.

Upcycle objects

It’s possible to create shelving using various repurposed objects. A few examples of objects that some people turn into floating shelves include:

• Wine boxes: Wine boxes could be used to form small rustic compartments. You could stack multiple wine boxes on top of each other and use it as a bookshelf.

• Skateboards: An old skateboard could be converted into a floating shelf. This could be a fun way to show off a love of skating.

• Ladders: An old wooden ladder could be turned into a quirky shelving unit. You can click here for a few examples of repurposed ladders.

Make your shelves colourful

Another way to make a statement with your shelves could be to make them bright and colourful. If your room is largely neutral, you could add a pop of colour with bright red or electric blue shelves. You may be able to pair these with other items of the same colour. 

Alternatively, you could look into more subtle colours. The likes of these chalk shelves could be a nice touch within a bathroom. Keen DIYers may even be willing to try applying their own chalk wash effect to some old wooden shelves.

Think beyond brackets

You should also consider how you plan to fix your shelves to the wall. If you live in rented accommodation, this could be an important factor to consider as you may not be allowed to make certain permanent improvements.

If you’re not allowed to put nails in the wall, a freestanding shelving unit may be a better option. There are no-nail bracket alternatives, but they tend to not offer much strength (in other words, you won’t be able to put anything heavy on the shelf). That said, you may be able to get creative such as fixing shelves with clips to pipes or hanging shelves from overhead pipes using strings. 

If your landlord does allow nails, think about where to fix them. You may be able to get creative with brackets such as using decorative cast iron or repurposed pipes. Alternatively you could hang shelves from strings. This latter option is better as an ornamental option as they won’t be able to take much weight, however it could allow you to use less nails.