Wall Shelf - Is Yours Display or Convenience?

Let’s face it and get it right out in the open. Our society never throws anything out. We either have our houses cluttered or boxes filled to the top in our attics and basements. From every vacation memento to our first present that our child made for us, we just can’t bare to throw it away. In the back of our minds we keep thinking we will use it or need it.

There is not a cure, but a solution for us pack rats and I have found it. It is a clever, practical and decorative piece of art in its own right called the wall shelf. These devices simply help keep your floor space open while adding additional storage space in a decorative way. As a rule, we underrate the role that wall shelves play in our daily lives. You can put them in every room of your home. Just imagine your possibilities are endless.

The variety and styles are also abundant. From classic to contemporary pieces they will fit like a glove with the rest of your decor. Take a look around your home and see all the wasted space.

Here are some of the shapes that are offered: such as: round, rectangular, square, curved and triangular. There are hanging, free standing, modular, adjustable, floating and fixed units to choose from. Some of the materials are glass, wood, metal, acrylic, plastic and wrought iron. The result is a shelf design for all kinds of settings and purposes.

The typical wall shelf mounts on the wall with several anchored screws or brackets which are usually driven into studs within the wall. Hidden bracket systems have also gained in popularity. These brackets slide into slots drilled into the shelving surface that faces the wall. The floating shelving units conceal the mounting hardware between the wall and the shelf. They are made a little thicker in order to properly conceal the hardware. For the mechanically challenged person, don’t worry about installation, at your disposal are kits that come ready to hang with a built in mounting system.

Most of us are not at a loss for what we want to display, but we may not know which wall shelves to choose or where to place them. Here are a few ideas to help you get started. This is what I have done in my own home.

For my living room, dinning room and bedrooms I have chosen wood which gives these rooms a very classic and elegant feel. With the many colors and finishes I had no problem matching the shelves with the rest of the decor in the rooms. I was able to obtain mahogany, oak and a cherry finish.

For my daughters room there was country white with a sculptured lattice at the edges. For my bathrooms I have used glass for a clean modern look. Modern wall shelves are usually composed of linear forms with sharper angles.

Throughout all the rooms I used different size corner shelves. Some were wood and others are metal. For my kitchen and laundry rooms the materials of choice were plastic and acrylic. It is such a good feeling to know where everything is and be able to find it without having to search around.

One of the many benefits is that my children aren’t constantly screaming out mom to find things for them. Of course you do have to train them to put it back after they use it.

My conversation starter and whimsical shelf that I acquired is in my garage. In fact I purchased two. One is a Mustang and the other is a Cadillac rear bumper. They are a unique and clever solution for all the tools we have collected over the years.

Now you know how to get your life in order and display your treasures at the same time. Start dressing up your walls with this versatile piece of art.