Features of living room shelves
Shelves in the living room are not only practical storage systems, but also an important component of the interior of the room. Even if there is a lot of other furniture in the room, there is always room for shelves.
The peculiarity of such products is their wall mounting. Therefore, structures are usually not used for storing heavy bulky items.
- It is also important to install the shelf correctly so that it does not sag and can withstand the load for which it is designed according to the technical specifications.
- Sometimes such products are installed only as a decorative element.
- On such shelves you can stylishly place all kinds of souvenirs, photographs and other items that will decorate the interior.
Wall shelves
The most common type of shelves. They are able to organically fill voids on the walls, which contrast unpleasantly with the overloaded furniture of the lower part of the room. Even traditionally “dead” spaces, such as corners, can be easily decorated using the simplest designs.
The drawing of a wall shelf in its simplest form includes the shelves themselves and the jumpers between them. However, in practice there are countless options for its implementation.
To fasten the shelves traditional hinges screwed with self-tapping screws or brackets , allowing not only to securely hang any structure, but also to further decorate the room.
There is also an original way to hang shelves - hidden installation . In this case, at the end of the part it is necessary to cut out a seat for the pin and the body of the holding device, and then simply put the part on it.
The mounting methods listed above work well for wood and similar materials, but are not at all suitable for glass or thin plastic.
For glass structures there is a special mount - “pelican” , capable of holding a sheet with a thickness of 8-34 mm. It can also be used to create shelves from other materials, but with glass it looks especially organic and stylish.
Types of models
Furniture manufacturers offer a huge variety of shelves for living rooms. Based on the installation method, they can be divided into 2 main types:
- Wall-mounted;
- Floor-standing.
Wall-mounted ones are attached to the wall. It is important that the wall material allows the product to be firmly fixed. For example, it is not recommended to attach such sets to plasterboard partitions.
There are corner models that can be mounted on two walls in the corner of the room to make more efficient use of this space.
Floor-standing models have the shape of a rack and can withstand higher loads than wall-mounted ones.
Based on the type of construction, they are divided into the following types:
- Open. As a rule, they are used to place decor.
- Closed. They are used more for functional purposes as full-fledged storage systems.
Depending on the purpose, they are classified into the following types:
- Books. They usually have a classic design, divided into separate compartments. A good choice for organizing a small home library in the living room.
- Decorative. As a rule, they have an open design. Used to place souvenirs, photographs, memorabilia, indoor flowers and other decorative elements.
- Storage systems. They are usually equipped with doors and are used for storing various items - clothes, linen, small household appliances, dishes, etc.
- Window for flowers. They are installed in a window opening and used to place indoor flowers. Most often they have a metal frame and glass shelves.
Floor structures
This is rather a transitional variety, since large floor-standing models can rather be called tables, shelving or even cabinets. Depending on the design, they can be attached to the floor or walls to give the shelf greater stability and safe operation.
For small and lightweight shelves, you can use wheels instead of legs, so in addition to the useful functions of the shelf, mobility is added, an important quality in a situation where you need to quickly move the structure to another place.
Manufacturing materials
Manufacturers use different types of materials to make shelves. Aesthetics, durability, maximum load and cost depend on the material.
The most popular include:
- Tree. Durable, environmentally friendly and durable material. The disadvantage is the relatively high price of finished products.
- Chipboard and MDF. Wood boards that imitate almost any natural surface. They are distinguished by a wide range of colors and textures. Easy to install, low maintenance and inexpensive, but less durable and strong compared to solid wood.
- Drywall. As a rule, plasterboard shelves are equipped in the form of wall niches. They are an attractive element of the interior. Such shelves are characterized by increased installation complexity. Usually they are built at the stage of renovation of the premises.
- Glass. An excellent choice for modern interiors. They visually expand the space, look airy, and attract with shine.
- Metal. Strong and durable material, however, does not always allow you to create a cozy interior. Metal shelves are rarely installed in living rooms and other living spaces; they are more suitable for offices.
Types of shelves in the interior
Depending on the size of the room, a white shelf is selected to simulate the space. For a large room, tall types, consisting of several tiers, are suitable; for a small room, narrow wall-mounted structures are suitable. They create a whole ensemble in the home office to accommodate many books, folders, magazines and other items necessary for work. Decorative figurines are installed in free space to decorate the interior.
You can buy white shelves from any material, artificial or natural. The model range includes all kinds of products, allowing you to choose the most suitable model from:
- lightweight, practical and inexpensive plastic, easy to maintain;
- solid and respectable solid wood with a treated surface;
- forged metal with a protective coating with an unlimited service life.
Living room shelf design
Manufacturers offer living room shelves in a variety of designs. You can choose the ideal models for any interior.
The most popular stylistic trends include:
- High tech. The products are distinguished by a laconic design with straight lines and regular shapes. Often made of glass and metal.
- Loft. Rough surfaces with imitation roughing. A combination of metal and wood elements. Such shelves harmonize well with walls finished in the form of brickwork or concrete surfaces.
- Provence. Characterized by the predominance of wood textures and delicate pastel colors. Shelves are usually made of wood or MDF. Most often they are light in color.
- Classic. Luxurious, fairly massive wood products. Often decorated with all sorts of ornaments and patterns.
- Country. Wooden shelves decorated in a rustic style. Imitation of aged surfaces is popular.
Tips for choosing shelves
To choose the right shelves for the living room, you should consider the following criteria:
- Design. Products must be harmoniously combined with the rest of the furniture and the overall interior design.
- Load. To place large items, for example, a TV or speaker system, you need to choose a durable design with additional reinforcements. Lightweight decorative items can be placed on minimalist shelves made of glass, chipboard or even plastic.
- Material. The choice is similar to the previous criterion. The higher the load, the stronger the material should be.
- Dimensions. Shelves should look proportional to the room. If they are too large, the interior will be overloaded. A large number of small shelves can create an atmosphere of chaos.
Space modeling
With the help of a hanging white shelf, it’s easy to decorate any room in the house beautifully and practically. As a decorative element, it is located in the living room above a soft corner or sofa. On its surface are placed miniature figurines or original souvenirs, based on the theme in which the room’s design is based. It combines effectively with tulle and light-colored carpeting and a crystal chandelier with pendants.
Several white shelves located along the walls in the children's room set off green, blue or orange furniture, diluting the bright rich color in the interior. They serve as storage for numerous teddy bears, hares, elephants, books and magazines with comics, play sets and small figurines depicting cartoon and fairy tale characters.
The highlight of the bedroom interior will be a composition of a mirror, a hanging shelf and two sconce lamps located on both sides. The decor is original carving with plant motifs. A spectacular artistic ensemble in the design of the room is suitable for the classic and Provence style. Depending on the overall color palette, it will become an accent or blend organically into the overall background.
For books, you can buy a shelf on the wall with special cutouts for each of them. They are sold in any size, configuration and recess, and have several rows. Such furniture products are suitable for both a schoolchild’s room and a home office. They have a non-trivial appearance and therefore will harmoniously fit into the interior of many styles.
Features of indoor placement
Sufficient free space is required to install shelves. The location should be determined taking into account the layout and furnishings of the room. A wall shelf can be installed above a TV or sofa. If the room is small, you should take a closer look at corner models.
- If the shelves are installed near a doorway or in another place where they will be frequently walked by, it is better to mount them above average human height.
- This minimizes the risk of accidental injury. The height should also be selected correctly when placed above upholstered furniture.
- The shelf must be installed high enough. When standing up, a person should not cling to the structure.
Decorative shelves used to store jewelry and accessories should be placed on a visible bridge. They are one of the central elements of the interior.
Closed storage systems can be installed almost anywhere, the main thing is that they do not interfere with comfortable movement around the room, use of furniture and equipment.
