Beautiful and original shelves with your own hands
Bulky, cabinet furniture is gradually losing its popularity. It is being replaced by light and graceful shelves on the wall, made by hand from scrap materials or ready-made blocks. The interesting and original design of wall shelves allows them to successfully compete with many interior and decor items made in country, high-tech or modern style.
A wide selection of materials and ideas for the manufacture of such products makes it possible to use them in almost any utility, utility and residential premises.
We suggest that you adopt the most interesting sketches in order to free up space from things scattered everywhere and old furniture and make your home more cozy and comfortable.
Features of wall shelves
- In the kitchen, shelves can serve both decorative and functional roles. For example, they can be used for displaying decorative tableware or as a storage space for a variety of jars of cereals, spices or fruits.
- In the hallway, original shelves on the wall will allow you to neatly place cosmetics and all kinds of accessories.
- In the corridor, shelves can be used to accommodate interesting lamps that will make the space more cozy and light.
- In the bedroom, as a rule, there are bookshelves.
- In the office, on the wall shelves, you can arrange certificates, family photos, special literature or cups, which will give the room an atmosphere of solidity.
- In the nursery, on the shelves you can store toys, souvenirs, textbooks and favorite books of kids.
- In the living room on all kinds of shelves and shelves you can store whatever your heart desires.
The main types of wall shelves
The method of fastening, the material for manufacture and the items that will be stored on the shelf determine the workload on the entire structure and on the wall to which it is mounted. It is quite natural that the method for fixing it on a vertical surface largely depends on the type of product.
The various shelves on the wall of the photo, which are presented below, can be used to place pots, flowerpots and planters with flowers. In this case, you should take care of the safety of family members, since because of the land that is filled flower pots, the structure is exposed to increased loads. For this reason, a secure mount should be used to accommodate such shelves.
Taking into account the design features of wall shelves, they can be conditionally divided into the following groups:
- closed and open (with or without doors);
- straight and angular;
- console type;
- with and without side restraints;
- through or closed back wall;
- in the form of one plane or rectangular;
- single-tiered and multi-tiered;
- fancy shape - diamond-shaped, inclined.
Among the most popular types of wall shelves are:
- Shelves in the room on the wall with special supports on the floor or cabinet furniture located under them. Due to the presence of additional supports, such structures can be used to accommodate a variety of objects. At the same time, the owner of the premises does not have to worry about the shelf collapsing due to unreliable fastening.The structures take up a minimum of space and at the same time can successfully replace the usual shelving or furniture sets.
- Classic, rectangular wall shelves. They are the easiest to manufacture, so that almost every home craftsman can design them. They are attached directly to the wall. If necessary, you can use not only their inner surface, but also the upper part, on which you can place a variety of decor items. On the side surfaces, you can place a calendar, daily routine, useful notes and reminders.
- Unusual multi-tiered shelves that are an original and functional piece of furniture. They are able to become an adequate replacement for massive shelving and cabinets for books and documents. Such a do-it-yourself shelf made of wood represents the intersection of vertical and horizontal surfaces, with asymmetric tiers and original sidewalls. Their advantage lies in the fact that when building such structures, you can give free rein to your own imagination and build something unique and unusual.
- Corner wall shelves allow you to make the most of every square centimeter of the room. Fastening of structures is carried out on two walls of the room, which allows it to withstand even significant loads. In recent years, transparent corner shelves, which can be made by hand or purchased in hardware stores, have become increasingly popular.
In order to make transparent shelves on the wall with your own hands, you need to order a set of glasses of the same shape in a special workshop. For safe use, the ends of the glass are plastered, after which the workpieces are fixed in a free corner using brackets.
Glass shelves are suitable for storing books, dear souvenirs, cosmetics, shampoos and personal care items.
Materials for wall shelves
Everyone who thinks about how to make a shelf on the wall with their own hands knows that a variety of materials can be used to make this piece of furniture. Of course, the simplest and most affordable option is a regular wooden board nailed to the wall. But this will not be enough to create a modern and original interior design. The choice of materials for even such simple products is very wide.
Wood
Do-it-yourself wooden shelves are a good old classic. You can diversify a wooden structure using complex shapes and non-standard fasteners. For loft and minimalist interiors, a beautiful and unusual wooden shelf will be an appropriate solution. For classic design projects, the product can be decorated with carvings, while all structural elements must be carefully processed.
For those who want to save on raw material, we recommend using chipboard, MDF or plywood in their work, which can be purchased at any hardware store for quite affordable money.
Metal
Do-it-yourself metal shelves, photo options that you will find below, can perfectly complement the interiors of rooms in the style of minimalism, hi-tech and fusion. Installation of such products is impossible without special skills and tools. Among the advantages of metal structures are their strength, reliability and durability. A special surface treatment will protect the finished shelf from corrosion and give it additional attractiveness.
Plastic
Currently, plastic is considered an ideal material for the production of various interior items and decor. Practical, lightweight, cheap, it can look simple and luxurious, mimicking the appearance of natural materials and at the same time eliminating their disadvantages. For rooms with high air humidity, a plastic shelf can be an ideal option.
Glass or mirror
A glass or mirrored shelf is a real decoration for any room. Graceful and glamorous glass and mirror designs can add elegance and lightness to the room. However, such products have one serious disadvantage - increased fragility. An accidentally dropped object or a sharp blow can lead to very sad consequences.
Shelf attachment types
When choosing one or another mounting method for a future wall shelf, you should remember that the mobility and reliability of the entire structure largely depends on your decision. Experts distinguish between the following mounting methods for shelves and shelves:
- Fixed wall shelves, which are installed on the wall with anchors and dowels, which provide the product with strength and ability to withstand loads. In the event that it is planned to use structures to accommodate heavy objects, this type of attachment is 100% suitable. Perhaps its only drawback is the fact that it will be quite difficult to dismantle the shelf without serious damage to the wall and the interior item itself.
- Removable wall shelves, can be fixed using mounting hooks and brackets. You can install a removable structure yourself, and you can remove the shelf and hang a new one in a matter of minutes.
- Modular wall shelves are manufactured taking into account modern trends and requirements for functionality and mobility. The installation of such structures is carried out according to the building-up principle - the upper tiers are mounted on the lower ones. Such products are very convenient to use, since they can be removed or, on the contrary, built up as needed. They are often used for dressing rooms and hallways. For such a piece of furniture, special holders and removable shelves-jumpers can be used, allowing you to change the height and width relative to each other. Such "puff pies" make it possible to make the most efficient use of free space.
Hanging shelves that are suspended from walls or ceilings look interesting and unusual. The following can be used as a flexible basis:
- braided plaits;
- belts made of genuine or artificial leather;
- twisted macrame weaving;
- decorative ropes, etc.
With the right approach, the mount can perform not only a utilitarian function, but also become an interesting and unusual decoration. For example, forged sidewalls can be used as a reinforced fastening for wooden or metal structures and at the same time will be a harmonious addition to a Provence or country style room.
Wall Shelf Design Ideas - Video
Tips for choosing shelves
When choosing a shelf on the wall, consider the following nuances:
- Be sure to consider the general style of the interior of the room in which this decor item will be used. So, for example, for rooms in Provence, country or classic style, wooden products will be the ideal solution. At the same time, interiors in the spirit of minimalism, hi-tech or modern can complement metal, glass or plastic shelves.
- The choice of material for the shelf should be based on the expected structural loads. It is quite natural that the greater the load, the more durable and reliable the material for your shelf should be.
- The previous tip also applies to choosing the type of mount for the product. Reliable fastening is able to ensure the safe operation of the finished structure by you and your family members.
- Before choosing a shelf, you should decide in advance on the place where it will be installed. In this case, factors such as proximity to electrical wiring, presence of pipes, etc. must be taken into account. If small children live in the house, do not hang the product too low.
- Different types of wall shelves should be used for each type of room.For small rooms, wall, corner or folding shelves can be ideal. Large rooms will be able to decorate shelving and multi-tiered structures. Economical solutions are shelves made of chipboard, glass, plasterboard and other materials. For bathrooms and other rooms with high air humidity, you should not choose wooden products that can absorb moisture.
- The shelves are best purchased along with other furniture during the renovation process. In this case, it will be much easier to create a single interior style in the room or maintain a certain color scheme.
Having trouble choosing a shelf? If possible, we recommend that you address this question to professional designers who will help you choose the perfect piece of furniture in all respects.
How to make shelves on the wall with your own hands?
The algorithm for constructing a wall shelf with your own hands is extremely simple and straightforward.
- decide on the idea of a future wall shelf;
- make a pencil sketch and decide on the size and dimensions of the future product;
- make a sketch of the structure with reference to a specific place in the room;
- depending on the idea being implemented, select the material and type of fastening.
- assess the working load on the wall and structures., depending on the load, decide whether to use reinforced or conventional fasteners
- on the wall, at the installation site of the structure, make a markup;
- cut out blanks;
- assemble individual elements into a finished structure;
- tinting brackets or hinges;
- in order for the shelf to look beautiful and neat, its surface can be covered with a special coating, the ends and joints can be processed by grinding or trimming;
- hang the shelf on the prepared mounts, check their reliability and safety;
- adjust the horizontal of the product;
- arrange decor items, books and other things that will be stored on the shelf.
If you love everything interesting and unusual and at the same time decorate your home interior yourself, we recommend that you pay attention to any materials at hand. Sometimes even the most unexpected things can be used for these purposes.
Going for a walk in the park? Pay attention to the unusual branches, rhizomes and hemp - with the right approach, in the right hands, they can serve as the basis for an exclusive design of a shelf structure.
You can endlessly talk about the advantages of using wall shelves in modern interiors of apartments and country houses. However, we recommend not to waste time in vain and choose for yourself several interesting specimens that will transform the interior space of your home and at the same time add practicality and functionality to the room. With this simple trick, you can effectively expand the internal areas. Use corner options, asymmetric, single-tier and multi-tier shelves of various sizes, thereby hiding the flaws of the interior, and emphasizing its advantages.