Have you been wondering how to spruce up that boring and blank wall? Or are you trying to de-clutter your home, but have no space to stow away stuff that you really need? Open shelves could be just what you’re looking for!
Not just a smart and stylish way to add interest to a bare wall, open shelves are highly functional too. Use them to store books, paintings, toys, your collection of little statuettes or just about anything! Whether you’re looking to add shelves to your bedroom, living room, or more, we’ve rounded up some inspiring ideas for you to steal.
Infuse Interest with Wall Bookshelves
Wall shelves are great for displaying books. Do keep in mind that you’ll need a design that has vertical supports too, or you’ll find the books toppling off the shelf ever so often! For added visual interest, intersperse with pretty potted plants or little collectibles.
Maximise Utility in the Bathroom
If you’re looking for extra storage in the bathroom, then these wall shelves are your answer! Use them to store towels, tissues or bath essentials right where you need them.
Display Accessories in the Kitchen
Open shelves in the kitchen offer a clean, minimalistic look, while adding much-needed utility. You can use them to display items that you use every day, so that you can access them easily. Here, black metal brackets offer support and add to the rustic aesthetic.
Utilise Corners
Kitchen corners always prove to be a bit of a problem for designers, because of their limited access and visibility. An easy solution to tackle dead corner spaces is to simply leave them open, by adding floating L-shaped shelves.
Work with an Open Pantry in the Kitchen
Short on storage space in the kitchen? This charmingly cluttered set of shelves gives off café-style vibes, with a blackboard wall adding to the retro look. Hooks off a rod hang ladles and pans right at hand. An added plus is that the plate rack is placed right over the sink, allowing just-washed dishes to drip down without a mess.
Customise Your Living Room Display
This wall shelf meanders across the living room wall, taking unexpected turns as it stores books, small artefacts and display accessories. You can customise this design style to suit specific storage needs, while still looking good!
Make the Most of a Wall Recess
A recessed niche in the wall can be easily fitted with open shelves. This kind of display doesn’t look bulky as it fits neatly into the wall, and is versatile enough to be used for a wide range of storage types.
Add Floating Shelves in a Niche
Instead of using the corner niche for a full-length closet, which is what was originally intended, this designer has chosen to highlight the niche in a vivid green and add a few random floating shelves. Use them to store knickknacks and décor pieces and swap them around when you get bored of the display!
Adjust the Shelf Heights
Vertical metal supports with adjustable shelf units allow you to switch out the heights to match the display. A great value-add for any room!
Craft Geometric Displays
Hexagonal shelves look cosy and compact, and are an effortlessly simple way to upgrade a blank wall! An added advantage of using geometrics is that it’s very easy to add on more units, as and when you feel the need.
Opt for English Style Shelves
Wooden shelves with shiplap backing lend an English cottage-style look to this display of books. Arrange books in piles rather than lining them all up slantwise, to create an interesting composition, and also do away with the need for book-ends.
Create Visual Balance
This rustic farmhouse-style kitchen uses open shelves that are symmetrical and balanced on either side of the cooking range. They work exceptionally well in terms of utility, too. Just reach out for spices and cooking essentials, even as you keep stirring the pan on the stove!
Play Around with Criss Cross Shelving
Opt for smaller shelves to suit smaller areas. This lovely criss-cross pattern of shelves is playful and interesting, and a lovely way to display smaller curio items and artefacts.
Add a Bathroom Ladder
For a modern and sleek look, consider using shelves in metal instead of wood. This simple ladder display in black metal is fixed to the wall and offers ‘less-is-more’ storage for towels, oils and shampoos.
Important Considerations to Keep in Mind!
- While open shelves look gorgeous, they can be very difficult to keep dust-free. If you don’t want to be displaying dust along with your books, it’s important to clean up every day!
- Especially in the kitchen, shelves that are very close to the cooking hob tend to collect oil and fumes. Make sure that the exhaust is running at full power while you cook.
- Keep the colour palette simple and the design streamlined, so that more importance is given to the display rather than the shelf itself.
- If you have a lot of books to store, check whether you should opt for shelves with brackets for additional support, rather than floating shelves.
- Create more interest by adding potted plants that require minimal care and can thrive without sunlight.
- Be mindful of what you choose to display! Open shelving has plenty of advantages, but the placement and choice of items can lead to clutter, rather than the carefully curated look you are trying to achieve!
Open shelves are cost-effective and a simple, stylish way to upgrade your décor. For more ideas and how-tos, connect with a HomeLane designer right away!
