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Ideas for shelves in living room


16 beautiful ways to display books and trinkets |

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(Image credit: Mary Wadsworth / Kitesgrove / Albion Nord)

Living room shelving is a great way to add extra storage space to the main room, as well as wow factor. 

The right freestanding shelving unit can transform a whole living room. It’s a place to store your collections as well as display your treasures. Whether you want a striking statement unit that will provide a focal point or a more discreet design that will blend in effortlessly, there’s a model out there to suit your space and style. 

Below we explore our favorite living room shelving – perfect for adding impact and intrigue to living room ideas and blank walls.

16 living room shelving ideas – maximize space and add interest to a blank wall

'When it comes to designing a living room, efficient storage ideas are one of the most important factors to consider, in order to keep your living room organized and a place in which to relax and spend time with loved ones,' says Emma Deterding, founder and creative director, Kelling Designs.  

'Built-in joinery in the form of shelving is ideal for making the best use of oddly shaped rooms, alcoves and recesses as not only does it use the space to its best potential, but it also gives you ample storage for everyday items, as well as decorative elements too.' 

From alcove shelf ideas to bookshelf ideas, we’ve put together some stunning living room shelving ideas, and asked the experts for their advice on decorating shelves that are perfect for your here and now. 

1. Pick the best materials – and color scheme

(Image credit: Future)

The materials and living room color scheme you opt to use for an open shelving unit can really make a difference to the overall scheme. Consider combining pale and dark timbers, or a using a timber and painted finish combination, or even incorporating other materials such as wallpaper or fabric, which can make interesting back panels. 

2. Light your living room shelving

(Image credit: Future / Matthew Williams)

Good living room lighting ideas are also key to the success of living room shelving. The advent of LED options has opened up new possibilities for discreet and subtle effects – especially as the fittings themselves are small and no longer run the risk of getting hot. A beautifully lit display shelf will add drama and scale.

3. Go for an open shelving display

(Image credit: Richard Powers / Future)

Open shelving can create a real statement in a neutral living room and is both practical and visually pleasing. It is also a more economical option than a fully enclosed storage unit. It is particularly suited to small recesses in areas such as either side of a chimney-breast, helping to visually correct uneven proportions. 

Kitchens and bathrooms are also areas of the house where open shelving can create an appealing display. Don't be afraid to be bold, mixing fun, witty pieces with functional items that are used every day.

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti / Future)

Try mixing large statement pieces with smaller items grouped together. When grouping, consider the shape that the objects create collectively and play with color and form to keep things interesting. Glass lidded pots will look more enticing if filled with colorful props, whether they be functional or decorative.

5. Consider size and appearance

(Image credit: Simon Bevan / Future)

Think carefully about the thickness you want each shelf in your living room to be. If you’re using wood, it pays to choose a chunky option, giving a strong, clean, confident appearance. Think too about whether you’d like shelves with adjustable heights to allow for flexibility.

6. Go for an entirely bespoke option

(Image credit: James Merrell / Future)

'Commissioning your living room shelving or built-in cabinet ideas for family rooms from a furniture maker will make the very best use of a space,' says Richard Williams, Richard Williams Furniture . 

'A joiner will work around awkward shapes in walls and conceal service pipes or wall boxing. Large pieces will be fixed and scribed to the shape of the wall and skirting, which gives a very neat finish. If shelves are to be adjustable, look for neat and unobtrusive methods of adjustability such as 5mm shelf pegs with a limited number of peg holes for each shelf.’ 

7. Use living room shelving to create 'zones' 

(Image credit: James Merrell / Future)

Adequate living room storage is essential in an open plan living room as streamlined spaciousness is key to the look. Sleek, wall-hung shelves that appear to ‘float’ are the smart, modern option and you can also use furniture to divide the space into zones. 

Proportion and balance are important considerations – you want to avoid feeling hemmed in by wall-to-wall shelving units.

8. Invest in shelving for books

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti / Future)

Notebooks and Kindles may be de rigueur for modern living rooms but most still hold a sizeable collection of good old fashioned books too.  

Alcove shelving will successfully house your tomes in a small living room where narrow shelves along one wall – just a book-width deep – will not hamper space. Alternatively, look at arranging such shelves around a doorway for added intrigue.

9. Curate a display that dazzles

(Image credit: James Merrell / Future)

Floor-to-ceiling shelving makes an arresting focal point, particularly on a blank living room accent wall. It can be used to enhance the sense of height in the room and create the illusion of space. Painting cabinetry a bold shade can have a dramatic effect, whilst white or off-black are effective backdrops for display. 

Create a focal point by ordering items for impact: color-code novels; showcase oversized books and vinyl records front-on to draw the eye; and cluster collections of similar items – ceramics, glassware or trinkets – for a carefully curated look.

10. Consider freestanding shelving 

(Image credit: Paul Raeside / Future)

Create instant shelving with lean-to or freestanding shelving units, perfect for adding storage to a free wall space in your living room. A design more suited to contemporary homes – with an easy living feel to them – it’s an ideal solution for those who like to change the layout and décor of their room frequently – and it’s easy to take with you should you move home.

11. Create a focal point behind a sofa

(Image credit: Future / Polly Wreford)

The wall space behind the sofa is a natural place to display a large artwork in a living room – but rather than hang a traditional painting, why not decorate shelves with shapely vessels for a beautiful, alternative focal point? For best results be sure to choose a mix of heights, sculptural shapes and surface textures.

When it comes to styling a shelf, 'it is important to consider the spaces you leave empty just as much as the spaces you fill,' explains Simon Temprell, interior design manager at Neptune . 'Try to avoid lots of small objects and instead concentrate on more considered items that have presence and form.'

12. Mix closed storage with open storage

(Image credit: Albion Nord)

When planning living room shelving made-to-measure, bespoke joinery is often the best way to make the most of your space, plus consider a mix of closed and open shelving as this will help balance practical storage with space for decorative displays.  

‘It’s important to make a space feel relaxed and not sterile or unliveable. Try to create storage for the pieces that don’t need to be on show but make sure to celebrate and show off the things that bring you joy,’ says Camilla Clarke, creative director at Albion Nord . ‘We like to mix high level open shelving with concealed storage. Open shelving to display books, art, photos and concealed storage to hide things that don’t need to be on show.’

If you have a large expanse of shelving hanging a graphic artwork is a great way to conceal eyesores like cables whilst also creating a visual break. 

13. Decorate shelving with plants

(Image credit: Future / Mary Wadsworth)

Ask any interior designer or stylist for their tips for styling shelves and plants would be near the top of the list. Not only do they bring numerous benefits for health and wellbeing, plants and greenery brings interiors to life and can look beautifully decorative too.

'Plants will bring an element of softness and freshness to any shelf, especially those that trail,' says Simon Temprell.  'Succulents have architectural style and demand very little attention, so they can be useful for filling the gaps where objects feel a little too rigid.' 

Of course when it comes to choosing house plants for shelves it all depends on their specific light needs, but adding them to a living room partition, even if it's just faux plants, can be a really handy tool for helping to soften harsh angles and bring color and interest while keeping the space feeling open and airy.

14. Choose floating shelves

(Image credit: Kitesgrove)

If you're looking to create a minimalist living room or have a small living room then consider floating shelves. 

Fixed to the wall with hidden brackets, floating shelves are perfect for creating an airy, streamlined look as demonstrated in this space by Kitesgrove , and will help create the illusion of space.

15. Opt for a display cabinet with shelves

(Image credit: Future/Jon Day)

Fixed shelves can limit living room layout options, so if you're looking for a more flexible storage solution consider a glazed cabinet, not only are they easy to reposition, they help protect collectibles and prevent the need for constant dusting, too.

'A glass fronted cabinet is far more versatile than built-in storage – it can be easily moved between rooms and taken with you if you move home,' says Dani Taylor, product and creative director at Cox & Cox. 'A combination of glass fronts and solid doors is often most desirable, so you can really get the most of it.'

If you're using your cabinet to display china, consider a using vibrant paint idea on the interior to make the pieces really pop.

16. Add alcove shelving

(Image credit: Mary Wadsworth)

Fitting floating shelves into alcoves is a brilliant way to create additional storage or display space without encroaching on valuable floor space, plus, it can be a lovely way to highlight an architectural feature within a room. 

Alternatively, recessed shelving can be fitted retrospectively into a room. While this will reduce the overall footprint, the result will be a streamlined space which feels airy and spacious.

Made from solid timber, these alcove shelves help bring texture and warmth to this white living room design by Kitesgrove, as do the metallic wall lights and marbled fireplace.

Where should shelving be placed in the living room?

If you are planning open shelving, work to the full proportions of the living room to create maximum impact. A floor-to-ceiling unit, with sturdy, adjustable shelves and minimal fixtures will offer a strong, enticing look and act as an excellent anchor and display. 

In smaller rooms, including living areas, shelving can be an effective way of creating storage without appearing to eat too much space. Consider the look you are opting for, whether traditional, featuring detailed joinery, or sleek and unfussy with a contemporary edge. And think carefully about what you are displaying – this will ensure each shelf is made to allow sufficient depth and to carry weight without warping.

How do I organize my living room shelves?

'Keeping your living room shelves organized is vital,' says Anne Haimes, Anne Haimes Interiors . 'Items placed in groups or in lines of threes, fours or fives will prevent the shelves looking untidy. When choosing the overall look, decide if you want the shelves to be made in a material which is a statement in itself, or if you want them to have a less prominent role, allowing your display to do all the talking.’

‘More and more, we’re seeing shelving used as a feature in a room,’ says Ian Weddell, USM Modular Furniture . ‘In loft apartments, it can be used as a room divider idea to 'zone' a large space; and shelving can be used to display not only books, but also vases of flowers, sculptures or artwork.’

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.

10 Best Living Room Shelving Ideas

Not sure what to do with that blank wall? Living room shelves add storage and style. Read on for 10 options for you to consider.

Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication.

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Courtesy of @pionierehome

Simple Floating Living Room Shelves

These simple floating shelves by Pioniere Home provide wall decor and book storage while balancing the visual weight of the TV. To achieve a similar look, stack three floating shelves (like these, or build your own) and keep your styling understated. Try varying the heights of your accessories using stacks of books. Looking for more styles? Here’s our list of different types of shelves to organize your home.

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Courtesy of @tinyterrace25

Modern Living Room Shelving Unit

A large modern shelving unit like this from @tinyterrace25 makes a big statement in any living room. (Check out this similar piece and this one you can build.) When it comes to filling the shelves, anything goes, but you can never go wrong with plants. The organic shapes pop against the hard lines of the geometric shelves.

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Courtesy of @katherinecharltondesign

Streamlined Built-In Living Room Shelves

Built-in shelves add a custom look to your living room, elevating the whole space. These sleek built-in shelves by @katherinecharltondesign put a fresh spin on traditional, ornate built-ins next to the fireplace.

By using white floating shelves against white vertical shiplap, the decorative accessories take center stage. Built-ins not in your budget? Substitute a white bookcase next to your fireplace for a similar effect.

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Courtesy of @hass_khalfan

DIY Ladder Living Room Shelves

This DIY ladder shelving unit by @hass_khalfan was made with lumber and a few pieces of hardware! A piece like this is a work of art on its own. Adding plants, personal décor and books makes it a true showpiece. (This store-bought version is also beautiful but will cost you a lot more.)

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Courtesy of @jackie.hoyte

Picture Ledge Living Room Shelf

Don’t overthink your living room wall shelves. Sometimes all you need is a single, long picture ledge, as proven here by @jackie.hoyte.

The ledge displays photos and art in the same way a gallery wall can, but makes it much easier to rearrange and swap out frames when needed. This picture ledge is a generous 60 inches wide, giving you plenty of display room. Or you can make a picture ledge shelf any size you want.

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Courtesy of @thecoefam

Farmhouse Living Room Shelving Unit

No matter your style, there’s a shelf for that. The wood and metal farmhouse-style bookshelf blends perfectly with this gorgeous cottage living room by @thecoefam. And just because it’s a bookcase doesn’t mean it has to hold books. Leaning artwork, vintage accessories and handmade ceramics provide the perfect balance of décor and function.

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Courtesy of @spaceshackldn

Wall of Living Room Shelves

If a few shelves are good, why not a whole wall of shelves? That’s the philosophy behind this cozy living room by @spaceshackldn. It’s a great solution if you have a lot of books or a large collection of items you want to display, or if you just love the maximalist look. Check out this extra large unit that, when placed against your wall, will give you a similar effect.

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via wayfair.com

Budget-Friendly Etagere

An etagere-style bookcase has open shelving that doesn’t add a lot of visual bulk, which makes it a good choice for a small living room. Plus, because of its minimal design, you can find an etagere at an affordable price. You can snag this elegant version for less than $200!

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Courtesy of @jointhebandd

Navy Living Room Shelf Built-Ins

Get a moody, sophisticated vibe with dark living room shelves like these navy built-ins by @jointhebandd. (Here’s a navy bookcase for a similar look, especially if set against a navy-painted wall.) When styling dark shelves, be sure to use light-colored books, decorative accessories and baskets so they pop against that dark backdrop.

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via wayfair.com

Wall-Mounted Ladder Shelf

We love how this ladder shelving unit combines the look of a free-standing bookcase and wall-mounted shelves. It frees up floor space underneath, but still has the visual impact of a bookcase. The simple sleek design fits well with any style living room decor. Happy Wayfair reviewers love the sturdy construction and easy assembly.

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Originally Published: May 11, 2021

Shelves in the living room - 85 photos of ideas on how to choose and decorate in the interior

A shelf in the living room is a familiar attribute, practical, convenient, sometimes indispensable.

These shelves often store a home library, some little things, accessories and decorative items. Shelves make a big difference in the look of a room.

Content of the article:

Varieties of racks and shelves

There are so many types of shelves that sometimes it is not easy to make a choice.

By design, shelves are often used to store small items, but this is a bit wrong, because the shelf, oddly enough, transforms the space.

The shelf can be made by hand, with built-in seats, from a designer, with a mirror, open type, like a partition, floating.

There are actually a lot of varieties. There are also modular shelves, there are transformer shelves, hanging shelves in the living room - it's all on sale!

Of course, book attributes are the most sought after, and they are chosen according to personal preferences.

Corner shelf

For the living room, the so-called transformer shelf is often purchased, which changes its size and shape. Its disadvantage is that it can withstand a small weight, but despite this, it is often attached to the wall.

Another popular variety is shelving, which will perfectly complement any design, especially if the room is in a high-tech country style. Places are occupied by such a rack is minimal.

Construction types:

Modular shelves

It is most appropriate to use glass-covered shelves in the living room. Such shelves in the modern living room allow you to store some luxurious items.

Interestingly, the glass does not catch the eye at all, and therefore this option is applicable in small rooms, for example, in a living room in Khrushchev.

At the window, open attributes are used, because they can miraculously be combined with a coffee table. Hanging shelves - saving space.

In a classic interior, it is acceptable to use objects made of wood of the correct form, which are decorated with carvings and forging.

In country style, it is reasonable to use untreated, aged items. In high-tech style, glass shelves or metal shelves are used. Their shape is often wrong.

How to decorate a shelf with your own hands?

The apartment is most often decorated with their own hands, and the shelves are no exception. To get the job done, you need to buy a regular shelf, no frills. Most often it is a piece of wood, plastic.

Decor is made using materials such as leather, natural wood additions, forging, dyeing.

It is not difficult at all to complete the design of a unique shelf, the main thing is to think over a work plan. It is best to make basic outlines on paper, and then draw up the product.

There are many options for how to arrange a shelf, and there are a lot of ideas on the Internet that are worth reading. There are so many ideas that it is not difficult at all to create beautiful decorative TV shelves in the living room without designers.

Selection tips

The furniture matches the style of the room, and matches the style, color, material. It is best that one of the elements is selected for the type of furniture.

When choosing, it is important to understand that the shelf must be stable, durable, reliable, and hold the normal weight of items.

Shelves in the interior of the living room are the main attribute, because they are used both as storage for small things and as decor. The shelf does not take up much space, but at the same time it is an addition to the interior.

If you have to choose a shelf, then you should make a choice according to the further purpose.

Of course, the appearance of the shelf is of no small importance, and therefore you can look through the photos of the shelves in the living room, see what varieties there are, maybe you will like something and it will become easier to make a choice.

Photo of the Ideas for Regulations in the living room

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Shelves are not only convenient and practical, but also aesthetic, because with the help of these simple structures and their content, you can completely transform the room space. Most often, hinged and corner shelves, racks and sections built into furniture are found in the living room, where they harmoniously and effectively fit into the overall design.

Contents of the article:

Design options

The time of standard places to store books and small knick-knacks is long gone, and now designers present dozens of options for using shelves in the interior of the living room. Several groups can be distinguished:

The classic hanging shelves in the living room are a familiar product made of fastened boards or lattice panels.

For zoning the interior space in studio apartments, partitions are used, made in the form of shelving in the entire height of the wall.


"Slides" differ from fences by the presence of uneven edges or steps, due to which the design is unusual.

Multi-colored modules suggest a kind of constructor game when whole compositions are assembled from squares, rectangles or triangles. Their main advantages: mobility, non-standard and fast assembly, disassembly.

Built-in and corner shelves are made to order and use "dead" room areas: wall joints, narrow niches and openings.

An interesting solution could be furniture, the armrests and the base of which can be allocated for open sections to accommodate various items.

Arched compositions are often included in original products, as they are made in the form of a U-shaped shelf above a sofa, armchair or TV. Like other handmade models, they are non-standard, unusual and unique.

How to choose

In some cases, shelves come with a wardrobe, TV stand or dressing table, united by a common style and color.

If you decide to complement an existing interior, then you need to act on a similar principle - look for the most suitable model in terms of style, texture, color and shape.

Separately, the weight and strength of the shelf is taken into account, which is selected depending on the intended content. Unusually shaped glass or plasterboard products are chosen for light loads, but thick wooden sections with a separation depth of at least 50 cm and a wall thickness of at least 5 cm are needed to store heavy books or valuable vases. The configuration is also significant: spiral, rounded models for light accessories only .


In addition to the maximum weight, attention is paid to the reliability of the fastenings, the strength of the material, and the stability of the structure. It is also important to carefully inspect the purchase, as the coating should not have chips, scratches, scuffs or other defects.

Playing in the interior

Even an ordinary square shelf can become a full-fledged "highlight" in the interior, for this it is enough to beat it, showing imagination and ingenuity. So, the trend of this season is the uneven placement of simple square structures of various shades and configurations on the wall.

The distance between them can vary from 20 cm to opposite ends of the room. It is important that the number of such modules be more than three or four.

The following technique is also popular: painting the deep walls of the adjacent rack compartments in bright contrasting colors. Mirrors inserted instead of backdrops also look luxurious.

Modern shelves are made in the most unusual configurations: specially curved, spiral, figured and disproportionate products.

Designers often use the method of visual expansion of space by deliberately leaving some sections empty. A free shelf, illuminated by a built-in lamp or a framed LED wire, also looks interesting.

Original self-made shelves are always in fashion, while the artificial aging of the material, negligence, massiveness and carelessness give them charm and originality.


You can also decorate the product yourself, which will require leather or leatherette, metal elements, textiles, paper, stencil, tree branches or log cabins, paints, brushes, glue.

The first step is to think over the algorithm on paper, look at photos of the shelves designed by designers for the living room, look for ideas on the Internet, prepare the surface and get down to business.

Tips and tricks

When choosing any, even the most modest shelf in terms of dimensions, certain points must be taken into account: