Shelves in the living room
16 beautiful ways to display books and trinkets |
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.’
EKBY ALEX Shelf with drawers, white, 46 7/8x11 3/8"
This is exactly what IDOLORESThis is exactly what I need for my desk/sewing table. It doesn’t take a lot space and I can store things I use the most.5
Ekby Alex shelfAnnaI bought them for my sewing/ craft room. I wanted something that will look great but also offer much needed storage option. They were very easy to put together, I highly recommend this product5
Convenient DrawersAdrianThese drawers work nicely with other ALEX and EKBY products.
I also combine them with EKET cubes. Easy to assemble, look good, work well.4
NiceJEANJean5
Works perfect on my sonsSusanaWorks perfect on my sons bedroom5
Beautiful productLuisI use this as part of a vanity for my daughter we both love it!!!5
Perfect shelfCLAREInstalled this in my small guest bedroom. Works great for my guests, opens up room.5
Love it brings up theKimberlyLove it brings up the height of my impressions mirror exactly where I needed it to be5
Great drawers for what I neededSamanthaThese are exactly what I needed for the space. Disappointed that the back was not also white. I need it to be so I used contact paper to disgui6the ugly look of the open wood.3
Gift for our granddaughter!DebiGift for our granddaughter!5
Awesome shelfajlacombeThis is a great shelf - it has some some drawers inside the shelf. It is super easy to assemble and I really find it useful on a day to day basis. It is a nice way to add some drawers to a place that would not normally have them (under a shelf).
The ONLY downside is that it should come in some colors to match the other IKEA lines for drawers and dressers. Only having white means that it could possibly stick out in a room of all blue furniture. A black/brown offering would be a good next one to add - then maybe a woodgrain would be enough, but the new blue would be great.5
Vanity-drawersPaul13Bought it for vanity unit but does not come with brackets so make sure you purchase some brackets from somewhere. No notice on it to say u need to purchase brackets - eight messing about finding appropriate brackets1
Right sizeMomogirlSometimes you need a setup that is simple and minimal to keep your life organized. Bought this desk for my daughter to use as a vanity. She had just a small space available in her closet to make her own and she loves it. We anchored it to the wall to keep it steady and added Ikea peg boards for additional display surface and easy access to beauty products. Perfect combination!!!5
So in loveMeryn62I make everyone come into my room so they can see it! I am completely obsessed.
5
Doing the JobNorwaterfordAll in all this suits my purpose as I need extra drawers and something to set my small TV on (on my desk). The downfall is that the drawers don't open very far so you really can't take full advantage of them, but they are fine for sticking papers in.4
LOVE.. but..Amanda34I have had these shelves up in my living room for roughly 6 months now. I LOVE them. They look amazing and are exactly what I was looking for! The only problem is they only come in white.. which is not my jam. I did go through the monumental task of painting them black (Seriously, took forever and was SUCH a pain!).. and it was totally worth it... but, come on IKEA! Help those of us out who just can't do white and add a black, gray, black/brown... anything!!4
good priceAlisa666I got it to use it as a vanity table. It took me less than 20 min to put it together. Because of the really poor quality, I had to spend another $100 to buy a glass to put it over the top. Otherwise, the top of this shelf would get destroyed in less than a month5
X Mas GiftGuerillaGucciBought this for my niece as a house warming present for the new house.
She loves it, uses it daily! The minimalist look really adds a modern feel to the room.5
Used for vanity deskKay7110Used it for a vanity desk and I love it!!!!5
Great qualityMgarcia94Am so happy with it, use for my make-up5
Modern shelves in the interior of the living room - 50 photo options
A shelf is one of the simplest inventions that allows you to compactly arrange things and objects in a certain order. Today, they are used in the interior of many rooms, where they act not only as a functional item, but are often an important element of decor. This article presents photos of shelves in the interior of living rooms and discusses the main examples of their use.
Shelves fit many design trends and are therefore found in most modern living rooms. This is a versatile item that complements the decor of the room well, and in some cases decorates it.
For example, in spacious living rooms, shelves of small sizes are often used, which become the highlight of the room, connecting various elements of the interior. Especially if the room has a square or oblong shape.
Modern regiments in the interior of the living room
Content
- Book Shelves
- Shelves above furniture
- Shelves between the slopes of the window
- Shelves in wall niches
- Shelves for flowers
- Office
- Conclusion
Bookshelves
The classic bookshelf option is used in many contemporary guest rooms. In most houses, books are stored either in Soviet walls or in ordinary bookcases. Today, however, designers recommend placing books on hanging shelves, which can be metal or wood. Sometimes combined shelves are used, consisting of both materials. To give the interior a zest, designers develop unusual shapes for bookshelves. For example, they can be located at an angle or in the form of several crosses.
Wooden Book Shelves in the interior of the living room
Rommboration cells for books in the interior of the living room
Rabberry for
Forms of wall shelves are different, consider the most common of them:
- with rear or rear or rear or rear or rear or posteriorities side walls;
- single or multiple levels;
- with vertical or horizontal arrangement;
- open and closed;
- massive or delicate;
- with right angles as well as oblique or rounded corners.
The appearance of the shelves should be based on the design direction that is used in the design of the room.
Shelves over furniture
Modern living rooms are designed with maximum space in mind, but too much space can be detrimental. The weakest point is the bare wall above the sofa and armchairs, on which paintings or family photographs are usually hung. This solution is not always able to effectively solve the problem of empty space, and it will not work at all for some design areas.
Instead of an art gallery, experts recommend hanging a couple of narrow shelves above the sofa, and put a few family photos on them.
Tip! The interior will be very original if you arrange the shelves in a checkerboard pattern, and in order for such a composition not to look massive, you should choose short and narrow shelves, while their length should be up to 1 m, and the width should not exceed 15 cm.
For rooms that are decorated in art deco and pop art, shelves equipped with hanging elements are often used. Usually they are placed above sofas, armchairs and other pieces of furniture. A long and massive shelf is hung under the very ceiling, from which multi-level whatnots extend down. So that objects do not overload the interior, but organically complement it, experts recommend using shelves only in light colors.
Shelves between window slopes
Window shelves are a rather unusual option for decorating a living room.
This solution is perfect for those people who like to decorate the room with numerous flowers. It is not necessary to block the entire opening with window shelves, depriving the room of sunlight. You can use compact options in which the flowers are located on special shelves that occupy only part of the window opening. Violets, cyclamens and other small flowers will look great on such shelves.
Shelves in wall niches
If your living room has wall niches that are difficult to use for any needs, you can build small shelves into them. They will help to hide the shortcomings of this architectural element, making it the highlight of the entire room.
The length and width of the shelves should be selected depending on the parameters of the wall niche. Stylistically, the material must fully comply with the surrounding interior. Consider the main recommendations of designers for embedding shelves in wall niches:
- you can equip the niche with LED lighting to make it look more colorful;
- if the wall niche is small, it is better to equip its space with shelves completely;
- in addition to the shelves, the niche can be decorated with a textured finish, and the color scheme should be different from the rest of the interior elements of the living room.
Shelves for flowers
Many housewives love to grow flowers, and some are really passionate about the process. As a result, there may not be enough space on the windowsills, so it is worth equipping hanging shelves to accommodate flower pots. The advantage of this solution is that the plants will not interfere with the penetration of daylight into the room. If there are any defects on the wall, flower pots will help to carefully hide any flaw.
Tip! If desired and if you have free time, you can make such shelves yourself.
For large flowers it is recommended to use heavy weight metal shelves. It is good to place small flowers on miniature shelves, which are decorated with decorative openwork elements.
In addition to living plants, artificial flowers look great on open shelves. Climbing plants decorate the interior well. Their branches can be gracefully spread along the wall or ceiling, making a corner of the living room look like a small garden.
The photo of the shelves in the interior of the living room shows the most striking design options that many designers are guided by.
Unusual shelf shapes
Today, interior specialists are developing many extravagant solutions for the design of the living room, including shelves. Designers offer the most unusual forms.
For example, shelves with a 45-degree slope, which are held on special racks, look very original. In functional terms, this slope is useless, but as a decorative element it looks quite creative. There are also whole furniture compositions from shelves designed in the form of geographical maps or avant-garde figures.
Shelves in interior styles
Designers love to use shelving compositions to divide a room into functional areas. Each style has a specific shelving system. Let's look at the main examples.
- Hi-tech. In such a living room, wooden or metal shelves in a zigzag shape are used.
Accessories here should be present in a minimal amount so as not to overload the decor. Such shelves initially look very original, so there is no need to fill the interior with unnecessary decorations. It will be enough to put a home phone, a frame with a photo or a clock.
- Rev. For this style, shelves may seem like a bulky element, but there are many successful examples of such design. Usually they are hung separately, but in some cases they act as an integral part of the modular wall. Modern style does not involve a large number of accessories, so you can put a few books on the shelves and put a vase or figurine.
- Provence. In this direction, open shelves are rare, and functional ones, on which things are stored, are not allowed at all. Usually only decorative shelves made of glass are used here. The material used is durable tempered glass of various color shades, which, in combination with vases and figurines, looks truly elegant.
Also, whitewashed shelves decorated with flowers and hearts are well suited to the Provence style.
- Country. In this direction, rustic motifs are used. Rural houses traditionally had a lot of homemade wooden furniture, among which shelves occupied a special place. Modern living rooms use painted wood shelves. In terms of decor, they are quite simple, although forged options with openwork design are allowed.
- Baroque. Such an interior involves a large number of decorative elements, so the shelves are necessarily decorated with elegant patterns, carved details or stucco. It is very important that they contain a touch of luxury and solemnity inherent in this style.
Conclusion
In the interior of most modern living rooms, shelves play one of the main roles. They store objects, with their help divide the space and provide a single style of the room. With the right design, they are able to qualitatively transform the atmosphere of the room.
It does not matter at all whether the shelves are part of the furniture or act as a separate composition. They will always shape the look of the room along with the rest of the items. That is why designers pay close attention to them in their work.
100 Photos of beautiful examples of design, variety
If until now it seemed to you that shelves are the most boring furniture, it's time to look at this piece of furniture from a different perspective. They may not be too complex on their own, but they offer great arranging possibilities worth using in interior design. See ideas for shelves in the living room.
Shelves in the living room - original decor in the house
The living room has furniture that cannot be ignored.
After all, this is where you usually have the greatest opportunity to create beautiful decor. No other room does a better job of showcasing accessories and decorations to guests. The living room is also a great place to showcase what you're proud of. So, if you own a whole series of your favorite books or boast a large collection of DVDs, it makes no sense to hide them from the world deep in closets, but to put them on public display. Shelves are a place that works great for this purpose.
Shelves are not only furniture for storing things, mainly books, but also an excellent decoration for walls. It is enough to choose them correctly, placing them in the location. If you have a good idea, then you can create an original decor thanks to the shelves. It is especially worth experimenting by placing shelves in the living room.
At the same time, remember that these are open structures, so you should put on them what you want to show off. In addition to books, these are usually various trophies, prizes, sometimes porcelain, collectibles and much more.
Shelves in the interior of the living room: choosing the right model
Considering the different options for shelves, it is worth thinking about the appropriate type and format of construction. For books, it's pretty simple. Shelves should be large enough so that the widest book does not stick out and is stable. The appearance and material of manufacture must match the style of the interior. However, remember that too many shelves in the living room may not be appropriate. Dust will immediately accumulate on them. So if you have a large collection to display, it's best to put it in a glass or bookcase. Then you don't have to vacuum all the exhibits every week.
When looking for the right shelf, it is also important to understand how to hang it. Unaesthetic fasteners are not an option unless you have an industrial interior. Then you can afford this decision. In other cases, shelves should be mounted on invisible screws. Recently, designs with metal or leather pendants have been in fashion.
They look very interesting and can add expressiveness to the arrangement.
Shelves in the living room in a modern style
An interesting composition can be created from wall shelves, especially if they have extraordinary shapes. In the last few seasons, the shapes of houses and honeycombs have been especially fashionable. They can be freely grouped and placed on walls, bringing a new aesthetic quality to a modern room.
Next to the simple hanging shelves made of various materials, you will find a wide range of very complex models, eg tree branches, zigzags. It is worth choosing this type of shelves when you want them to be the main accent in the room.
Hanging shelves for the living room
Today you can find a wide selection of shelves that are found in both classic, simple, and modern and unusual forms, so they will not only be a place for your jewelry, but a self-sufficient decor. An interesting piece of furniture is a round hanging metal shelf that will give an unusual character to any room.
A shelf with baskets is also considered an original solution. If you want to highlight things that are important to you in a special way, you should choose a shelf with LED lighting. Glass and metal objects will look especially good. If you want to use the living room in the most functional way, a corner shelf is a great option, thanks to which you will save a lot of space.
If you're wondering what to put on your living room shelf, there are plenty of options. In addition to the already mentioned books and DVDs, shelves are a great place to display photos of family and friends in decorative frames. You can also place plants in pots or stylish vases on the shelves, as well as scented candles, lanterns and other decorative items. In fact, any item that you think is worthy of presentation will be suitable for placement on the shelves.
Living room shelves in different styles
Choose shelves from a variety of materials, mainly wood, furniture panels and metal.
Consider also glass designs, and even those with leather accents. What material you choose for the shelf depends largely on the interior design, the style of the living room and the desired effect.
Shelves come in a variety of styles. Take a look at the presented photos of models that are ideal for both modern and classic interiors. This article contains a lot of suggestions for lovers of Scandinavian, industrial and retro interiors. Thanks to such a variety, you can easily find shelves that you will be interested in mounting in your living room.
There are shelves in different price ranges. However, remember that even an ordinary shelf in the living room will give you more than you expect. This furniture has exceptional power, so if you feel like a room is too monotonous, one shelf and a few accessories are enough to give your living room a completely different expression. Check out the variety of functional furniture.
Shelves for TV in the living room
Shelves for TV - an offer of furniture for the living room.
