Design 101

Different Kinds of Shelves: A Buying Guide

October 24, 2024

The right shelving can finish the look and show off your favorite decorative pieces. It adds height to a room, drawing the eye upward. Shelving can also act as storage space, especially if you add doors or bins. There's a lot that shelving can do for a room. This shelving buying guide shows you how to find the right shelving for your home.

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Types of Shelving

Shelving comes in many styles, with some suited to larger spaces and others better for smaller rooms or apartment settings. The type of shelving should also match the theme and existing decor.

Bracketed Shelving

Featuring L-shaped brackets, these shelves are a traditional type of wall-mounted unit. One arm of the bracket runs vertically below the shelf or above it, with the other arm supporting the shelf's weight.

Best for: nearly any design style, from traditional to farmhouse to contemporary. Brackets come in many styles, so it's easy to match any theme.

Floating Shelves

A more modern shelving type, floating shelves feature hidden wall brackets that make the shelf appear to float on the wall.

Best for: minimalist designs because of the sleeker shape. However, these shelves can work with various themes depending on the material type.

Pegboard Shelves

These shelves feature a backboard covered in evenly spaced holes. Dowels slotted into the holes serve as shelving brackets, with shelves resting on the dowels. The pegboard can extend several feet wide and high, depending on your preference.

Best for: casual design styles. You might like pegboard shelves for rooms that need flexible designs, such as mudrooms, kitchens, or craft rooms.

Freestanding Shelving

Freestanding bookshelves serve as a piece of furniture. The bookcase frame will have two solid sides, along with a solid top and bottom. Whether the back is solid or open depends on the design. Some freestanding units have shelving that runs from side to side. Others have a central divider that allows for shelving on either side, making the unit wider.

Best for: people who don't or can't hang shelves on walls. Taller, narrower units may tip over if too top-heavy, so decor arrangement is essential, and it may be a good idea to tether these units to the wall if possible.

Modular Shelves

Modular shelves are designed for the ultimate flexibility. Some systems feature castor wheels for portability or a cube-like structure. Others have extendable tension rods or vertical brackets that run from floor to ceiling. Regardless of the design, they help you rearrange individual shelves for a custom look.

Best for: modern, contemporary, or industrial design styles. Most modular shelves are made from solid or manufactured wood and have metal bars for support.

Built-In Shelving

If you're looking for permanent shelving, you might like the look of built-in shelves. These shelves add dimension and personality, helping a room feel more homey and luxurious. Unlike freestanding units, built-ins are built into the room's framing to become part of the design. If your room has crown molding, you can add molding to help the shelves blend in.

Best for: many design styles from traditional to contemporary. These shelves also work well in unused corners, under the stairs, and in angular nooks.

Built-In vs. Removable Shelves

Built-in shelving requires a long-term commitment to a permanent set of shelves, so you may want to work them into your overall room design. For example, two recessed areas next to a fireplace or mantel may be a perfectly natural place to put built-in shelving. These shelves tend to be made from sturdier materials and be more durable overall, and they can add charm and personality to a room.

If you live in an apartment, or if you're not sure you want to keep a set of shelves in the same spot forever, removable shelves may be a better choice. Floating shelves, bracketed shelves, and bookcases are versatile pieces that you can use for different purposes depending on the room you place them in.

Shelving Materials

How do you know which shelving material is best? Here are the most common types.

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Solid wood: These shelves are long-lasting but often require a stain or waterproof coating. Wood shelving can come from softwood or hardwood trees, which affects the appearance and density of the wood.

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Manufactured wood: You can choose from different wood products based on their appearance and overall style suitability.

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Glass: Glass shelving reflects more natural lighting, making it useful for dark rooms and corners. However, you should place it higher on walls to avoid accidental breakage. Glass shelving is also better for short, narrow shelves.

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Metal: Metal is a useful shelving material for more contemporary or industrial design styles. You can find stainless steel and aluminum options, both of which are easy to clean and waterproof. However, metal can be slippery and may not be best for items such as high-priced collectibles.

Choosing Shelving for Each Room of the House

When installing your new shelving, consider their placement in the room — but also the purpose they will serve. You might need different sizes of shelving and different materials depending on each set's purpose.

Living and Dining Spaces

In a living space such as a den, living room, or family room, shelving may be large and expansive. It might hold books, movies, and family items that you wish to proudly display. Built-in shelving works well in living spaces, but it's a more permanent choice. If that's not an option for your current home, you can create the look of a library wall or built-in shelving by using several removable pieces. 

In dining spaces, shelving may not be essential but it can still provide a point of interest to a room. You may wish to create a more formal ambiance by displaying your fanciest dishes or heirloom items in a glass-front cabinet, or you might add warmth to the space by placing flowers or indoor plants on floating shelves. Think of shapes, textures, and practical touches that might add dimension to your dining room.

Bedroom Shelving

If you have the space and it fits your vision for the room, you can bring in shelves to display small items or hold books. Bedroom shelving can also serve a more practical purpose as an extension of your closet by holding pull-out cloth drawers — an ideal use for versatile cube shelving.

Different kinds of shelves have different aesthetics. You could opt for a more minimalistic look by hanging a few floating shelves for knickknacks and picture frames, or you could use several identical bookcases to create your very own library wall. Think about what look you have in mind for your bedroom before purchasing a specific type of shelving.

Garage Shelving

Shelving in the garage can hold tools, boxes of holiday decorations, and your kids' outdoor toys. These shelves should be durable and preferably made from a material like plastic or metal that won't be affected by the temperature. Freestanding shelving units on wheels are always popular as they allow you to customize your space and move the shelves around cars or other machinery.

Elevate Your Design With the Right Shelving

Now that you know your options, it's time to choose the perfect shelving for your home. Whether wall-mounted or freestanding, shelving gives you even more space to display your favorite books and decorative pieces.

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