How To Choose The Best Style Of Floating Shelf For Your Space

Incorporating floating shelves is a great way to update the look of any room without breaking the bank. It also allows you to make a big impact on the visual appeal of your space. Advantages to designing with a floating shelf include using vertical space, saving room on the floor for other items. Floating shelves attach directly to the wall without traditional brackets showing underneath, removing that distraction and allowing the items arranged on them to become the focus. These shelves save space, since, unlike a cabinet, there are no legs or doors, and present less bulk. They can be custom designed to fit an available nook — anyplace you have wall space, you can probably fit at least one shelf. Finally, they're easy to install. A few shelves in just the right places will transform your space with minimal effort on your part.

Are you looking for additional storage? Something with depth to fill a blank wall? Once you've decided on its purpose, consider the overall look you're after. Would you like to use a collection of horizontal shelves or something with more impact that creates a design of its own? Is your preference for something that matches, or contrasts with your current décor? Use caution here — a very rustic shelf set in an otherwise sleek, contemporary room may stand out but not in the way you want. It's important to choose something that will complement your current aesthetic.

Shelves come in hundreds of styles. What would add to your interior? If you have a cottage or farmhouse vibe, you'll want to use thick, slab-like wood with a raw, unfinished look. For a more contemporary design, think thinner edges and a smooth finish, maybe something glossy like metal or glass. There's also modern industrial décor with its deliberately exposed architectural elements. Note that for some shelves in a particular style, brackets are added to complement the design. Once you've determined the shelf's purpose and the desired style, look for inspiration in areas from your living room to your bathroom, where shelf space is truly needed. These versatile accoutrements can also work in bedrooms and the kitchen, another area where shelf space is valuable for storage and organization.

Before acquiring anything, look at the entire room and measure to ensure the right length. Consider adding more than one shelf. Kits in the $30 to $60 range come with several pieces to group together. Undecided on a look or arrangement? Create cardboard cutouts and tape them to the wall. Arrange and rearrange your cardboard samples to determine what works best.

Finally, there's color. To make the shelves disappear, paint them the same hue as the wall. For a look that's more defined, use a contrasting color: Think black shelves in an all-white kitchen, or pale shelves against a bold accent wall. Best of all, adding floating shelves is like adding art — if it doesn't work out, reshuffle as needed to get your ideal look.