How To Determine The Perfect Height For Your Floating Shelves

Whether used as decor displays or functional storage (or a mix of both), nothing completes the look of a room quite like shelves. The tricky part, though, is installing floating shelves at the right height. Too high or too low, and the shelves can drastically affect the visual flow of the space — not to mention, hinder convenience. Imagine struggling to reach your dishware every time you're in the kitchen. Meanwhile, your living room shelfie that displays your favorite accessories with style is easily reachable by curious little fingers. No bueno, right? Luckily, finding the perfect height is child's play when you consider the shelves' location first. Why? Because each room placement calls for a different approach.

Before we get into the specifics, let's touch on the "floating shelves height rule of thumb." Pros recommend mounting the lowest shelf four to five feet from the ground. Of course, many factors affect this golden rule. For example, your height. Since everyone measures differently, hanging the shelves at your eye level can provide a more comfortable configuration. Alternatively, the ideal height would also depend on the layout you're going for, especially if you're adding floating shelves from floor to ceiling. In that case, nix the suggested height and go as low as you want. With that out of the way, here's a quick guide to help you achieve the perfect height for your floating shelves wherever you place them.

Starting with the kitchen, you'll want your shelves to be easy to access. This could look like floating them 16 to 24 inches from the countertop for a spacious and freely accessible setup. Moving onto the living room, if you're putting shelves above the couch, measure about 10 inches high from the top of the backrest. This same height works well above the TV, too — unless you have more empty space to fill, then aim higher.

Another savvy way to transform your space with floating shelves is to hang them above the bed. If you don't have a headboard, you could set a floating shelf about 16 inches over your sleep space for quick-to-reach storage. That said, feel free to go higher if you're afraid of hitting your head when sitting up in bed. Otherwise, try placing your shelves around 24 inches above your headboard if you have one.

Looking for small bathroom shelf ideas that will maximize your space? Mount your floating shelves 10 to 12 inches above your toilet. This ensures there's enough room to lift the tank lid comfortably. As for office spaces, a handy guideline is to install shelves 22 to 24 inches above your desk for the perfect balance between not getting in the way but still within easy reach when you need to grab something quickly. Anywhere else can abide by the 4 to 5-foot rule from the floor — just keep the spacing between the shelves a minimum of 12 inches apart so the displayed items have room to breathe.