Shelves in the interior: choice of contents, materials, colors and placement in rooms

Recommendations for choosing

Basic tips for making a smart choice:

• When choosing a cabinet shelving structure, you should consider the shade of the other furniture in the interior and the overall style of the room.
• The product must be as reliable as possible, have sufficient size and a convenient shelf height, which should correspond to the height of the person using this structure.
• A more practical solution would be closed-type models, as they protect the internal filling from dust and ultraviolet radiation.
• In living spaces, it is better to install wooden or combined products. Lighter metal models are perfect for a dressing room.

Purpose and filling of shelving

Several options for the purpose and filling of these structures:

• For zoning rooms. With the help of such double-sided models, it is possible to unobtrusively delimit the layout of the room into two functional zones. Sometimes, mobile shelves are used as an interior partition, which perfectly serve as a screen.
• For storing toys. This idea is ideal for a child’s room. Beautifully arranged toys will emphasize the aesthetics of the design and help maintain order in the room.
• Bookshelves. This design is open shelves fastened together with a common frame. A bookshelf can be an independent, portable interior element or built into a niche.
• For flowers and decorative elements. Designs that are distinguished by a decorative function most often have an original modification and a large number of shelves, on which various flower pots, photo frames, figurines, souvenirs and other cute little things can be easily placed, turning this product into a real art object.
• For clothes and shoes. Due to this solution, it is possible to create a fairly neat interior in the dressing room and compactly arrange clothes or shoes in specially designated compartments.
• For equipment. Very often, a rack with a wide horizontal plane is used for a TV. Such an option not only provides the most functional arrangement of the TV device and its related accessories, but also has a rather interesting and stylish look.
• For dishes. The product, filled with various dishes, harmoniously complements the decor, ennobles the appearance of the entire space and gives the room luxury, the effect of lightness and airiness.

The photo shows a white through shelving unit separating the kitchen area from the living room.

When choosing this design, it is especially important to think through its content, since the attractiveness of the entire surrounding design will depend on the things correctly placed on the shelves.

Material

In the manufacture of such models, a variety of materials are used:

• Metal.
• Wooden.
• Plastic.
• Glass.
• MDF, chipboard, plywood, laminated chipboard.

A properly selected high-quality material helps to create a comfortable atmosphere in the room and provides safe operation.

Shapes and sizes

Small or corner models are ideal for decorating a small room, as they do not overload the space, make maximum use of square meters, and are also very aesthetically pleasing and easy to use.

Shelves can have symmetrical or asymmetrical shelves of various rectangular, square, straight, curved or even zigzag shapes. One of the unusual solutions is considered to be a step-type product, which is several modules installed in an ascending sequence in the form of a ladder. Such designs are mostly open, without a back wall and fit perfectly into any modern interiors.

The photo shows a bedroom interior with a wooden shelving unit made in the form of a ladder.

Narrow vertical or horizontal models are especially popular, which contribute to significant space savings and the creation of a minimalist design. U-shaped structures used to frame doorways or various pieces of furniture, such as a sofa or bed, have sufficient capacity but a compact appearance.

Color scheme

White, milky, gray or beige shelving units are considered to be traditional and universal color solutions. shades that harmoniously combine with both bright and muted interior decoration. To create a more graphic design, choose products in rich yellow, green, blue, red colors, prefer classic black, dark brown models or wenge designs, which are distinguished by a special natural look and high cost.

The photo shows a yellow shelving unit in the interior of a guest room.

Using a variety of colored items can bring a positive mood to the room’s atmosphere and add color to the decor.

Location

A great solution is to place the shelves around the window or between the window openings. This way, you can use the space wisely and organize comfortable storage of things.

Due to the versatility of these products, they can also be easily placed in a corner or in a niche. Another common option is to install the structure along the wall. Such models can consist of two parts, combined with a cabinet. A full-fledged storage system or a modest decorative corner can be created using shelves located under the stairs.

Photos of shelves in the interior of rooms

Examples of designs in the design of different rooms.

Shelves in the children’s room

Basically, for a children’s room, designs are selected in bright, rich, eye-catching shades, which can be designed in the form of a car, a house, a hut or another interesting configuration that can make the product a play element of the room.

It is also important for a child that the shelf is particularly safe, stable and securely fixed. When designing a teenager’s room, they prefer models that match the style and texture of other furniture items in the interior. Such, usually open storage systems, can be filled with a variety of books, school supplies, etc.

The photo shows the interior of a teenager’s room with a tall gray shelving unit.

Living room interior ideas

For the hall, it is appropriate to use more spacious, voluminous and functional shelving structures, which are decorated with printed publications, art objects, porcelain, crystal, memorabilia or family photographs.

This product is also quite often used as a stand for a TV device, home theater or audio system. Models can be open, closed, combined, equipped with all kinds of cabinets, lightweight side cabinets or even equipped with spot lighting.

The photo shows a light rack with a TV stand in the living room interior.

Photo in the kitchen

In a small kitchen space, wall-mounted models or compact options are most appropriate, which can be a mobile structure on wheels for storing dishes. In a spacious kitchen, you can install a wine rack or a product that acts as a divider between the work and dining areas.

The photo shows the kitchen interior with shelves made of metal.

In the hallway and corridor

Compact, shallow open models are perfect for decorating the hallway. Such products are equipped with a clothes rail, shelves of different sizes, pull-out containers, sections for hats, or combined with a small shoe rack.

For the bedroom

A traditional solution for the bedroom is to equip the rack structure at the head of the bed or install the product in a U-shape. These models provide convenient storage for magazines, books, alarm clocks and other small items, making them an alternative replacement for bedside tables.

On the balcony

On the loggia, these structures are used as a storage system for various items or as a decorative addition to the interior. In the summer, the shelves are decorated with flowerpots, and in the winter, things that are not afraid of temperature changes are placed on them. If the insulated balcony is converted into a study, the rack will become an indispensable piece of furniture.

What does a rack look like in different styles?

In the loft style, products with shelves made of wood in combination with a frame made of metal or profile iron pipes are appropriate. The base is often complemented with original steel rivets, which allows you to give the furniture a truly exclusive and bold look.

The interior in the Provence style involves the use of elegant designs that have external simplicity and coziness. Such models are distinguished by traditional forms, simple contours, slight abrasion and sometimes additions in the form of forged details.

The photo shows a living room in a modern style, decorated with a wooden bookcase.

Scandinavian design is decorated with furniture made in natural tones, painted in light colors with dark inclusions or products with glossy and wooden facades. One of the requirements of the Nordic direction is simple forms, the absence of unnecessary decor, ergonomics and functionality of structures.

Modern style is mainly characterized by more original models, distinguished by a light and uncluttered appearance. Modular monochromatic racks with a glossy, matte surface or elements of glass and metal fit especially organically into the minimalist style, and a classic interior or neoclassicism is complemented by elegant products with a laconic form and at the same time chic execution.

In the photo, a white rack in a matte finish in the interior of a dining room in the style of minimalism.

Examples of rack design

You can give the atmosphere a special charm and sophistication with the help of lighting. Subdued diffused light will advantageously complement the design in the evening and give the room coziness and comfort. Forged products have a truly solid and self-sufficient appearance, which is a non-trivial solution that allows you to add variety to the interior and create a free and airy atmosphere.

The photo shows the interior of an attic room with shelves decorated with lighting.

No less popular are models with doors that have a blind design, such facades can be decorated with carving, various patterns, matte or glossy coating. Products with mirror or glass doors will look especially attractive, which will undoubtedly contribute to the visual expansion and simplification of the space.

The photo shows a white shelving unit with hinged doors with a matte finish in the interior.