Shelves

Shelves Buying Guide

Purpose of Shelves

Increasing usable space without taking too much space or time, shelves are the perfect addition to any part of your house that requires easy access to items. You can just place items on your shelves, whether in the kitchen, pantry, living room or anywhere else. But, getting shelves for your home can be a bit of a dilemma considering the numerous uses they can be put to. You can install shelves in your kitchen, living room, pantry or any area of the house, but the same kind won’t look good or serve the same function everywhere.

Factors to consider when buying Shelves

As using the same kind of shelves everywhere is impractical, before you buy shelves, make sure you factor in these elements to make a wise purchase decision.

1. Height from the floor

When buying shelves, one of the main factors to consider would be the height of the shelves from the floor. This has more to do with long term support and sturdiness. Your shelves need to be at an optimum height to be accessible as well as be out of your way to prevent any harm. This means, getting stacked or single shelve can depend on the placement you intend to use them at. So, wooden shelves or metallic shelves at some height would be heavier and would need additional support rather than rack style shelves.

2. Style and Purpose

You definitely want to compliment your room’s look with the shelves you invest in. This just doesn’t apply to your living room or other areas, but also your kitchen, pantry, and other items. Getting an out of place layer or stack of shelves can give it a look similar to that of a warehouse. Most importantly, the style is dependent on the purpose you plan to use it for. So, getting wooden shelves for your living room might be for books and not require the same support and surroundings as the ones you choose to employ for your kitchen. The same can be applied to your pantry and getting the same shelves for the pantry and your living room would only put it more out of place. Where you need a metallic rack style shelf storage for your storage room, pantry or other areas, the same metallic-looking shelf won’t do as a bookshelf or ornamental purposes.

3. Material

Another important factor to consider is the material you choose to get for your shelves. For example, a bookshelf would look perfect with a furniture setting of your shelves. The same metallic shelves from your pantry won’t look good in your bedroom or prime spaces in your home. Another example would be the glass shelves you use for decoration and they would collect dust, moisture among other elements anywhere else in the house, especially the kitchen. Moreover, the material also impacts the height and kind of shelves you should be getting. On one hand, your wooden shelves are a good idea in a lot of areas, but thick wooden shelves do not need to look good in areas with a lot of dust or natural element exposure.

4. Room type

Your room type is the most important factor to consider when buying shelves. If your room is small to medium-sized, getting outward or bug shelves installed on the walls can add some necessary and required space. But overdoing it can make it feel claustrophobic and dingy. Whereas, the same when applied to a medium to a large-sized room would be an excellent idea to showcase your things, books and store items. Furthermore, glass shelves for decorating items and showcasing would only look good at a good height in living rooms, washrooms but not in the kitchen. Another example would be getting rack style shelves for your storage room for shoes, clothes and other items. Use your room dimensions to judge the best fit for the shelves you plan on buying. Overall, the best idea would be to see what best goes along with your room size and interior décor.

Materials for Shelves

Choosing the right material for your shelves is critical in not only placing it in the right room, but also purposing it better for your room storage. Not only is choosing the right material essential in maintaining it in the long run, but also keeping your items and room safe.

1. Glass Shelves

Glass shelves are usually perfect for showcasing something or where there are excess moisture and dust and you can keep them clean with regular maintenance. For example, installing glass shelves in your washroom to store your cosmetics and items of daily use can ensure a great look as well as a long term use. The same wouldn’t apply to wooden or metallic shelves in this case. You can also make use of glass shelves in the kitchen storage- like wine storage or inside cupboards clearly in view to showcase your wine collection and other items. More of an ornamental material rather than heavy-duty long term use.

2. Stainless Steel/Aluminum

Stainless steel, aluminum, and other shelf materials are perfect where you need a heavy-duty and rough usage. Similar to a warehouse, it is best to use metallic shelves where you intend to store heavy items, such as boxed full of pantry items, shoes, and other items of rough use. Mainly acting as storage and categorizing purpose, metallic shelves are perfect in maintaining places full of dust and other natural items, which would usually spoil wooden and glass shelves. Additionally, it is best to use them in rack-style use in low height, rather than placing them all the way close to the ceiling for a pair of shoes you need to store.

3. Wood

The most versatile and widely used material for your shelves, wood is the perfect material for a variety of purposes. You can even use it as a storage shelf, or clothes storage. Though you have to protect them from pests and moisture, it is the best material to choose for a lot of uses. Moreover, you can use wood as bookshelves in the form of a wall shelf. Using it at a medium-altitude, you can use them for showcasing and storing plenty of items. It is essential in maintaining a good kitchen as well and getting wooden cabinet shelving units can be a good idea too.