9 Beautiful Shelving Ideas with High Storage Capacity|How to Find the Best

Updated

Many people want to focus on beautiful shelving to create a sophisticated room. Shelves are furniture that can make your living room or kitchen beautiful and easy to use, depending on how you choose and use them.

In this article, we present nine ideas for beautiful shelving with high storage capacity. By the time you finish reading, you will have an idea of the ideal beautiful shelf you would like to have in your home.

<Table of Contents>

  1. 1.Introducing four typical types of shelving
    1. 1-1."Open shelves" are very useful as showcase storage
    2. 1-2."Block shelves" that can be freely combined
    3. 1-3.Space-saving but easy-to-use "wall shelves"
    4. 1-4."Book shelf" for book storage
  2. 2.9 professionally designed and beautiful built-in shelves
    1. 2-1.Bookshelf using wall space
    2. 2-2.Wall shelves in the kitchen for flexible use
    3. 2-3.Wall-mounted shelves in the living room where the family gathers to display memories
    4. 2-4.Curved wall-mounted book shelves are great for storing books
    5. 2-5.Scandinavian space with herringbone floor, yellow wall material and white shelves
    6. 2-6.Slim shelves that fit into the gaps that only possible with built-in construction
    7. 2-7.Wall shelf with black steel to enhance the gentleness of the wood
    8. 2-8.A wall of bookshelves that looks like a beautiful café
    9. 2-9.Open hanging doors in the kitchen for showcase storage
  3. 3.The secret to use shelves in style
  4. 4.3 ways to meet beautiful shelves
    1. 4-1.Buy ready-made products
    2. 4-2.DIY
    3. 4-3.Ask the architect to build shelves
  5. 5.Summary

1. Introducing four typical types of shelving

First, we will introduce four typical types of shelves. They all have very different looks and characteristics, so the impression of a room can be completely changed depending on the type of shelf you choose. Please try to find the type of shelf that best fits your home.

1-1. "Open shelves" are very useful as showcase storage

House K_n (建築家 : 伊原 孝則) の作品画像 House K_n (建築家 : 伊原 孝則) の作品画像 House K_n (建築家 : 伊原 孝則) の作品画像
House K_n ( architect:Takanori Ihara )

Open shelves with fewer boards on the back and sides are unique in that they can be enjoyed as "display shelves" for displaying your favorite interior decorations. For example, it can be beautifully used to display houseplants and interior decorations, or to create a layout with a lot of blank space.

In addition, it has no back board and is perfect as a space divider. The entire room will have a sense of depth, and you will enjoy a sense of openness and storage capacity at the same time.

1-2. "Block shelves" that can be freely combined

ブロックシェルフの画像

As the name suggests, a block shelf is a shelf made up of several small blocks, one by one.

You can enjoy various layouts of this shelf depending on your ideas, such as arranging multiple blocks horizontally or stacking them vertically. You can also combine boxes of different colors to create a unique look.

Also, since the shelves can be freely combined according to the intended use, storage space can be increased by simply adding more block shelves as things increase in number. These storage shelves are perfect for people whose lifestyles change frequently.

1-3. Space-saving but easy-to-use "wall shelves"

天神橋の家 (建築家 : 中尾 彰良) の作品画像 天神橋の家 (建築家 : 中尾 彰良) の作品画像 天神橋の家 (建築家 : 中尾 彰良) の作品画像
天神橋の家 ( architect:Akiyoshi Nakao )

If you need more storage space in a small room, wall shelves are the way to go. Wall shelves, which are attached to the wall for storage, save space and also serve as "show storage.

However, when displaying objects on wall shelves, pay attention to the load capacity for safety reasons. For safety reasons, it is best to display items that are a little lighter than the specified load capacity in style manner.

If you are renting and cannot drill holes in the wall, choose a "hanging type" that uses the floor and ceiling, or a "pinned-for-rent type" wall shelf that can be easily repaired.

By incorporating it into a simple living room as an accent, you can enjoy a stylish space at once.

1-4. "Book shelves" for book storage

Rib (建築家 : 御手洗 龍) の作品画像 Rib (建築家 : 御手洗 龍) の作品画像 Rib (建築家 : 御手洗 龍) の作品画像
Rib ( architect:Ryu Mitarai )

Book shelves, suitable for storing books, are commonly incorporated into many homes.

Since books can be quite heavy as their number increases, durable and solid construction is required to store them all together. You will enjoy storing books in a variety of designs, such as types whose height can be adjusted according to the size of the books to be stored, or types that can display magazines like a café.

In addition to books, small accessories and interior decorations can also be stylishly displayed to add a point of interest to the space.

2. 9 professionally designed and beautiful built-in shelves

The following is a collection of examples of beautiful shelves. If you are looking for a shelf that can enhance the sense of a room, please refer to this page.

2-1. Bookshelf using wall space

Apartment, Higashiyama (建築家 : 澤田 航 ・ 橋村 雄一) の作品画像 Apartment, Higashiyama (建築家 : 澤田 航 ・ 橋村 雄一) の作品画像 Apartment, Higashiyama (建築家 : 澤田 航 ・ 橋村 雄一) の作品画像
Apartment, Higashiyama ( architect:Wataru Sawada & Yuichi Hashimura )

This house has a book shelf that utilizes the wall space. The upper shelf bends in an L-shape along the wall and connects to the kitchen's hanging shelves in the back. The book shelf maintains continuity with the living room so that the kitchen is not isolated.

The unity of the color scheme with the rest of the furniture is also an attractive feature. The entire room is cohesive, creating a space with a sense of calm.

2-2. Wall shelves in the kitchen for flexible use

木箱 kibako (建築家 : 御手洗 龍) の作品画像 木箱 kibako (建築家 : 御手洗 龍) の作品画像 木箱 kibako (建築家 : 御手洗 龍) の作品画像
木箱 kibako ( architect:Ryu Mitarai )

This house has a sophisticated wall-mounted kitchen in "stainless steel and wood". There is ample storage space underfoot, but horizontal wall shelves have been installed to further increase storage capacity.

Placing frequently used pots and dishes on the shelves will save you the trouble of getting them in and out without disturbing your work space.

2-3. Wall-mounted shelves in the living room where the family gathers to display memories

上野桜木の家 (建築家 : 御手洗 龍) の作品画像 上野桜木の家 (建築家 : 御手洗 龍) の作品画像 上野桜木の家 (建築家 : 御手洗 龍) の作品画像
上野桜木の家 ( architect:Ryu Mitarai )

In this long and narrow house, the living room is located at the top of the stairs. The living room is an important place where the family gathers many times during the day. Therefore, we installed wall-mounted wall shelves to display many family memories, books, and interior decorations.

We dared not to align the lengths of the horizontal boards of the shelves, creating an overall impact.

2-4. Curved wall-mounted book shelves are great for storing books

Rib (建築家 : 御手洗 龍) の作品画像 Rib (建築家 : 御手洗 龍) の作品画像 Rib (建築家 : 御手洗 龍) の作品画像
Rib ( architect:Ryu Mitarai )

Next to the bed is a curved wall that stands out for its unique design. And on the beautifully arched wall, a curved book shelf is also built along the wall.

It is not a large space, but if you place your favorite books, comic books, and interior decorations, it will naturally become your own place.

2-5. Scandinavian space with herringbone floor, yellow wall material, and white shelves

「 T 」型のボリューム (建築家 : 保坂 裕信) の作品画像 「 T 」型のボリューム (建築家 : 保坂 裕信) の作品画像 「 T 」型のボリューム (建築家 : 保坂 裕信) の作品画像
「 T 」型のボリューム ( architect:Hironobu Hosaka )

The Scandinavian-inspired herringbone floor and yellow tiles are eye-catching in this kitchen. The walls, ceiling, and shelves are unified in white to create a cohesive look. The height of the shelves is set according to the size of the appliances and tableware you want to place, such as a microwave oven.

If you do not want your storage to be open, you can purchase baskets or boxes to use for storage, or you can hide the entire shelf with curtains. This is a great idea because it is less expensive than hiding them with doors.

2-6. Slim shelves that fit into the gaps that only possible with built-in construction

SHIMOKITA BASE (建築家 : 伊原 孝則) の作品画像 SHIMOKITA BASE (建築家 : 伊原 孝則) の作品画像 SHIMOKITA BASE (建築家 : 伊原 孝則) の作品画像
SHIMOKITA BASE ( architect:Takanori Ihara )

In this house, slim open shelves were installed in the upstairs hallway. Because there is no wall behind it, the shelf itself juts out slightly toward the staircase, making the hallway wider.

Another attractive feature is that the side boards of the shelf are slightly raised to serve as stoppers to prevent stored books from falling back.

2-7. Wall shelf with black steel to enhance the gentleness of wood

yo2018- (建築家 : 光本直人+濱名直子) の作品画像 yo2018- (建築家 : 光本直人+濱名直子) の作品画像 yo2018- (建築家 : 光本直人+濱名直子) の作品画像
yo2018- ( architect:Naoto Mitsumoto & Naoko Hamana )

In this study, wall shelves utilizing black steel material are installed to match the chic desk. The strikingly well-adjusted sense of on and off in this space is due to the contrast between the "white" of the walls and ceiling and the "black" of the desk and shelves.

The wall-mounted shelves provide a spacious work area, which is also a major attraction.

2-8. A wall of bookshelves that looks like a beautiful café

狭山の家 (建築家 : 中尾 彰良) の作品画像 狭山の家 (建築家 : 中尾 彰良) の作品画像 狭山の家 (建築家 : 中尾 彰良) の作品画像
狭山の家 ( architect:Akiyoshi Nakao )

From floor to ceiling, this sophisticated wall shelf covers an entire wall. Decorate it with your favorite books and interior decorations to create a space that looks like a book café.

You can also find some of the designers' ideas here and there, such as creating a space for a TV and a storage space with a door on the bottom level, which could only have been created with a custom-made design.

2-9. Open hanging doors in the kitchen for showcase storage

天神橋の家 (建築家 : 中尾 彰良) の作品画像 天神橋の家 (建築家 : 中尾 彰良) の作品画像 天神橋の家 (建築家 : 中尾 彰良) の作品画像
天神橋の家 ( architect:Akiyoshi Nakao )

In this all-stainless steel kitchen, an open hanging door is placed over the sink to create a sense of openness. This kitchen can be "charmed" by well decorated things and "showing" them off.

To prevent objects from falling out easily, the hanging door is surrounded by black steel. In addition to ease of use and design, it can be said that this shelve unit was built with an emphasis on safety.

3. The secret to use shelves in style

パレット | Parette (建築家 : 伊原 孝則) の作品画像 パレット | Parette (建築家 : 伊原 孝則) の作品画像 パレット | Parette (建築家 : 伊原 孝則) の作品画像
パレット | Parette ( architect:Takanori Ihara )

No matter which type of shelf you use, the secret to use it beautifully is the same. The secret is to leave space between items to be stored and to enjoy the space between them.

Crowding things together creates a feeling of oppression and gives an impression of uncleanliness. On the other hand, if things are spaced out, each piece of interior design stands out like a work of art, creating a stylish atmosphere and giving the room an overall impression of spaciousness.

Also, in the case of book shelves, it is great to fill an entire shelf with books to make it look like a library, but giving them space in key places will create visual room and calm the mind.

In this way, the room is not simply stored, but is finished with a much improved sense of style if things are placed with an awareness of space.

4. 3 ways to meet beautiful shelves

Here are three ways to find stylish shelving. The more particular you are, the harder it is to find the ideal shelf. If you are having trouble choosing the right shelves, please take a look at the following methods.

4-1. Buy ready-made products

The first is to purchase ready-made shelving. With ready-made shelves, you can find a beautiful shelf that fits your image and immediately put it to use in your home.

However, if you do not measure the size accurately, you may not be able to place it where you want to place it in the first place, or you may have a different image when you actually place it in your home. Even if you find the ideal shelf, if the size does not match, you will have to start the search all over again.

If you are buying ready-made shelves, it is important to measure the size closely and compare the shelves with the room as a whole, and to compare them with your image over and over again.

4-2. DIY

The second way is to DIY. The beauty of making your own shelves is that you can adjust the size and color of the shelves to fit your own home.

However, if you are not accustomed to the work, it will take more time and efforts than you expect, so you need to have a strong will to "make it without giving up until the end.

In addition, care must be taken when building shelves and fixing them to walls or floors. For example, if you want to install an open shelf on a wall, it cannot be installed anywhere on the wall, but must be properly fixed to the base of the wall. It is difficult for an amateur to determine where the base is located, so it would be safer to consult a contractor.

In addition to the cost of materials, the first-time DIYer will need to make an initial investment in tools, such as saws, measuring tools, and screwdrivers. Of course, you will also need space to store your tools and boards.

For this reason, if you want to DIY, you can make a variety of furniture by yourself in addition to the shelves to create the ideal space in the long run in a cost-effective way.

4-3. Ask the architect to build shelves

KW house (建築家 : 伊原 孝則) の作品画像 KW house (建築家 : 伊原 孝則) の作品画像 KW house (建築家 : 伊原 孝則) の作品画像
KW house ( architect:Takanori Ihara )

The third method is to ask an architect to build shelves.

Although many people recognize that architects only design custom-built homes, they may actually take on interior coordination and custom-built furniture commissions as well. Although more expensive than ready-made or DIY, you can get shelves that is completely custom-made and fits in with the atmosphere of your home.

For example, because storage space can be created that fits any gap, even a small space can be effectively utilized to provide storage space. Another appeal of the shelves is that they can be designed to provide peace of mind for the whole family, such as rounded corners for families with children or pets.

If you want to incorporate both design and functionality, we recommend that you hire an architect.

5. Summary

Ready-made or DIY shelves can look beautiful depending on how they are stored. However, it is more difficult than expected to find a favorite shelf that fits the atmosphere of your home, as it requires detailed measurements and initial costs.

On the other hand, if you hire an architect to build shelves for you, you will get the ideal shelves with a much improved sense of style. If you ask an architect to build shelves for you, he or she can create shelves that match your home perfectly and solve minor problems such as "I don't want to leave a gap here. If you have problems such as "I can't find good ready-made shelves," "I want to make a whole wall of shelves," or "I don't know what kind of shelves would fit the space," you should definitely consider hiring an architect or a professional.

japanesse-architects.com offers free consultations with our experts. If you are ever in doubt about a decision, please feel free to contact us.

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