Free Standing Glass Shelves

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Glass shelving is a wonderful way to display anything including books. And if you are in the market for new shelving for your home, free standing glass shelves are a way to go. The shelving is very sturdy, and the glass shelves themselves are thick and tempered, capable of holding plenty weight. Take a look at this collection if you are in the market for freestanding glass shelves.

Tara Gosselin Interior Design Expert

Tara is a San Antonio-based award-winning landscape architect, writer and educator, passionate about eco-friendly solutions and growing her own food. She knows all it takes to help you create a sustainable backyard retreat that combines blissful charm with a modern take on landscaping.

5 Recommendations and 117 Ideas

Updated 07/11/2022

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Metal and Glass Shelf

This freestanding glass shelving unit is a compact and tall piece. The four-tier glass shelves rest on a sturdy steel frame finished in either gold or bronze. An anti-tip device and levelers are added for stability.

Designer Advice:

Versatile in its form, the gold-finished shelf would look great in a transitional or traditional interior environment because of its chic appeal. Meanwhile, the bronze unit is perfect for contemporary living spaces. It has a weight capacity of 20lb, so it’s best to style it with lightweight pieces such as paperbacks, a small potted plant, and wicker baskets.

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Compact Stand

A striking glass shelf stand with four open levels. Perfect for displaying little trinkets or essentials you cherish. The modern piece is crafted from sleek tempered glass. The chrome-plated steel posts give a luxe and classic appeal.

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Scalloped Corner Shelf

A freestanding glass shelf with a modern industrial look. Its compact design mixes glass and metal with an anti-tip device added for stability. The versatile look with a curved top works well with modern or glam settings.

Designer Advice:

Attractive details and an airy look make this piece perfect for chic contemporary interiors with farmhouse or timeless themes. We recommend playing with heights and creating alternating arrangements with two-three-two configurations for an interesting composition. These shelves in gold and bronze will look great when placed on both ends of a low TV cabinet.

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Full Glass Shelf

This glass stand shelf is fully transparent to showcase your treasured items. This modern piece is crafted from sturdy tempered glass with wooden boards for the top and base. It stands vertically and tall with four levels.

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Contemporary Glass Shelf

Etta Avenue™

These freestanding glass shelves are an ideal choice for space-saving and organization. Masterfully crafted from steel with six tiers of vertical glass shelves included. Its black nickel polish adds a touch of modern sophistication.

$379.99 ~~$648~~

Designer Advice:

Perfect for adding a sleek sheen to any interior. Its polished surface lends a sense of modernity to transitional space and, at the same time, reinforces the minimalist look for contemporary interiors. For a touch of warmth, we recommend styling this with dark, bold, or bright décor. These will bring a stunning contrast to the cold gray steel color.

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Free Standing Glass Shelves

Buying Guide

Are free standing glass shelves safe?

Free standing glass shelves are safe as long as they are all made out of tempered glass. Today, most glass shelves are made from this toughened glass, and it is known to be up to seven times stronger than regular glass.

Tempered glass goes through numerous thermal and chemical treatments, strengthening it for a variety of uses, from shelving to skyscraper windows. In addition, a smoothing and polishing process removes outer perimeter sharpness. So, if you accidentally bump into your free standing glass shelves, you’re not likely to sustain an injury.

As an added assurance, tempered glass shelves, if broken, tend to crumble into granular chunks instead of shattering into sharp shards, minimizing the risk of lacerations.

If you are concerned about your shelves’ safety, place them in a location away from foot traffic, or avoid using them in rooms commonly used by children or pets. You could also opt for a free standing unit with a wide base to provide added stability.

Can free standing glass shelves be anchored to a wall?

Free standing glass shelves can be anchored to a wall for additional stability if you have concerns about the safety of your shelving unit. How you do this depends on the design of the free standing glass shelves. If the shelves are supported by a wooden or metal frame, you’ll be able to use the same methods for anchoring the unit to the wall as you would with any other shelf.

However, if it’s an open concept unit and you’re looking to secure the glass shelves directly to the wall, you’ll need to obtain fasteners specifically meant to support glass shelving.

What are the most popular styles of free standing glass shelves?

There are two common styles of free-standing glass shelves: encased and open. Open glass shelves often include a simple frame, usually made out of a metal such as burnished gold or iron, and thick panes of glass anchored horizontally across the frame.

With encased glass shelves, you’re more likely to see a thicker, framed set of shelves that look a little less like they’re floating. These thicker frames tend to be made of hardwood or a metal, and they sometimes include doors.

Both of these styles of glass shelves are stylish, but encased ones tend to be more traditional, whereas open shelves are more modern.