Glass Shelving Unit

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If you have plenty of items to display but prefer to do so in a medium that's a little more modern, then you probably really love to see glass and steel around your living room. So our collection of glass shelving units for living rooms will fit right in with your decorative concept, allowing you to display whatever you want and not throw off your contemporary mystique. See collection for more.

5 Recommendations and 126 Ideas

Updated 10/02/2023
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Glam etagere

Glam etagere

Mercer41

Glamorously gorgeous, this freestanding etagere boasts a clear acrylic frame, accentuated with sturdy joints in either bronze brass or silver stainless steel. Overall, it measures 66'' high x 30'' wide x 16'' deep and comes equipped with 5 thick glass shelves, capable of supporting 55 lbs each. 

$1399.99 $2734.61

Designer Advice:

For those who fancy feminine furniture, luxury aesthetic, and metallic accents, this one’s for you. What’s more, it looks fabulous in both contemporary and traditional surroundings, endowing the room with a dramatic focal point. Whether you rest it against a neutral-painted wall or a brightly colored shade, this shelf will fit right in. 

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Contemporary shelving unit

Contemporary shelving unit

Ebern Designs

Making for a classy home accessory, this shelving unit is made up of 4 tempered glass shelves, held together by sturdy steel rods in a silver color. Though fairly spacious in terms of storage capacity, it takes on a rather compact silhouette, measuring only 16'' by 12''.

$63.99 $114.99

Designer Advice:

Ideal for bathrooms, living rooms, offices, and more, this unit adds the perfect finishing touch to a luxuriously designed space. The sleek finish combined with the glass accents gives it a high-end look, instantly elevating its surroundings. Besides its striking beauty, this piece is relatively sturdy, stable, and easy to put together with no tools needed. 

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Traditional style display bookshelf

Traditional style display bookshelf

Three Posts™

This elegant bookshelf, cast in either bronze or gold, displays a distinctive metal framework, characterized by straight, slender lines and scalloped edges for added visual interest. Four glass panels are included, each withstanding a capacity of up to 20 lbs. 

$295.99 $439

Designer Advice:

If space isn’t a constraint, why not invest in a large, glass bookcase to satisfy both your storage and display needs? This one stands tall and wide, ready to hold your prized possessions from books to vases, picture frames to trophies. Not only does it bring character to big, empty walls, but it also makes a welcoming statement with its open and airy design. Just make sure to attach it to the wall for extra protection. 

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Eclectic curio shelf

Eclectic curio shelf

Etta Avenue™

Formed in a narrow rectangular shape, this tower shelf takes its design inspiration from pagodas. It features a bamboo-like frame crafted from a combination of metal and wire. Meanwhile, whimsical details such as flared feet, an open roof, and a gold finish complete the look. 

$199.99 $362.5

Designer Advice:

Although slightly small in size, this shelving unit offers two glass tiers with generous space for jewelry, perfume bottles, figurines, and other little accessories. As for placement, it can be set on a dresser, bathroom counter, console table, or hung on the wall with the included keyholes. Either way, this shelf makes a stunning standalone piece but can also be matched with other gold-hued or Asian-inspired objects for a coordinated theme.

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Modern display cabinet

Modern display cabinet

Latitude Run®

This display stand embraces a modern minimalist aesthetic, catching the eye with its tall tempered glass body. Solid wood chipboards provide stability and beautiful contrast with their white, black, and natural wood color options. In addition, each side comes with a bumper strip for safe use.

$203.99 $369.99

Designer Advice:

Aside from its spectacular see-through design, we love this glass cabinet for its unbeatable versatility. Being multi-purpose, you can place it in the kitchen or dining room to store your fancy tableware and glassware. In the bathroom, it serves as a toiletry organizer, fitting all your shower supplies, beauty products, and towels. Alternatively, it creates an attention-worthy vignette in the living room. The only possible downside is that it needs to be cleaned consistently. 

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Jump to More Ideas
Glass Shelving Unit

Buying Guide

Glass shelving units in living rooms are a popular choice for enhancing your modern decor. The bright reflective surface can make a small space seem larger, and the sleek, shiny finish coordinates well with a clean, modern aesthetic. Consider choosing a metal or mahogany wood frame with safe, tempered glass shelves for a complementary look. Some units come with shelves with doors so you can hide away items you don’t want on display.

The amount of weight the glass shelving units in your living room can hold varies based on factors like height, width, glass thickness, and the overall size of the unit. While the package for your shelving unit might list an overall weight limit for the unit, it can be challenging to determine the weight capacity of each glass shelf.

Luckily, there are glass load calculators online to help you get a more precise number. To use the calculators, you’ll need a bit of information about your shelves, such as whether they are standard (annealed) glass or tempered glass, the shelf dimensions, the glass thickness, and the span between supports.  

You might easily wonder if the glass shelving units (living room or otherwise) can physically be that wide. After all, glass is brittle—and a longer shelf will be more fragile than a shorter one.

You’ve got a good point. Typically, manufacturers will not distribute glass shelves without additional support that are more than about 2-3 feet long.

However, there’s an easy workaround: If you want a full wall of open or floating glass shelving, simply purchase two shelving units and place them right next to each other. You’ll get the look you want, and it’ll be as stable as you need them to be.

Best Ideas

Glass shelving units living room 8

Spare and beautiful, this stark shelving unit has glass shelves with chrome side supports. Strong enough to support books or even plants, this unit is self-effacing and efficient. Display your best books or your favorite collectibles to good effect.

Chrome Metal 72"H Etagere with Tempered Glass Shelves

Modernity is visible in every element of this metal and glass etagere with metal elegant lines and glass shelves. Chromoane edges wrap in repulsive two half circles in the middle. The glass is tempered and makes even the heaviest books stand on it.

Glass shelving units living room

Simple but aesthetic all open shelving units having tall rectilinear frames of thin square brass rods. Each unit has low legs, 3 rectangular shelves of clear tempered glass but a bottom and top ones of wooden materials finished in brown and black.

Glass shelves for living room

Looking for just the perfect place to display your antiques? Well, look no further because this minimalist open wall shelf is just perfect. The piece is constructed from a wooden frame and features up to four shelves, each separated with tampered glass for that modern appeal.

Glass shelving units living room 9

Ikea shelf hack. PAINT IT GOLD--done. (uses VITTSJÖ Shelving unit, black-brown)

Sitting room shelving units

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