Wall Shelves For Living Room

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Investing in a wall shelf for living room is a smart way to add storage and style to your living space. Modern wall shelves come in many varieties, from corner cubbies to set-top box holders, and fixed or floating pieces. Check out our top 10 designer-selected decorative wall shelves for living room that fit the traditional, contemporary, avant-garde, or rustic decor style.

Caroline Patterson Interior Design Expert

Caroline is a young, New York-based interior designer and home decor writer, obsessed with textiles and designer furniture. Backed with rigorous training from a prestigious design school, as well as a profound understanding of material quality and fabric care, she offers spot-on advice on how to furnish your place with reliable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing pieces.

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Updated 09/03/2023

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Wall Shelves For Living Room

Buying Guide

Organizing through the use of living room wall shelves can be an enjoyable experience! Whether you are searching for storage ideas out of decorative desire or necessity, we are certain our buying guide will help you as we've made sure our readers can find the best shelving and storage solutions for them.

How much space is necessary to install wall shelves?

To determine how much space is available for a shelving unit, ask yourself some basic questions. What will you be storing in the shelves? Vinyl, DVDs, books, vases, and artworks perhaps? Take a moment and think about these aspects as they'll lead you to the units that are perfect for your space.

To get a clear idea of how much wall space you can work with, measure the depth, width, and height of the spot where you plan on mounting the wall shelves. By now, you already know what you'll be storing on the shelves. If the items differ in height, you'll need adjustable wall shelving. If you'll be showcasing something specific on your living room shelving, take its dimensions to ensure it fits the unit/s you will be purchasing.

What style of living room wall shelves should you get?

You may already know that wall-mounted shelves come in different styles. So, would you be interested in getting statement pieces? If you answered no, then you are probably on the lookout for simple, straightforward, and practical shelves. It does not matter what style your shelves come in, but the design must match or complement your living room's aesthetics to ensure the entire room's look is coordinated.

What types of wall shelves are most flexible?

When it comes to flexibility, wall shelves fall into two broad categories: modular and adjustable/removable.

Modular wall shelves offer versatile storage as you'll be able to add more shelves when the need arises. After a given time, you'll be able to create a whole wall of storage. When manufacturers develop their products, they consider the end use of the shelves, which means you'll find shelves that are capable of adapting according to your needs.

Adjustable or movable shelving is recommended for people who are looking for units that offer customization. This type will prove to be useful when you find something large like an artwork or massive book collection to showcase. With removable shelving, you can simply take out the shelves that are not needed to create more storage space.

What are the most common materials used for wall shelves?

The most common materials used are plywood and wood veneers (layers of thin wood). Both materials are cost-effective. But, other materials including stainless, iron, walnut, oak, and maple are sturdier. The downside to the materials is they are more expensive compared to plywood and wood veneers. If you're looking for advice on which materials you should opt for, the only thing we can say is you need to choose according to your living room's style.

With everything you've just learned, you're ready to check out your incredible options online! Let us know if you've found a unit that you love!