Archive shelves can be covered with curtains. Rack or Shelf Design: Key Principles and Stylish Examples

We will talk about the placement of cabinets, their internal content and options for additional decor on open shelves. And further 30 pictures as examples.

By the way, do you know that you can change shelves from MDF to glass ones? Ikea, for example, has the opportunity to purchase ready-made shelves for standard cabinets.

And if you have another furniture manufacturer, just order glass in the workshop according to exact size with obligatory polishing of the edge. This is another (bonus:=) way to update cabinets with a couple of caveats: it is undesirable to put heavy objects on such shelves and their length should be proportional to the thickness of the glass. This method is only suitable for open cabinets, the shelving has a different design, and glass unplanned by the manufacturer violates the stability of the system.

Well, shall we continue?

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Method number 6. Find a place for the original location

The question of where the cabinet or shelving is placed should also not be overlooked. Although the first thought, of course, the most banal - to move to the wall.

But if you look at it from a different angle, you can find a mass interesting ideas. For example, arrange around windows. Or delimit the space of the room. Or place in niches. So you immediately solve several problems:

• convenient storage space
• saving space of "long" walls,
• more harmonious room proportions
• and a spectacular piece of furniture.

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Method number 7. Choose convenient and stylish containers and boxes

One of important rules order states: containers (compartments) for storing things should be proportional to their size. And here is the second one: small items it is desirable to unite by groups or functions (for which they are needed). So small containers, boxes and baskets will still have to be purchased.

At the time of purchase, think about how they can decorate your closet. It makes sense to buy multi-colored ones only for a children's room. And if we are talking about the living room or office - it is better to choose them in the same style and / or color scheme. Against the background of a colored “backdrop” (see method No. 3 from part 1), white containers look great either from natural unpainted materials (wicker or plywood).

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Method number 8. Play with fabric instead of traditional doors

It is possible that you will want to hide some of the items in the cabinets and on the shelves. As an alternative to doors, you can use fabric: plain (in the style of Japanese panels) or on assemblies (in the rustic style) - depending on the style of the room.

Similarly - with the pattern and color of the fabric + it is desirable that it be in harmony with other textiles in the room (curtains, upholstery upholstered furniture etc.) or with a touch of cabinetry.

Do you like decorating with fabric? Check out other ideas on this topic:

Do you want to be in touch with us every day? Welcome to our Planet of Inspiration Vkontakte! Check it out, scroll through! Like? Join and get inspired every day!

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Method number 9. Choose decor from your favorite and just interesting items

Our proposal to decorate cabinets and shelving with decor does not mean at all that it should occupy the lion's share usable area. These aren't showcases in the store, are they?

But it is the decor that dilutes the monotony of the items for which the wardrobe is purchased. Framed photographs or figurines from the collection… Mini vases or vacation mementos… Mirrors and paintings attached to the outside of support posts… And even original design the nearest wall. All this will allow your cabinets to be not only useful, but also beautiful furniture.

The only advice: divide all the compartments into parts: “useful” and “decorative”, so it will be easier to clean up.

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Method number 10. Look for non-standard ideas for other cabinet furniture

Appetite comes with eating:=). If your creative thought, inspired by our ideas, requires an additional outlet, and the cabinets, alas, are “out of stock,” look for other objects from among other cabinet furniture: chests of drawers and bedside tables.

They can change facades, fittings (handles, hinges) and even repaint. It all depends on your desire! Check out our other furniture renovation galleries.

May 5, 2018
Specialization: master in construction drywall constructions, finishing works and styling floor coverings. Installation of door and window blocks, facade finishing, installation of electrics, plumbing and heating - I can give detailed advice on all types of work.

Do not know how to properly organize the storage of books or other items placed on the shelves? Rack closed type great for a variety of purposes, and in this review, we will go over the main varieties of this type of furniture so that you know what to look for when buying and which aspects matter most.

Types of structures and materials used in the manufacture

Let's start with the main aspects and analyze all types of furniture and the materials from which it is most often made.

It is important to note right away that closed options racks include both products with blind doors and structures with glazing, the main thing is that the contents are fenced off from the room, and it doesn’t matter what material is used.

Kinds

Let's look at the main types of structures. By type of door, the following options are distinguished:

• Blind shelving. They have opaque sashes, which are most often made of chipboard or metal. They hide the contents from prying eyes and protect it; for this, locks are often provided in the design;

• Glazed options. They differ in that the entire contents of the shelves are clearly visible from the outside. This is very convenient when storing books, as you can quickly find the required copy. Also, such furniture is great for demonstrating various collections and souvenirs;
• Combined designs. There are two main solutions here, the first is furniture, part of which is closed with solid doors, and part is glass. The second type is shelving, in which some of the shelves are closed with doors, and some are open to provide quick access to the contents.

The form can be divided into several varieties:

Illustration	Description
	Sectional shelving. Them main feature is a design that consists of small sections that move towards each other to obtain the required capacity. The convenience of this option is that you can easily add or remove one or more elements. Moreover, thanks to small size separate parts, they are much easier to carry, assemble and install. Sizes can vary, there are one, two, three and even four-section racks on sale.
	transformers. Unusual decision, allowing you to store a large number of items in a limited area. The design is a deep cabinet in which, behind the closed doors, is hidden sliding system, as in the photo, so that you can store books in several rows. Such a system allows you to remove what is occasionally needed in the back row, and place everything you need in plain sight. When you need to find something from the second row, it will take a little time, because you only need to move the moving front.
	Demountable systems. They allow, if necessary, to quickly disassemble the shelving cabinet and assemble it in another place. Most often this iron version in which all parts of the structure are bolted together. Disassembly using a screwdriver takes a matter of minutes, as well as assembly. At the same time, the reliability of the design does not suffer even with numerous disassemblies and subsequent assemblies.
	Non-separable structures. They do not provide for disassembly and have two main varieties: Cabinet furniture. It is assembled on site on its own, but it is undesirable to disassemble it subsequently, as this reduces the reliability of the structure during subsequent assembly; built-in options. Most often they are made for a specific room and are attached to the floor, ceiling and walls; it is problematic to use them in other rooms.

Manufacturing materials

There are three main varieties here:

Illustration	Description
	Chipboard and MDF. Inexpensive materials from which racks of the budget segment are made. They have good performance characteristics and, with proper care, can last up to 20 years. It is important not to overload the shelves, as they are deformed, and not to expose the material to moisture - from this it swells and it will not be possible to fix the problem, you will have to replace the entire furniture.
	Wood. natural material, which has an attractive appearance and long service life. Furniture for the hall and the children's room is often made from it, since the wood is safe for health and looks presentable. Advanced Solution - furniture board, it cracks much less with changes in humidity and is cheaper than an array.
	Steel. The metal locker differs in reliability and safety. If it has a lock, then it will be problematic to get inside without making noise. The second advantage is structural strength, it can withstand high loads, so larger options are often used on balconies for storing workpieces or tools.

Features of closed shelving

Consider a few aspects that you should consider when choosing. They are all important, so please read this section carefully.

Location

The choice of design and configuration of the rack largely depends on this aspect. So remember a few simple tips:

• Balcony. Small width options are selected here, installed at the end and occupying the entire width of the balcony for effective use space. Most often, built-in options are selected, as they are made according to the size of the room and fit perfectly into the decor. The main material of manufacture is wood, as it is inexpensive and looks good;

• Kitchen. Shelving is best for metal frame with a facade made of chipboard or other material. Perfect solution- shelves with holes so that moisture does not accumulate inside and the dishes that are stored are ventilated. It is best if the kitchen furniture is located on legs in order to clean the floor under it and exclude flooding if the unexpected happens;

• Living room. Most often, the shelves in this room are used to store books or souvenirs, so the structures have continuous glazing from bottom to top, although it is possible that the lower part is closed with blind doors. Furniture is selected for the interior, it is very important here appearance;

• Bedroom. This room uses different variants designs, it all depends on the purpose of use. For books and collections, it is better to choose products with glazing, and for bed linen and other things, blind shelving is more suitable. Sizes can also be different and are selected individually.

Dimensions

To make the rack convenient and practical, when choosing a size, consider the following tips:

• Room space and furniture placement. First of all, it is worth starting from how much space you can afford so that the rack fits organically into the environment and does not interfere with use. You should know the height of the ceilings, the permissible depth and width, so that, based on the main parameters, you should immediately refuse unsuitable options;
• Purposes of use. If you are going to stack books, then standard height shelves will be 30 cm, and a depth of 25 cm. For things, the dimensions are different - the distance between the shelves is at least 35 cm, and the depth is from 40 to 70 cm, 60 cm options are best suited, they are quite roomy, while providing easy access to all content;

• Suitable design dimensions. Sometimes it is better to put 2-3 separate modules than one massive rack, so you can make the structure mobile, and if you need to move it, then work will pass easier and takes less effort.

Models

There are several main options:

• Standard cabinet furniture. Most often, this is a separate closet, which is installed in any place convenient for you and can be moved to another room or another apartment. Furniture is installed close to the wall, most often it is placed on the side of the openings or closer to the corners of the room;
• Built-in shelving. If you have a niche, then you can make a rack right in it by attaching shelves to the walls and closing the opening with sliding or hinged doors. Such options are often made on balconies, because there is very little space and picking up a standard wardrobe is quite problematic;
• Corner structures. They are placed in a corner and can have different forms and dimensions, the most compact occupy a minimum of space and have a flat or semi-circular facade. Designs with a larger capacity are L-shaped, while the length of the sides can be either the same or different, it all depends on the room;

Color solutions

To make the rack look harmonious in the room, when choosing, use a few simple recommendations:

• Compatibility with the environment. The simplest solution is to choose the same color and material structure as the other furniture that is already installed in the room. This creates an overall ensemble that looks like a whole and gives the impression that the interior was thought out in advance. If it is not possible to pick up exactly the same facades, then you should look for the closest tone and structure;

Very often, manufacturers sell furniture for different rooms in sets, there are different options for cabinets, so you can order everything you need at once. Even if you bought furniture and purchase a rack later, just remember the name of the collection to quickly find the required option.

• Using shelving as an accent in the interior. You can choose a contrasting color option so that it becomes the center of attention in the room and serves as a decoration for the entire environment. This technique is often used in living rooms, when a dark rack with large glazed doors is selected, and books in expensive bindings and souvenirs are placed inside;

• Structure usage natural wood . Not the best decoration furniture than the texture of wood, toned in the shade you need. This option goes especially well with books and collections, you can put glass shelves inside so that the contents can be seen even better;

• For children's rooms use bright colours . There can be both monochromatic coloring, as well as drawings or prints that will make the rack unique and unrepeatable. Moreover, you can make pictures yourself, now there are many pictures that are easy to stick with your own hands.

In order to highlight the facade and make it more expressive, backlighting is often used. Lamps are placed so that the light falls from top to bottom and illuminates the rack.

Output

Now you know about all types of closed shelving and you can choose suitable option as recommended in this review. The video in the article will reveal some important aspects the topics are even better so that you understand it to the end, and if you still have any questions, write them in the comments under the review.

May 5, 2018

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Most often, cleaning is simple and effective method decorate your shelving. Adhere to the principle of "top and bottom" that the order should be at eye level first, with heavy objects below, and more decorative things at the top.

Design: Bower Architecture

Even the most luxurious and expensive racks can be spoiled by clutter, and vice versa, the simplest rack from IKEA will photo worthy in an interior magazine, if you clean up the shelves and apply a few design tricks.

How to decorate open shelving

1. Put books in boxes and baskets

One way to decorate a bookcase with books is to arrange them in low baskets and boxes. For example, sort them by author's name or subject. So the book will be more convenient to get from the shelf, including in order to wipe the dust there.

Using this technique, experiment with the arrangement of volumes: covers up, or spines first.

Design: LiLu Interiors

Tip: Cardboard folders can be used to store two- and three-volume books, this will help in the visual organization of books and make the shelving look spectacular.

2. Leave a few shelves empty

Sometimes you need to be inspired by emptiness to make the interior more interesting. This technique also works with open shelving decor. Leave some free space, so you. In addition, empty shelves will help to separate the already arranged accessories from each other.

If you do not have big amount and leaving empty space seems like a luxury to you, combine open shelves and closed with doors and drawers. For example, for IKEA shelving, you can purchase removable doors and drawers.

3. Place objects symmetrically to each other

One of the most effective and simple ways make the rack stylish - use the "mirror principle" when Right side cabinet is symmetrical to the left. To do this, arrange on two single-level shelves the same or as similar as possible to each other in color and shape. Pairs, baskets, boxes or candles will help with this.

Design: Sabal Homes

4. Hide book spines

Why is the option "not for everyone"? Firstly, this solution is not suitable for people with allergies to dust. Book spines are much easier to clean. Secondly, if you are an avid reader, it will be inconvenient to choose the next book, taking one after another from the shelf to see the title.

Design: Increment

Who might like it? Owners of large libraries who do not want to throw away ancient volumes, but will definitely not be reading all the collections in the near future. We also recommend trying the technique for those who like experiments.

5. Create a design in several rows

One of the simple and working design techniques- arrange objects in several rows. For example, on piles of books - small figurines or candles in candlesticks. This method makes small accessories more meaningful and noticeable.

6. Use to decorate the facade of the rack

We are used to having framed photographs and small paintings on the shelves, but we rarely see anyone hanging them on the front of the rack. At the same time, the shelves behind the picture or poster can be left empty or put not too aesthetic, but useful things. If you choose the second option, make sure that the objects covered by the painting can be easily reached.

Design: Paces Construction Co.

7. Arrange the books by color

Arranging books by spine color rather than alphabetically is a way to make your home library stand out. Reception is not only suitable for owners a large number books: you can simply fill one shelf with colored collected works, and the second -.

Tip: you can not only put the books, but also stack them on top of each other.

Design: Kropat Interior Design

8. Avoid items that are too small

Very small items will most likely not add beauty to your shelving, but rather create visual clutter. Large items will help hide mismatched book spines and chaos on the shelves, drawing the eye to you.

Design: Jonathan Raith

9. Make beautiful DIY installations

If you are a fan of small accessories, like bringing back seashells from vacation or growing succulents, use them to create beautiful compositions. Place shells in glass vases or aquariums, and small plants in candlesticks or decorative lanterns.

1. Use the "rule of the triangle" when arranging things. Place objects so that you can visually draw lines with your eyes and find the top of the triangle. The imaginary figure can be any size.
2. Arrange books in descending order of height.
3. Keep magazines together, don't put them on different shelves, this will create visual clutter.
4. Use storage accessories: decorative boxes or baskets, you can put the necessary little things there without creating chaos on the shelf.

Open shelving is the "showcase" of your home. It should attract attention and decorate the interior.

Design: Shanade McAllister-Fisher Interior Design

Shelves are quite often used not only to complement and decorate the overall interior of the room, but also for a clearer and more appropriate organization of space. Thanks to their use, the owner of the apartment gets the opportunity to conveniently arrange a huge number of small things that are simply lost in the cabinets.

To date, the market offers a lot of different models that are made of different materials. They also differ in design.

You can choose not only products with classic design but also ultra-modern designs.

But more and more people prefer to make such interior details on their own. Asking how to make a shelf with their own hands, they re-read a lot of literature and look through a lot of catalogs.

However, this does not mean that independent production shelves are complex and beyond the power of a person who does not have special skills. No, this is absolutely not true.

Familiarization with the literature in this case is necessary in order to create a product with beautiful design that will fit into the overall interior. Let's consider in more detail what shelves are.

Types of shelves

Any specialist will tell you that before you start creating a product, you need to decide for yourself what kind of design you want to get and whether it will be combined with the interior. And only after that you can start creating the product.

Indeed, for a house decorated in a classically seasoned style, it is completely unacceptable to use trendy and modern shelves. They will look extremely awkward.

The most popular and widely known subspecies of shelves is the classic shelf. This is due to the fact that it is quite easy to install, and the appearance, thanks to its simplicity, seems refined and sophisticated.

Used with success and open, closed shelves. Closed products are used most often for decoration and installation in rooms decorated in more modern styles. Glass and sometimes plastic are used for their construction.

Open structures can be used both in modernly designed houses and in apartments with a classic design. Over the past few years, this particular type of shelf has gained immense popularity and therefore is gradually replacing the classic options.

In small rooms, you can often see corner shelves that have a special way of fastening. They are mounted on adjacent walls that are adjacent to each other. Most often they are used in bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms.

In addition to the above types of shelves that are mounted on the wall, there are suspended and floor structures. Hanging shelves mounted in an unusual way.

They are installed with cables and uprights and attached directly to the ceiling. This mount looks quite unusual and original.

Floor structures are most often used in hallways. After all, it is floor shelves for shoes, made by hand, not only look beautiful, but also help you organize the space of a small hallway. It is quite easy to make them though.

How to make a simple shelf

To create the claimed product, you should purchase or prepare some tools and materials in advance. As connecting elements, you can use whatever suits you best. But the most popular are ordinary screws, brackets and dowels.

Note!

For example, take a photo of the shelves with your own hands, which is presented below. It depicts a product with the following parameters: width 250 mm, height 300 mm, length 1100 mm. The manufacturing process for convenience will be divided into stages.

Stages of work

At the first stage, you need to markup. To do this, you should lay the boards on a table or any other flat surface and transfer the measurements from the drawings. The side walls must have a height of exactly 268 mm.

This marking is optimal because the side walls will be located between the two parts.

At the second stage, it is required to cut the boards. To get even and neat cuts, you need to use an electric jigsaw. After cutting, you will get 2 fairly long blanks and 2 shorter ones.

At the third stage, you can start processing the received blanks. The resulting segments should be covered with a special protective varnish or stain, after sanding them.

Note!

In the event that you plan only to paint the shelf, you can get by with a conventional antiseptic primer. So you will increase not only the service life, but also achieve a more even distribution of paint.

At the fourth stage of making a wooden shelf with your own hands, you proceed to its direct assembly. The bottom board should be laid on a flat surface. Step back 8 mm from the ends of the workpiece and draw two lines parallel to the cuts.

They should mark 2 points with a distance of 5 cm from the edge. At the marked points, it is necessary to drill holes for self-tapping screws. With the second workpiece it is necessary to do the same manipulations.

After that, you should install the side blanks on the bottom of the board and secure them. Once you're done attaching the side panels, move on to installing the top panel and securing it.

At the fifth stage, you should fix the brackets on the ends of the side panels, and make several holes for the dowels in the wall. After that, screw in the screws so that they protrude by 5 mm. And now your shelf is ready.

You can make acoustic shelves in the same way, but you need to take into account the dimensions of the equipment itself. Measurements should be taken carefully, because if you make a mistake, the work will have to start over.

Note!

DIY shelves photo

Currently, shelving structures have become quite firmly established in our everyday life. If earlier such facilities were used exclusively within the framework of wholesale depots, grocery stores And industrial enterprises, today they are very widely used in everyday life. Racks are installed on balconies, in pantries, in garages, basements, as well as in various utility rooms.

As practice shows, shelving modules are often used to store clothes. The main problem is that “open racks” are used for these purposes (the design is not equipped with doors, a lid, etc.). As a result, items on the shelves may become covered with dust.

It is quite possible to cope with the indicated problem on your own. In this case, you can use one of several methods:

• The use of bedspreads. You can close the open shelves of the rack with your own hands with the help of small bedspreads. For these purposes, it is not necessary to use any expensive materials. A regular fabric purchased at a hardware store is fine. Cutting the material to the desired size will not take much time, all the necessary operations can be performed in a matter of minutes.
• Buying containers. Containers will help to make an open rack more practical and convenient. They can accommodate a significant number of things, ranging from fishing outfits to dresses. Containers are easy to install on open shelves, due to their rectangular shape they have a fairly high stability. It is important to note that in this case, the owner does not have to worry about the design of the rack. Containers with clothes will be succinctly located on the shelves, the design will have a pleasant and neat appearance.
• Using packages. A budget option. In this case, the clothes can also be protected from dust, but the design of the rack may suffer. Moreover, filled packages are quite unstable. If handled carelessly, they can simply fall off open shelves.
• The use of curtains. A good solution is to close the rack with curtains. In this case, open shelves, as well as all their contents, will be completely hidden from prying eyes. In order to bring such an idea to life, one should acquire right amount material, as well as organize a specialized fixation mechanism. Before you close the open rack with a cloth, you need to carefully check everything (here the rule is more relevant than ever: measure seven times - cut once). Making a choice in favor of curtains, you can not worry about the design of the design.

Before you finally decide on the solution of the issue, how to close the rack, it is recommended to carefully read the photos published on the Internet. The presented images will allow you to choose the most good design. Also, through a photo, you can learn about quite original engineering solutions invented by the owners of open shelving.

In conclusion, it should be noted that when thinking about the question of how to close the rack, you should not rush to conclusions. In this case, everything needs to be carefully considered. Haste in making decisions can lead to unnecessary time and financial losses.