In the modern world there is a lot of opportunity for original interior design of an apartment. Hanging shelves are a fairly practical solution in this matter. They have many variations, starting from the simplest ones, known to us since childhood, and ending with modern designer designs. In our article we will look at what role a hanging shelf can play in the interior, and how you can make it yourself.
Materials for making hanging shelves
Hanging shelves can be made of wood, metal, chipboard, multi-layer plywood, plasterboard, plastic and glass. If you make a hanging shelf with your own hands, you can additionally use fabric, threads and other available materials. The choice of material for a hanging shelf depends on the room in which it will be located. For example, in a bathroom where there is high humidity, it is not recommended to place a shelf made of fabric that does not have water-repellent properties. Hanging shelves made of glass or plastic will look best in the bathroom. The choice of material for hanging shelves is also influenced by the style of the interior.
Hanging shelves depending on mounting methods
A wide variety of designs allows you to select the necessary hanging shelves for different purposes, and, accordingly, place them in the most convenient places. In addition to the ability to be placed in different rooms, hanging shelves have different mounting methods.
Ceiling hanging shelves
In most cases, ceiling hanging shelves are used to hang flowerpots. They can be attached to the ceiling in the room and on the balcony, thereby creating a real greenhouse that does not take up useful space. These can also be ceiling hanging shelves for books, decorative items, dishes and even a TV.
Hanging shelves on the wall
In the case where the shelf will be attached to the wall, there are many more interesting design solutions. These can be either linear or corner hanging shelves. The advantage of corner hanging shelves is that they help hide empty corners and add notes of harmony and completeness to the interior.
In the photographs in our article you can see various design options. Hanging shelves for books and decor fit very organically into modern stylistic trends.
In most cases, hanging shelves are universal; you can place books, trinkets, various vases, etc. on them. We will look at the features of the most popular designs, such as hanging shelves for flowers, books and TV.
Niches under the ceiling
Niches located under the ceiling can become a convenient and practical place to store various things.
This is a kind of additional tier of the ceiling in the form of a collapsible or monolithic structure. The most common type is a closed type of this design.
If the niche is solid, then spotlights or LED strips can be mounted under it. Most often, such structures are located in a pantry or corridor.
However, despite all the advantages of this storage method, there are also certain disadvantages, which, for example, include the inaccessibility of things if the niche is deep enough.
Hanging TV shelf
Not a single apartment these days is complete without a “blue” screen. Hanging shelves will help you place it in the interior so that viewing is as comfortable and convenient for you as possible.
A good option would be a hanging shelf for a TV in a children's room - then a small child will not be able to reach it and, therefore, “shorten” its service life. Most of these shelves are wall-mounted, but there are special designs with brackets, such as a ceiling-mounted TV shelf. It can be fixed at any distance and convenient height from the viewing location.
Hanging shelves for a TV will be a wonderful addition to the interiors of living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms. This is generally a great option for the kitchen.
Hanging shelves for flowers
Hanging shelves for flowers will help you decorate your interior beautifully and free up space on the surface of the window sills. Some simple structures can be built independently and used to decorate window openings in the kitchen, loggia or balcony. For example, a hanging shelf for flowers, made with your own hands from a board (thick plywood) and rope, can be attached to a bracket in the wall or ceiling. In the photo below, see the original shapes of the shelves for flowers, decorated in a modern style.
Shelving
This option is best suited for a pantry, kitchen or utility room. Racks are visually similar to shelves, but look less decorative. They can be made from boards or pallets and placed on a durable metal frame.
The racks can hold many different things, including quite heavy ones. Now it is very fashionable to install such structures in loft-style apartments.
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Hanging shelves for books
Although nowadays books are no longer as popular as they were several decades ago, they are still available in small quantities. They are often used when decorating a schoolchild or student’s room. Unlike the dull designs of previous years, modern models, and they are presented in our article, are distinguished by a special design. By placing books on hanging shelves, you can always quickly and easily find your favorite book. Hanging bookshelves in the living room will help you start a conversation with any guest and discuss the book you like over a cup of tea.
Read also: Stylish and comfortable shelves for the living room - 30 ideas from Pinterest
Hanging shelves: various options for the kitchen and bathroom
Rooms such as the bathroom and kitchen often have small areas where hanging shelves become a very advantageous solution. They can carry different functional loads, but a prerequisite for them is the material’s resistance to moisture and temperature changes. Mainly, these can be plastic, wooden, metal structures, as well as hanging glass shelves made of chipboard.
Hanging shelves for the kitchen
In a given room, hanging shelves can be designed for different purposes. In the work area there can be a special hanging shelf for a microwave and other household appliances, and the dining corner will be well complemented by a hanging structure for a TV.
Not only a convenient stand, but also a real decoration can be original hanging shelves for glasses and shelves for flowers. Since the kitchen is a multifunctional room, hanging shelves for the kitchen become a very profitable solution. They can accommodate many different kitchen utensils and still leave quite a lot of free space. When designing kitchen shelves, use your imagination and make them a wonderful decorative element. Such hanging shelves will always please your eyes.
Hanging shelves for bathroom
The bathroom also requires various storage structures for various cosmetic and personal care products. Hanging shelves for the bathroom replace larger cabinets and help save space in a small space. For their manufacture, materials such as plastic, wood, metal, and drywall are used. Hanging glass shelves, photos of which are in our article, will add special lightness to the interior. The use of corner hanging shelves is also appropriate here.
When there is no extra money to purchase a ready-made shelf, or there is a strong desire to show your creativity, a DIY hanging shelf will be the best way out. All family members can participate in this manufacturing process.
Kitchen cabinets to the ceiling: implementation options
If the height of the room is 240 cm , you can hang standard cabinets. They will be neither too tall nor overly bulky. The joint can be decorated with a cornice if desired.
If the kitchen is higher than 240 cm (but not higher than 270 cm) , you can go one of two ways. First: hang the cabinets slightly below the ceiling, covering the remaining distance with a decorative front panel and, if desired, a cornice. The top edge will thus be purely decorative, without functionality.
The second way: order upper cabinets in two tiers. Or, in other words, double.
The design options for the double top are varied:
1. Both levels are equal in height;
2. The first level is higher than the second;
3. The facades of both levels are blank;
4. The facades of the first level are solid, the second are glazed (lighting would be appropriate here) or vice versa;
5. Both levels are the same depth;
6. The second level is deeper than the first. In other words, the top of the kitchen is equipped with a mezzanine. The lower level has a standard depth (30 cm), and the depth of the mezzanine can be increased to 60 cm.
When choosing the last option (kitchen with mezzanine), do not forget about ergonomics: deep mezzanines should be located higher than the height of the owners.
If the room is higher than 270 cm , you will have to order a two-level top. But if this design is not to your taste, there is still a way out.
This solution is suitable not only for a high room, but also for any other. To avoid leaving space above the cabinets, you can simply lower the ceiling. Or rather, mount the box above the work area and rest the cabinets against it. Kitchens of this type are also called built-in.
When ordering a kitchen with a two-level top, make sure that everything is more or less symmetrical. Tall cabinets with asymmetrical doors can create clutter and create visual chaos.
DIY hanging shelf made of fabric
Housewives will certainly be interested in such a woven shelf. A DIY hanging shelf made of fabric will look very original and is suitable for storing cosmetics, combs, magazines, newspapers and other light items. Its manufacture will require a small amount of materials and some sewing skills.
It is better to choose a denser fabric - calico, satin, etc. You can also use leather, fur, and for bathrooms, raincoat or jacket materials with water-repellent impregnation.
Making a hanging shelf made of fabric yourself is quite simple: smaller ones, like pockets, are sewn onto a large prepared base piece. Their sizes depend on personal preferences. They can be plain or different colors, and also complemented with various decorative decorations.
What to make from
The easiest way is to provide yourself with a place to store books by going to the store and buying ready-made shelves. However, this solution carries with it some not very obvious disadvantages:
- Standard shelf sizes may not fit a particular room.
- The appearance will always be at the choice of the manufacturer and there may be a situation in which you will not be able to find a model that suits you in color and shape.
If you have certain design skills, then you will be quite capable of making such devices yourself. In addition, if you show some creativity, you can create a place for books even from scrap materials. The easiest way is to make shelves from laminated chipboard, sold in any construction market. You just need to purchase parts of the required sizes or order cutting of a large sheet into blanks of the required size. In this case, you will need to purchase materials for decorating the edges.
There is another option - to make a niche for books from plasterboard. True, this option is associated with the need to carry out many additional operations, such as installing load-bearing metal profiles, as well as puttying and painting the finished structure. In addition, it is better to carry out such work at the stage of renovation of the room, since when installing shelves, a lot of debris appears and there is a risk of ruining the finish of the walls.
You can assemble simple shelves from ordinary boards. If you add a little imagination and diligence, it will not be difficult to give an ordinary board an original look - in stores there are many different materials and paints with the help of which any board will turn into a work of art.
DIY hanging flower shelf
Let's look at an interesting way to make a hanging flowerpot shelf with your own hands, which will be an excellent original decoration for the interior of a room or balcony. Let us clarify that a flowerpot is a decorative vessel in which a flowerpot with a plant is placed. This design is also considered a shelf and can be either in a stationary position or suspended from a wall or ceiling.
In order for such a hanging shelf for flowers with your own hands to really be the most original, you can use knitting. A beautiful colored bag with a flowerpot inside, suspended from the ceiling, will look warm and elegant, especially if it is complemented with the same “colorful neighbors”. If knitting is not your thing, you can resort to using wicker baskets, plastic buckets and pots. Using a glue gun, you can cover the front side of future flowerpots with shells, small pebbles or beads and build rope hangers.
From all of the above, we can conclude that hanging shelves are no less popular than they were several decades ago. On the contrary, thanks to their ability to accommodate many different items and leave the space as free as possible, they are only gaining popularity.
