Living room shelves: modern design and practicality

Any home has functional storage systems. These include not only cabinets and cabinets, but also comfortable shelves. Today we will talk about modern designs and their role in living room design.

The days of massive walls and cabinets are over. Designers try to create light, maximum open spaces, even within the framework of traditional styles. Open shelves and racks are more in line with this trend. Living room shelves are more than just a storage system. They help to form the inner space, highlighting the necessary zones in it.

The material determines not only the strength of the shelf. The form, design and nature of the object, as well as its stylistic direction, depend on it. Therefore, in many respects, it depends on the material how appropriate the object is inscribed in the interior. Manufacturers offer shelves from traditional and unusual materials:

It is the most comfortable for perception. Creates a feeling of comfort, calmness and security. Different breeds differ greatly in texture and color. This allows you to choose furniture suitable for interiors from country to loft. The tree is easy to handle, decorate, create unusual objects with your own hands.

Recycled wood panels are inexpensive, look good and can handle heavy loads like books. There are matte and glossy, bright colors and calm shades of wood.

Allows you to embody unusual designs. Looks interesting in combination with glass and wood elements. Metal shelves will decorate not only loft and high-tech living rooms.

Suitable for light shelves only. Decorative screens for shelving are also made of glass.

You can make a niche, a TV stand, and a book rack from GKL sheets. The structures are easy to paint and illuminate, and the strength can be increased with the help of metal profiles. It is convenient to make them from drywall left after wall cladding.

Suitable for compositions from decorative shelves. This material is presented today in a rich range of colors. In addition, plastic shelves are quite inexpensive.

A variety of design solutions are based on only 4 types of structures. Let's consider them in more detail.

Racks consist of vertical supports and shelves fixed to them. They help to arrange an abundance of things beautifully and compactly. The rack can be assembled from almost any material: from wood to drywall.

The racks can be located at an angle to the floor, and the cells can differ in shape and height, or rise by a ladder. There are structures of complex shape, inside which there is a place for reading. Cylindrical and built-in shelves will help to save space in a small room.

Corner shelves decorate small spaces beautifully. You can use triangular shelving sections, modular or convertible structures.Lightweight shelves allow you to place flowers and souvenirs, and modular options are suitable for books.

Suspended are called narrow shelves for photographs and trifles. They are often decorated with free areas of the walls.

Designers experiment a lot with shape and design, making them vertical, curved or suspended from the ceiling. The shelves have only a decorative function, therefore they can be glass.

Now let's figure out how to choose a rack or shelf so that they are in harmony with the living room decor. To do this, it is necessary to take into account the design style and atmosphere of the space.

Distinctive features of the style are restraint, striving for perfect harmony and appeal to ancient culture.

For a classic interior, models made of natural wood are preferable. They can be decorated with carvings, forged metal plates, and the shelves' consoles resemble column capitals. It is important that at the same time the subject looks holistic and simple.

Gravitates towards pretentious, a little theatrical luxury, so all pieces of furniture are richly decorated: bronze or gilding, carved or forged elements. Wood remains the preferred material. It can be combined with glass and metal parts.

Natural wood or aged wood is suitable for this style. Its surface is varnished or painted. It goes well with dark metals. It seems that the shelf was made by the owner by hand.

The charming simplicity of this style is emphasized by the wooden shelves. Most often they are small, intricate shapes, decorated with carvings or paintings, white or pastel shades.

Furniture items turn into abstract compositions. The style is characterized by a clear geometric shape, contrasting colors, a combination of metal and glass, chrome details. You can use glossy MDF panels, plastic, drywall.

Experiments with materials (old water pipes) and shape are encouraged. Modern elements are intricately combined with traditional ones.

The style draws inspiration from different cultures, thanks to which objects of unusual shape and decor appear. They are made only from natural materials: wood, rods, ropes.

A few tips to pay attention to when choosing shelves for the hall:

• Decide on the purpose of the subject. It is better to immediately imagine what will be stored on it. Based on this, choose material, size and design.
• Wall shelves or oddly shaped shelving draws attention. You can make them a highlight of the interior. It is better to place the shelves on a plain surface in a contrasting color.
• If the shelves play a supporting role, choose simple options with a clear shape and a minimum amount of decor. You can make them yourself.
• Consider the location and size in advance. It is better if they are made of the same material.

• Color is also important. It is worth choosing a shade that matches the rest of the furniture and does not blend in with the walls.
• Ask what kind of load the model you like can withstand. For example, transformable corner shelves are not designed for massive items.
• You should not skimp on quality: chipboard and MDF panels should be flat, without scuffs and chips, and the fittings should be securely attached.

There is a place for shelves in any interior. Designers offer different layout options:

• On a free wall.
• In the corners.
• In the window opening.
• On the ceiling.

Glass shelves do not clutter up the space. This can be used by decorating the walls in a small living room. In small rooms, light furniture looks better: even massive objects seem lighter.

Corner structures behind the sofa will allow you to compactly place what you need. At the same time, the room will not seem cramped. Shelving section will be a place for storing books and large items, and flower pots can be placed on the floor shelf.

The contents of the shelves help to shape the atmosphere of the living room and tell about the owners: their lifestyle, tastes and values. Many decorate the hall with photographs, trinkets, or unusual objects. You can put them on a rack, or you can put them on narrow shelves for small items.

Properly placed flower pots will transform a room into a corner of a magical garden. It is convenient to use shelves, top shelves of shelves or structures in a window opening for flowers. It is best to fill them with small plants like violets to keep the living room bright. Sturdy shelves made of wood, MDF or double drywall will hold up a collection of books, beautiful crockery and other massive items. There you can also find a place for a TV or speakers.

If you still have old furniture - modular shelves or a wardrobe, then try changing their design. The rethought object will become the compositional center of the space and will save at least 10,000 rubles.

Let's consider several ways to restore old items:

• Paint with white or unexpectedly bright paint: light green, blue, red. If the size of the surface allows, you can make a color stretch or paint with acrylic. To transform the modular shelves of the Soviet era into modern ones, it is enough to remove the back wall and repaint it.

• Decorate using decoupage technique, decorate with carvings, mosaics or fabrics. The result is cute additions to a rustic or ethnic style interior.
• Change the design: at least two new ones will be obtained from one old shelf. A wardrobe or bookcase can be converted into a shelving unit. To do this, remove the doors and legs (if any) and put the missing shelves. All that remains is to update the surface.

The main purpose of this rack is a convenient arrangement of books. Only the cornice at the top indicates its belonging to the classical style. Thanks to this detail, it does not violate the harmony of the classic interior. Original shelving units attract attention, therefore they are an important part of the composition. Without them, the situation will become normal, but if there are a lot of such objects, guests will lose their orientation in space.

Interesting are the retro-style hanging shelf, as well as unique homemade shelves made from drywall remnants. Such designs allow books and little things to be beautifully placed in the corner, and the lighting (if any) creates an atmosphere of magic.

Decorative shelves fill the space above the sofa. You can also use stylish compositions from hanging shelves.

For information on how to make an interesting shelf with your own hands, see the next video.