Varieties of niche shelves and their location

A niche in a home is a useful space that can be used for decorative or practical purposes. So, inside you can arrange shelves and put things on them or arrange decorations. The shelves should be selected depending on the characteristics of the interior of the room.

A niche in an apartment can be located anywhere. Some people do not use the space in it, but in vain. Many things can be placed inside. Niche shelves can be categorized according to their type and material.

• Wall mounted. Wall mounted, versatile and standard.

• Built-in. Usually made of drywall, like the groove itself. A good solution in a niche from the window.

• Corner. They are placed between two walls. It looks interesting and saves space. However, in niches, such a design is quite rare.

• Suspended. They differ in non-standard fastening. An original format that allows you to diversify ordinary shelves.

It is also important to consider the material. It is usually selected in the same style as the general interior of the room. The features of care depend on this. There are several material options.

• Wood. A good solution for many interior design trends. Wooden shelves look attractive and stylish. Sometimes, to reduce the cost, they use not an array, but chipboard or MDF.

• Glass. Shelves made of this material are very decorative. Usually, attractive furnishings or books are placed on glass products. However, these models are not universal. Glass shelves are dangerous in a home where there are children or animals, because they can break.

• Plastic. An easy and cheap option. Folding shelves are most often made from this material. It is easy to care for the products. However, plastic shelves should not be overloaded, they may break. The material does not allow for the repair of the product.

Shelves can be placed in any niche, even in a narrow one, even in a deep one. First you need to measure the side walls and the back. If the niche is flat, then there will be no problems at all. Shelves for non-standard sizes are made to order.

There are many factors to consider when installing shelves. The material from which the product is made and the expected load matter. The simplest way is open mounting, which can be seen with the naked eye. Let's consider the implementation options.

• Corners. It can withstand a load of 20-40 kg, depending on the design features. The simplest and most common mount.

• Reinforced brackets. They can hold up to 100 kg. The structure has a jumper that connects the vertical and horizontal lines of the attachment.

• Decorative. Keeps weight in the range of 20-30 kg. Brackets with original details are part of the interior.

• Reiki. Plates made of wood or metal. Installed horizontally for one shelf and vertically for multi-tiered structures.

• Expansion dowels and drop-down. Each attachment size has its own maximum load, usually within 55 kg. In fact, this is just a plastic base, self-tapping screws are screwed inside.

• Through anchors. Used for mounting heavy structures on drywall. Metal tube with blades and threads. When the metal rod is screwed in, the petals open and are securely fixed inside the wall.

In some cases, you do not want to spoil the general view with fasteners. Then the use of concealed installation becomes relevant. It is convenient to fix the shelves in this way in narrow niches, where unnecessary parts take up space. Various types of hidden mounts are used.

1. Rods. Metal studs are placed on one side inside the shelf, and on the other into the wall.

2. Bars made of wood. Such a mount is a kind of frame on which the shelf is put on.

3. Hidden hinges. They are mounted at the end of the shelf and fastened with self-tapping screws. The product is hung with screws in the walls.

4. Console. Made from wood or metal. There are different configurations - both straight and angular.

Open and concealed mounting is standard. And there are also unusual ways of attaching shelves. They are more decorative and interesting.

A niche with shelves can be found in any room of the house. It is only important to correctly combine the place and the materials used. And also it is worth determining the desired area in the room.

• In the living room. Usually the niche is decorative, located in the recreation area. You can place it near the window and put flowers there.

• On the kitchen. A niche of a functional nature should have strong shelves made of moisture-resistant material.

• In the hall. The functional area can be used to store clothes and shoes.

• In the nursery. In a niche, you can arrange a place for toys. Glass shelves must not be used, they are dangerous for children.

• Bedroom. Shelves are used to store things, cosmetics or decor.

The easiest way to make a shelf on your own is from wood, chipboard or MDF, drywall. First you need to purchase a sheet of material of suitable thickness. Additionally, you can use a decorative film to change the appearance of the product. Step-by-step instruction:

1. determine the size of the niche to mark the shelves on the sheet of material;

2. draw a sheet of MDF, and cut out the blanks with a jigsaw;

3. in some cases, the cut points must be cleaned with sandpaper;

4. if necessary, cover with decorative foil.

If you work with wood, you can create the effect of antiquity. This will require a gas burner, sandpaper and varnish.

Fasteners are selected based on the expected loads. General rules apply here. If you have the necessary tools, you can make glass shelves yourself. The principle of operation is the same, only you do not have to overwrite the sections. However, glass requires more care as it can crack during cutting.

For information on how to make a niche with shelves, see the next video.