What are narrow racks and how to choose them?

In order to save as much space in the house as possible, one of the best options would be to purchase a shelving unit. These comfortable multi-storey structures take up very little space, and the huge range of products offered by the market will allow you to choose the ideal option for any interior.

The rack will be a convenient replacement for a bookcase, kitchen sideboard, wardrobe and even a bedside table. In addition, structures are made from several types of material, which significantly expands the range of products. This allows you to give free rein to your imagination and make your dream interior come true.

Multi-storey shelves are comfortable and practical furniture that will perfectly fit into the decor of any living space or office, you can even use it in the garage for convenient placement of tools. Open shelves without a back wall will visually expand the space of the room, in contrast to bulky wardrobes and huge cabinets. In most cases, this design is a budget and practical option for storing a wide variety of things - from books and documents to toys and awards.

The main feature of whatnots is that they have a large number of shelves, and often there is no back wall. In lightweight models, side walls may also be absent. Narrow racks are produced in the most diverse:

• low or high;
• straight or angled;
• with or without doors;
• intended for the zoning of premises.

You can choose a product that suits your needs. A narrow shelving unit is very popular in homes, because it does not take up much space and holds enough items due to its height and the number of shelves. This design can be used to divide the room into two parts - a work area and a rest area. Zoning rooms with a narrow rack will not clutter up the room, because it does not have a back wall, this gives this furniture lightness and weightlessness. There are also special combined shelving, in which at the same time there can be a high narrow part and a low wide one, replacing a TV stand.

There are quite a few designs for storing things, their purpose and functionality largely depend on components, parameters and additional elements. To find the right shelving for your interior, check out the types of such furniture.

• Wardrobe rack. This type of furniture is the most versatile and convenient for storing books, clothes or various little things. Most often, such a cabinet is made according to the requirements of the consumer, because the size and capacity of the shelves are individual for each house. The design of the rack can be of several different types: open - without doors, closed - with doors, sectional - consisting of several parts, collapsible, not collapsible and transformable. The material for production is most often wood, and individual parts of the fittings are made of metal. The height of the cabinet is determined only by the customer's requirements, but there are some standards for the size of the shelves - the depth of the niche should be at least 15 and not more than 40 cm, and the width should be at least 18-20 cm.

• Floor shelf. Such a rack can be low or high - this allows you to use it for different purposes. The low shelf can be used as a bedside cabinet or as a TV stand. A tall, semi-closed shelving unit will perfectly complement small shelves, moreover, to save space as much as possible, you can use thin shelves.

• Pencil case-rack. This design will be an excellent replacement for bulky cabinets and sideboards, because it has the same capacity, but at the same time it is more compact and easier to use. The pencil case can be open or closed, with additional pull-out shelves or drawers - it all depends on its purpose. The most convenient depth of shelves for a vertical kitchen rack is 25-30 cm. In addition, the design can be made without a back wall, in which case the pencil case can be used for zoning the room. It is convenient to store photographs and awards on an open shelf, because in such a place they will always be in sight.

Shelves, like any other furniture, are made from different materials. Raw materials can be of different weights and qualities, depending on their future use. There are three main materials for making whatnots: wood, metal and plastic.

Natural wood is a very refined and beautiful material that will add warmth and comfort to your home interior. Wooden shelving will perfectly fit into any design and, if used correctly, will last long enough. The most important advantage of wood is its environmental friendliness, it is absolutely safe during operation, and after the end of its service life, the material does not pose a threat to the environment.

The disadvantage of products made from natural material is their large mass and bulkiness. If you have chosen such a material, be prepared for the difficulties of transportation. In addition, wood can easily ignite, so do not place shelves made from this raw material near the use of a fire or heater.

Such material can be either heavy or lightweight - it depends on the expected load on the shelves. The metal rack is highly durable and has a fairly long service life. Books, tools or other household items are perfectly stored on iron shelves. Metal can be different, for example, if the shelf is made of steel, it will be strong, reliable and withstand any load.

If you choose a structure made of steel supports and glass shelves, the rack will become an exquisite and sophisticated piece of furniture. Such a shelf is used exclusively for decorative light items; it is impossible to load fragile shelves with heavy items. Another important plus of iron products is their fire safety, because the metal cannot ignite at all.

With all its advantages, metal also has some negative features. The color palette does not differ in a variety of shades, and the shape of the product is strongly limited by the properties of the material. Also, if moisture gets in, iron can begin to rust - inexpensive metal products may lack anti-corrosion treatment. But even if the product is expensive, at elevated levels of humidity, the metal can still start to deteriorate.

This material is the most versatile in the selection of colors, and also has sufficient strength and aesthetics. Unlike metal, plastic is moisture resistant and does not require any special features for storage and operation. The plastic rack can be supplemented with new sections at any time using special hooks and clips. Polymer structures can withstand heavy loads, therefore they are used for storing things both in living rooms and in warehouses and garages.

To successfully choose a narrow shelving unit for your home, you need to decide in advance on its purpose, parameters and style. The future appearance of the universal cabinet depends on these characteristics. Consider the important nuances of choosing a rack.

• Dimensions. This is what you should pay attention to first of all - the structure should not only be roomy enough for the planned needs, but also not too large.
• Material. Depends on the location of the shelf - if this is a room, choose more aesthetic and beautiful wood models. If the shelf will be used in a utility room or garage, you can choose a simpler iron option.
• Design. It is very important to consider the number of sections, the maximum load and the height of the product. This needs to be determined in order for the rack to meet your requirements.
• The weight. This characteristic is especially important for zoned and iron models. The former should be heavy enough to avoid accidental overturning of the rack. And metal structures must be chosen from lightweight options, because shelves with a large weight are more often used for storing bulky and heavy items in enterprises. In addition, heavy models are difficult to transport.
• View. Consider the presence of drawers or closed shelves with inserted glass in the design. For storing things in the living room, it is better to choose shelves with closed sections, and for dressing rooms, you can use open ones for easier access to things.
• The form. For the living room and bedroom, it will be wise to choose wall decorative structures made of wood. It is important to choose a shelf that matches the style of your décor.
• Location. The shelf in the living room will be different from the one in the garage or library.
• Colour. Wood models are usually limited to woody tones, but you can find many interesting other tones for a wood model if you wish. Metal structures are most often covered with a layer of protective paint, but it does not differ in the variety of the palette. Plastic products can be of absolutely any color.

There are a lot of types of shelving and it is very easy to get confused among this assortment. They can be lightweight and multifunctional, differ in type, design and material. There can also be a different way of installing the structure - attached to the wall, integral with other pieces of furniture and floor-standing. Therefore, we will consider the criteria for choosing a rack, depending on its placement.

• Into the living room. The guest room is usually large enough that lightweight zoning racks can be used. Books, photographs, flowers or other decorative items will look great on them.

• For the hall. A TV is most often located in this room, so it would be wise to choose a set of a low stand and two narrow tall cabinets. Plasma is very conveniently located on the low central shelf, and various small items can be stored in tall glass structures.

• Into the bedroom. In a break room, shelving can be used in a variety of ways, such as storing clothes or bedding. In a small room, a corner rack will perfectly save space. For collectibles, there are handy rotating shelves to accommodate each exhibit.

The first photo shows the built-in shelving for the home. This design takes up very little space, but at the same time it can accommodate a lot of items. Documents or books placed on such a shelf will always be in sight and in quick access.

The second variant of the rack is versatile and decorative. The placement of shelves allows you to store items not only inside the cell, but also in separate sections or on top. Some compartments of this model are closed with doors, which expands the functionality of the structure. On these shelves you can store items that are sensitive to sunlight, as well as items that need to be protected from dust. The model attaches to the wall, so you can position it both vertically and horizontally.

In the third image you can see the most compact design of the rack - the corner one. Such a choice will be an excellent decoration for a small room, because this model has a very convenient overview of objects. It makes sense to place photographs, trophies and other memorabilia on the shelves, and then the corner becomes a small family museum.