48 Genius DIY Floating Shelves Ideas For Home Decoration

Shelving should suit the way you live and the space you have. Find a place for everything with these ideas using freestanding, wall-hung and modular shelves.

Create wall to wall shelving
Place three open shelf units flush to the wall to create the look of built-in storage that doesn’t dominate the room – and requires no DIY

How to choose the right unit
Allow 3cm to 5cm space above books so you can easily pull them out
For accessibility, go for units no higher than 21cm, with the top shelf at 180cm
Shelves should be 30cm wide to fit larger books and 20cm for paperbacks, CDs and DVDs. Leave 25cm to 30cm between each shelf
Hardback books are heavy, so need sturdy shelves. Slim shelves are only suitable for lighter paperbacks and ornaments

Stylist’s tip
Keep the wall color light to contrast with dark shelving and provide a backdrop for ornaments
Divide the room and add space for everything
Separate living and dining areas with freestanding shelves. They’ll add storage that can be accessed from both sides