Slatwall And Floating Shelves
As the world moves a little further everyday, our shops too, at least the ones that could survive recession, are no different. Everybody is passing through a tough time. Shop owners have to strike a balance between cost-effective and attractive shop fittings, and it gets very risky to opt for cost-effective over attractive, or vice-versa, thus spoiling the whole balance.
Some shopkeepers may opt for a set of cheap shelving that may not be a financial strain for the. But, that may not bring them additional business. Undoubtedly, the quality of goods and their demand are crucial for any retail business but customers may not be inclined to pick up materials from shelves that give the impression of being second-hand. On the other hand, the same materials displayed in an attractive shop fitting may attract more customers who feel confident of buying from a quality retailer. But, will the shopkeeper consider it worthwhile to invest heavily in attractive shop fittings in anticipation of more profits as a result of improved sales? Well, there is that proverbial saying that to earn money one needs to invest money. But, given the present difficult times, that doesn’t sound sensible. That’s what makes slatwall an interesting proposition.
Slatwall is an unusual kind of shopfitting comprising of paneling of a number of slats at periodic intervals that enables the retailers to display their goods on an easy-to clean and maintain set of floating shelves. These specially designed shelves easily slide in the paneling without having to include brackets, thus making available more space for displaying items in an attractive manner. The cleaning of shelves is the easiest. Just slide them out of the slats, clean and replace back.
The availability of these shelves in a variety of neutral colors further adds to the convenience. Whatever be the color scheme or décor of shop, there is a suitable shade to choose from any of these shades: standard white, cream or gray, to wood effects, in maple, cherry, beech, oak and ash. Moreover, there are also ‘credit crunch shelves’, meaning plain shelves without any edging. Well, they may not look as attractive as the normal ones; they make a very good option for a seasonal Christmas shop, while they get attached to their slatwall, and display goods of discounted prices during holiday season.
Have a look at the prices. The lowest priced pack of 24 works out to £9.85 each, but a single piece would cost £10.95. That seems good enough to make one opt for standard shelves rather than the credit crunch version. Wood effect shelving is costlier, the cheapest being the cherry for £12.20, while the costliest is the maple priced for £15.25. But, even the costlier variety becomes economical on buying a pack of 24, and most of the shops would need more than that number. Of course, it’s expensive, but you get extra place for displaying your wares.
The design of slatwall shelves has one limitation though. As there are no supporting brackets fore extra support, the weight of the items that one may keep in these shelves is quite restricted and you dare not overload these, lest they should come cracking down. Though the problem is taken care of to some extent by using heavy duty floating shelves but they are more expensive and the fact remains that even those don’t have supporting brackets. They could certainly contain more items but on being loaded beyond a weight, they might bend or crack, necessitating replacement. Therefore it will be worth spending sometime to assess your requirements before ordering.
So that’s it; as the world moves forward, our shops need not lag behind with slatwall by our side that not only creates an extra space and offers us a cheaper substitute to traditional shopfittings, but also optimizes the space using floating shelving.
Steel Shelving – Sturdiest Shelves Ever!
The choice of shelving material for industries the world over is almost limited to steel. Steel shelving is used for many applications, including storage in the industrial world. As a matter of fact there is no other option as useful as steel, the most durable material. Apart from being used for storage facility, it finds industry-specific applications.
Steel shelves may be provided with wheels to facilitate movement of heavier products. On the other hand, shelving at a low height could be used as workbenches to bear hammering, beating and heat also. Heavy steel cabinets that have steel shelving can be used for storage of tools. Then, you also get lightweight steel shelving for storage of office files and stationery. So, you see steel shelving can find many uses in commercial establishments and industrial units. The most important feature is the durability of steel that is expected to last a lifetime despite the constant beating it bears under the environments that prevail in any industrial or commercial establishment.
Storage shelves made from steel are easily the safest and healthiest for food business, especially for restaurant and food processing industry, because this is one metal that doesn’t allow bacteria to build up. Wall Shelves produced from steel are just the items for kitchens. Especially designed refrigeration shelves and their replacement parts that can easily be adjusted are made from stainless steel. This kind of shelving is often made from steel wire that facilitates airflow and temperature. Another kind of steel shelving that finds use in this industry includes tables and carts. Usually they come with adjustable steel tops. Here again it has the advantage of being sterilized efficiently. Such surfaces can easily be scrubbed and washed with steel wool to have continued hygienic conditions without any fear of damaging the same, that’s quite unlike wood, Formica or plastic tops that would get scratched.
For domestic applications you get steel shelves especially made for garages and basements. Again, you are assured of their lifetime durability. Moreover, these areas tend to get dusty a bit too soon, but steel shelving offers the advantage of easy cleaning.
The ever-increasing popularity of stainless steel for domestic applications has prompted manufacturers to come out with stainless steel shelving for domestic uses. They are designed to match the other household appliances. You may have them as microwave wall shelves and carts. Beautifully designed baking racks in steel are already a rage. It’s about time you started considering to complete your collection of stainless steel appliances with matching steel shelving and accessories.
Glass Shelves – Fantastic Choice!
A home renovation project wouldn’t be complete unless you consider addition of some shelves. Of the many materials used for making shelves, glass offers some distinctive features. Glass shelves make an ideal accessory for displaying your prized personal items. Its reflective characteristics add to the décor without bringing that feeling of heaviness that’s always associated with wood, which tries to dominate the scene. You get glass shelves in many modern yet simple designs that easily go along the ambience of your office or home.
It’s not that wall-mounted glass shelves are only beautiful and brighten the room, they are also very easy to maintain. Use your normal window cleaner for cleaning these or at the most you may use a mixture of vinegar in water. But, dusting is perhaps the easiest, just take out your handheld duster and dust the shelf without disturbing any of its contents. Another advantage over wooden shelf is that glass shelf doesn’t get stained if you happen to spill any liquid over it. Any piece of furniture has a natural tendency to collect dust, but dust gets all the more visible on wood, which needs to be polished to restore its original shine.
Modern bathrooms are designed and decorated to help relaxation and ease out pressure. That makes glass shelves a popular option for being used in the bathrooms. Of course, it is not ordinary glass. Glass shelves for bathroom are made from tempered glass, which is much stronger and safer to use than ordinary glass, being resilient. The atmosphere in bathroom is different because of humidity and water that easily damages wood, causing it to warp and lose its shine too. Imagine having glass shelves in the bathroom to store your towels, toiletries and even for displaying your plants.
If space is constrained, floating glass wall shelves are ideal. These can be fixed on the wall without anyone being able to see its brackets and mounting arrangement that always gets hidden from view. They present a neat and streamlined look in any small area.
Glass shelves can be conveniently used to enhance the décor of any office or home. They are simple, easy to maintain and beautiful to look at. Available in any number of modern designs and styles, they offer an opportunity for adding a touch of class to any room. Display of your personal items is heightened without getting lost in the background of heavy wood. To further highlight the contents of a glass shelf, incorporate a lighting source within that and enjoy the effect so produced.
Black Wall Shelves – Elegance And Style
The color of wall shelves goes to compose a new atmosphere in the room they are utilized. For instance, black wall shelves look very smooth especially on walls in maroon color and present the room in an entirely new perspective.
Black is a classy color that projects emotion and gives an exclusive atmosphere to a room that is difficult to achieve with other colors. Because black wall shelving is not so popular, so you get it cheaper than any other color. There are any who prefer dark color tones as they find such colors to be very rich that give a personal connection.
Different materials are used for fabricating black shelves that come in many designs and styles for you to choose from. However, metallic black shelves are lighter than the wooden wall shelves that have been painted black. You get black floating shelves too.
As the supporting accessories used for floating shelves are not visible, black floating shelves don’t appear to be heavy and thus blend well with any décor. The design that has black metallic frames but uses glass for shelving will accentuate the room with their lighter looks, though remaining black. A long corridor with floating black shelves with pictures and flowers spread across presents a very stylish look.
Corner shelves is another style that you may have your black shelves in. These also present an equally lighter look while blending well with other items of your room. Like any other shelf they too provide additional storage space but present an interesting layout. They give a very professional look and really go to complement dark couches in leather.
Whatever colors you may choose, primarily you are adding to your storage area. Additionally, you get a chance to add an element of beauty that reflects your taste and creativity. Here is a word of caution. You should avoid getting a shelf that comes with a shining coating of paint for the simple reason that on getting scratched, the scratches get very prominent and reflect back sunlight, almost causing a glare. Go for the ones with coarse looks.
Coming back to the point, you can optimize your storage space and make any room more appealing by adding a black wall shelf in a shade that blends naturally with the décor of the room. Of course, it gives a new feel to your room and might even prompt you to improve upon your present home design.
Bathroom Wall Shelves – Get More Storage Space
Installing wall shelves in bathroom creates more storage area while they impart a great look to the place. Invariably, houses have one bathroom only and with the whole family sharing the same, it gets cluttered with a variety of personal toiletries. The problems of cluttered items are all the more acute in case of small bathrooms. A very practical way of managing all the personal and individual items is to have a few shelves and wall cabinets to keep things organized and present the bathroom with a neat and clean look. Apart from keeping the items organized for easy retrieval, an appropriate selection of these accessories can indeed add to the looks of the space.
The use of wall mounted bathroom shelves need not remain confined to just providing additional storage for managing the variety of items often needed in the bathroom. With a little effort and bit of imagination you can make this part of the house look more inviting with a relaxed atmosphere. With all the clutter taken care of, why not consider having some indoor plant in one of the shelves to get that feeling of freshness. Or you could imaginatively exploit the arrangement of all those colored bottles in all sizes and shapes that are unique to toiletries. Use them to store colored towels to make the place look colorful and welcoming. Inclusion of glass bathroom wall shelves catches the eye, thus offering an opportunity to display some of your prized possessions. Glass shelves always present a very neat look and seem to have an air of lightness around them.
Wall shelves for bathroom not only provide additional space, but also ideal accessories to give that special look to your décor. Having floating wall shelves gives a more streamlined look, more so when the space is small. The looks of a floating shelf are particularly impressive, as you can’t see the hardware needed to support them, thus giving the impression of being suspended in air. There are no brackets that show on the wall, giving it a clean look. They present a very light and airy look, without the heavy looks of wood in the background.
When you are hard pressed for space, corner shelves make a great idea. Get that decorative and relaxed effect by keeping a small plant or a flower arrangement in a corner of the bathroom. You may even use it to display a piece of art. Another idea will be to have one corner shelf just above the Jacuzzi tub with a green plant gushing out of it. Inclusion of such items while adding to the ambience, makes it relaxing and enjoyable experience in the bathroom.
Making arrangements for shelves in the bathroom is a fantastic way of getting more out of your bathroom. They make the room look neat and organized by hiding from view all the clutter while allowing you to demonstrate your personal taste and touch of class.
Use Wooden Wall Shelves To Decorate Your Rooms
A majority of people likes to show off their prized possessions. Men like to display their tools, trophies and other collectibles, and women of course like to display pieces of art and their memories. Irrespective of the size or location of room, one always manages to find space for display of such possessions in a manner to attract the attention of the visitor. One of the popular means of displaying the family heirlooms is offered by wood wall shelves. Apart from the functional utility that they offer, this variety of shelves enhances the internal décor of any room.
One of the best things with wooden shelves is that they can be tailored to match the exclusives they display. A good craftsman can produce very attractive and eye catching pieces of art by use of simple tools. Let’s have a look at how these wood wall shelves can be beneficial in any household and the value they add.
Wood definitely is a beautiful natural material and offers the versatility of fabricating beautiful shelves. Another feature of wooden shelves is that they can be designed in such a way to either overshadow the beauty of it contents or goes to enhance the same. Care needs to be taken that it doesn’t steal the show from the items that you like to highlight. At the same time it should not mar the beauty of items being displayed.
Let’s say you like to display a classic lighthouse collection. A well-patterned wood shelf made from good quality hardwood certainly improves the probability of your collection to dominate the scene and keep the display in focus. On the other hand, a shelf made from low-grade, cheap wood can’t be expected to complement the items it is displaying. Cherry wood is considered good for fabricating shelves because it is hard and largely remains unaffected on being hit by normal household effects. Pine wood, on the contrary is soft and prone to get damaged easily. The quality of wood needs to be given serious consideration, depending on the items intended for storage.
Another helpful feature of wood wall shelves is that they are useful for taking care of the clutter of any space. Wall shelves help the homeowner to keep things up and out of the way, thus keeping a room organized. Different designs of wooden wall shelves can be used thus allowing the collections to be displayed together or for getting different themes in a small area.
Depending upon the requirements of size and volume, the shelves can be made in different sizes to remain more functional. With appropriate supporting arrangement, a wooden wall shelf can be used to accommodate a TV or other electronic items. That leaves the desks free of clutter. These shelves need not necessarily be in traditional shapes as wood is a very flexible medium to work with, needing just imagination. You could add some patterns with imaginative curves on the front or on the sides. It is possible to have an arrangement that hides all the mounting arrangement at the back of the shelf and make it still more attractive.
Wall Shelf Advantages
Having wall shelves is of great help, be it a big house or an apartment. They offer the convenience of keeping things that can be easily accessed and provide means of displaying your personal possessions, if you so like. But the most important feature of having shelves is that they keep your things organized and making their retrieval convenient. There is none denying that an organized room presents serenity and peace.
Here are some real life experiences of a couple of people I know who have been successful to solve problems of domestic storage and display by incorporating shelves in different parts of their respective homes. Perhaps you get some useful and innovative ideas from their stories and get motivated to try this accessory to solve one of your storage problems.
Here’s the experience of my friend Tony and his wife Jennifer and what they did with a wall shelf in their living room. This couple owns a ranch home in upstate New York. It comprises of three bedrooms with baths and a living room that has a fireplace in the middle of the wall at the far end of the room.
Tony and Jennifer are into collection of limited edition crystal figurines for more than 15 years. Initially when the collection was small, they used the coffee table and end tables of the living room to display their collection. Over time, the collection became too large to be accommodated on the tables in the living room and it needed an exclusive place of its own.
Lack of space for a large curio cabinet set them thinking till Tony hit upon this idea of utilizing the space available over the fireplace and was prompted to get wall shelves.
This couple searched online and was thrilled to locate floating glass shelving called “Wave”. It has curved glass and comes in sections of 24 inches width and 8 inches depth. This is modular kind of a design that allows you to keep expanding your shelves as and when needed. This is easily assembled and gives the impression of waves on the wall.
Tony and Jennifer opted to have two six foot long shelves above the fireplace. They fixed the shelves above each other, separated by about 18 inches. They were able to display their entire collection of crystal figurines and the living room looked spectacular. Now their full collection of crystal figurines is tastefully displayed in the living room that just looks fantastic.
And, here’s how my friends John and Gina converted their family room into an entertainment room. A 60 inch flat panel TV was fixed on one of the walls. Below the TV they had a solid oak wall mounted open shelf cabinet with two shelves that housed their collection of CDs and DVDs.
The receiver/amplifier of home theater and the subwoofer of the audio system were kept on top of the shelving cabinet. Now, to get the real effect of a home theatre they needed to house four speakers, one in each corner. Very imaginatively they provided Architectural Elements corner wall shelves of honey oak in each corner, nearly 2/3 of the way up the wall corners, and placed a speaker on each. The experience of watching a movie in those surroundings was nothing short of a theater.
And, finally let me narrate the creativity of employing wall shelves for having additional space by one of my neighbors. Bruce and Maurine, living down the street, made a recreation room in the basement. One side of the room has a ping pong table, whereas a pool table occupies space at the other side.
With two growing children Shauna 12 years old and Michael 14 years old, this couple is very much into sports. Shauna figures on the skating team of the local rink, while Michael plays for the local little league baseball team during summers. In winters he forms a part of the hockey team at the local rink. Both Bruce and Maurine are on separate bowling leagues.
With every member of the family in active sports, there was bound to be an accumulation of trophies in the family. One day the family realizes that there is no room for an organized display of the possessions it had gathered over the years, and Maurine decided to arrange for that.
Maurine realized that the walls of their recreation room in the basement offered a solution to her problem and instinctively she thought of having a large shelf on each wall to maintain the symmetry. She spent some time online and searched to get a perfect solution to the problem. It was the procurement and installation of the Vertigo 4 piece shelf set in Java available in a dark coffee colored wood.
The said four piece accessory provided sufficient space on all the four walls of the recreation room to accommodate trophy collection of the whole family.
Apart from enabling you to make use of idle vertical space that is always available along the walls some room of your home, and thus proving helpful in organizing your personal items, such wall shelves contribute in bringing a neat look to the surroundings, making your room all the more inviting.
Having More Space With Floating Wall Shelves
The present size of most homes in the US prompts any intelligent buyer to guess if there is any room for the additional items he or she intends buying. There is none denying the fact that an average householder has very limited floor space to keep even the essentially required hose hold effects, but it is equally true that most of the householders take little pains to organize their homes. Yes, it’s difficult to find time for making that much needed effort, but you can’t escape it nonetheless. Unless you remove all the clutter and organize rest of the things, you won’t really know the space available at your disposal. Here’s just a suggestion for having increased space in your home.
Ever realized that empty walls offer storage space?
Before you finalize alternate plans to increase your storage space, like hiring more storage space, building an additional shed or any other means, make sure to have a second look around the house and check if you have any empty space on the walls. Generally when we say that we are short of space or that there is no more space available, we are referring to floor area, and very comfortably overlook the fact that walls offer an equally good opportunity for storage. There are certain items that can be better stored on the walls, making use of the vertical space for which one has certainly paid.
Wall shelves, apart from helping you to get rid of the clutter, form an excellent medium to organize your frequently used items. Further, they come in such a large variety of designs and shapes that you are sure to find one to fit your intended space on any of the walls.
But, before you really get down to the business of buying these, you have to spend time for planning and bear a bit of physical strain. Now, now, don’t start getting ideas and rest assured you wouldn’t regret having done that. Do a bit of cleaning and find means to dispose off unnecessary items. Any low priced item that you have not used for the last one year or more comes in this category. Having done that go to make an inventory of things for which you need shelves. This is to help you find out two things: First, weight of the items and second the frequency at which you are going to need these items. Reasons are simple to guess. You won’t store a heavier object on delicately fabricated shelving and you would like to have an easy access to items that you are going to need frequently.
Now that you know the items to be stored, take the next step of looking for space around the walls for fixing your new shelving. It may help you to learn that well designed corner-shelves are available that may be used for displaying your favorite piece of chinaware or a photo that you love so much. Wall shelves will always find a place in any house, more so if you have an office at home. Use them for housing your printer and scanner. Else, use them for keeping your stationery and books.
Wall Shelves are Indispensable for Your Storage Needs
Wall shelves are essentially required when you lack storage space for rarely used items. Make use of shelves on the wall of your laundry room. You surely are going to find it suitable for storing suitcases and holiday decorations. Check if you have space above the door that may be used for storage. May be you could have a shallow shelf over there.
Here are some more tips for buying shelves. It will not be very comfortable to buy too deep shelves as removing items and cleaning them gets difficult. Likewise, ensure the height of the shelves to accommodate your possessions. Once you have taken care of these elementary things, you’ll be prompted to use your imagination for a better exploitation of the additional space at your disposal.