| Shelves are the simplest, least expensive, and most | | | | bracket-and-shelf units, and shelving built into alcoves. |
| versatile type of storage you can buy. Your choice | | | | Most home supply stores stock a wide range of shelf |
| should depend on practical considerations, such as | | | | boards, tracks, and brackets. Useful accessories |
| strength and adaptability, as well as on good looks. | | | | include clip-on book ends, grooved shelves for |
| It's tempting to imagine that the first item a | | | | displaying plates, and corner shelves that enable you |
| caveman invented was a shelf. At the very least, he | | | | to run a continuous length of shelving around a room. |
| would certainly have utilized any fiat ledge in the cave | | | | Wall-mounted shelving is either set or adjustable. If |
| to store his tools and cooking pots. Finding | | | | you are reasonably sure that the contents of your |
| somewhere to keep all your possessions, and leave | | | | shelves won't change, there is little point in buying |
| space for your future belongings, is still an ongoing | | | | adjustable shelving. However, if you think you may |
| challenge in any home. To solve any shortage of | | | | want to extend the shelving or alter its function over |
| storage and space, a combination of functional and | | | | time, an adjustable system is the most practical. |
| decorative shelving is an attractive solution. | | | | Apart from being inexpensive, the great advantage |
| There are basically two main types of shelving to | | | | of self-assembly shelving kits is that you can tailor |
| choose from - fixed, wall-mounted systems, including | | | | them to any items you want to display or store, |
| self-assembly kits, all-in-one bracket-and-shelf units | | | | from cassettes to candlesticks, books to bottles, and |
| and built-in shelves, and freestanding, movable units. | | | | arrange the shelves where and how you want them. |
| Shelving is made in a variety of materials to suit all | | | | Shelving and fittings are normally sold separately, |
| tastes and budgets. The least expensive are the | | | | allowing you to buy as much or as little as you like. |
| sturdy metal, wooden, and plastic systems designed | | | | When you are planning to install several shelves in a |
| for offices and garages. Medium-priced shelving is | | | | stack, always measure the height of the items you |
| often made from particleboard with a wipe-clean | | | | want to store, and space the gaps between the |
| melamine coating or hardwood veneer. Solid timber | | | | shelves accordingly. Whichever shelving material you |
| and glass or clear acrylic shelving costs a little more. | | | | use, your shelves must be well mounted and |
| Before deciding on the best type of shelving for your | | | | supported so that they do not come away from the |
| budget, you should assess what you want to store. | | | | wall or sag. |
| Your choice of shelving needs to take into account | | | | Brackets and boards: Right-angled brackets screwed |
| practicalities such as load-bearing capacity as well as | | | | directly into the wall are commonly used to support |
| how well the shelves fit in with your decor. Most | | | | shelves. A wide range of designs is available. With |
| manufacturers provide guidelines on this, but always | | | | brackets and boards, you can devise all kinds of |
| ask for information if you need it. | | | | shelving arrangements - from covering a whole wall |
| Take a look around your home for any | | | | to putting up a single display shelf. The main |
| under-exploited spaces - alcoves, under the stairs, or | | | | disadvantage is that the shelving takes a long time to |
| over doorways or windows, for instance - where | | | | put up, as each board has to be individually levelled |
| you could fit a shelf or two. Accessibility is important | | | | and each bracket screwed to the wall. |
| too, both in terms of where the shelves are situated | | | | Track systems: In this very functional form of |
| and how you arrange items on them. Frequently used | | | | shelving, tiers of adjustable, wall-mounted shelves are |
| items need to be within easy reach. Deep shelves | | | | fixed to metal tracks with rows of slots punched |
| are rarely an advantage, as the last thing you want is | | | | along their length for fastening the clips or brackets |
| to be constantly moving one row of things so you | | | | that hold the shelves at any height. The major |
| can reach another. | | | | advantage is that once one shelf is level, all the |
| Wall-Mounted Shelves | | | | others will be automatically level. Unfortunately, the |
| There are three distinct types of wall-fixed shelving: | | | | tracks tend to show up clearly against the wall. |
| self-assembly kits, lightweight all-in-one | | | | |