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Floating Glass Shelves for a Contemporary Decor
Floating Glass Shelves for a Contemporary Decor
Floating glass shelves are the ultimate styling décor for a contemporary home. Floating glass shelves exude sheer elegance and visual delight and add to the minimalistic look of a contemporary home. Despite any arrangement of floating glass shelves and any objects displayed on it, there is no denying that floating glass shelves are very modern, even avant-garde in design and look and are therefore most suitable or appropriate for a modern room or home.
In spite of the fragile look of floating glass shelves they are quite sturdy and strong and could carry as much weight as its wooden counterpart. The secret is in the support used to attach these floating glass shelves on the wall. Most floating glass shelves available in the market today come with a tongue and groove system that are inserted into the wall to make the shelves look like an integral part of the wall. This tongue and groove system is strong enough to support the weight of the glass shelving as well as the objects that will be displayed on it.
There is a mistaken notion that floating glass shelves are only good for bathrooms. Although it is true that the best type of floating shelves for the bathroom are floating glass shelves. They are easy to clean and are not adversely affected by steam and moisture like wood. But it is also a fact that floating glass shelves are appropriate for any room in the house. Floating glass shelves also add grace and beauty to an empty wall particularly when displayed with cherished framed photos and valuable travel mementos. It can make precious collectibles look like floating objects or objects suspended on mid- air. Wine glasses are also best displayed on floating glass shelves. Try to imagine wine glasses seemingly floating over a home bar, very futuristic! In addition, floating glass shelves also minimize the clutter in a room.
Ways to Arrange Floating Shelves
Ways to Arrange Floating Shelves
Floating shelves are shelves affixed to a wall without the use of traditional support giving it a floating appearance, thus, the name. Instead shelves are attached to a wall by screws or brackets with the use of wall anchors. Setting up floating shelves is easy and they are usually sold with a do-it-yourself assembly kits. Floating shelves are the best example of the minimalist look in home décor.
Floating shelves can come singly or as a grouping and in various sizes, shapes, materials, design and colors. They are ideal display shelves for valuable items, collectibles, framed photos and books. They are great for the living room, bedroom, bathroom, an entry way, a home office nook, or a neglected corner. They are also great as a storage option since floating shelves are quiet sturdy and strong in spite of its “flimsy” appearance and can be arranged to provide easy accessibility.
Photo by Chris Garrison
Materials for floating shelves include glass, metal and wood such as beech maple, oak and mahogany. Floating shelves made of wood are available in a wide variety of finishes such as polish, veneer and leather. One of the most sought after wooden floating shelf is that which is made of oak since oak is hard wood and very durable. Several ways to arrange floating shelves:
• As a wall-mounted desk.
• Open kitchen shelves
• In an alcove to create a built-in cabinet
• As a mantelpiece
• Built-in office in a closet
• As a wine rack
• Shoe storage for shoes in an entry way
• Multi-media console
• Floating bar
• Spice rack in the kitchen
• As a bed headboard
• As floating bookshelves
Floating shelves are great space savers while giving the room an updated look because of its modern minimalistic design. With floating bookshelves, you can use an empty wall space to display bric-a-bracs, ornamental items or books. Floating shelves are also used to lessen clutter on counters and tabletops and keep a room shipshape and neat.
Sentimental Display on a Floating Shelf
Floating Shelves to Display Mementos
Floating shelves are not only purely utilitarian, to keep the room neat and free of clutter. It is also a very decorative piece of home furnishing that can add texture, color and interest to a room. It can also be used to chronicle special events or milestones in your life. If you are the romantic or sentimental type, you can use floating shelves to display mementos of these special occasions to bring back beautiful memories every time. You and your partner, including your children, will have fun and some nostalgic moments recalling these memorable moments as you sit around enjoying quality time together. These sentimental displays will also serve as conversation pieces with friends and family when they come to visit.
• Mementos of your wedding can be arranged artistically on one shelf together with some of your most beautiful wedding photos. The framed photos should take center stage and all the other items such as the invitation, your garter beautifully mounted or framed positioned to draw attention to the photos.
• On another shelf, display photos and mementos from vacations and trips, including your honeymoon trip. Arrange them creatively and chronologically with dried reeds or cattails in vases to act as beautiful fillers
• Another layer of the shelf could be a display of your child’s framed photos chronicling their growth and recording the most important milestones of their lives.
• Other sentimental items that can be included in this arrangement of shelves would be citations, awards, trophies, ribbons and such.
• Collectible items which you and your partner have collected together in the years that you’ve been together could also be part of this collection of floating shelves.
This collection of floating shelves can either be located in the living room or in the family room where you, your family and friends can best enjoy it.
How to Arrange Displays on Floating Shelves
How to Arrange Displays on Floating Shelves
Floating shelves are the most versatile decorating item for a home. It can liven up forgotten corners, provide storage space for limited space, fashion eye-catching arrangements in an otherwise uninteresting wall and more. There are also countless of ways to arrange displays on a floating shelves since it can be used to display all types of items from framed photos, travel mementoes, collectible items, to teapots and unique plates, wine glasses and so on. here are several ways to arrange displays on your floating shelves that will maximize its use at the same time generate a lovely décor to your home:
• Framed photos are the most common displays found on floating shelves. Present the framed photos artistically on a floating shelf or several floating shelves arranged horizontally, or when positioned vertically, organize them on the top shelf. If more space is needed, the second upper shelf can also be used as long as both shelves are at eye level. .When arranging groupings of framed photos placed the bigger frames at the back and the smaller ones in front. Depending on the length of the shelves, you can arrange several pictures on each level but make sure that it does not look crowded.
• Another way of making use of a floating shelf is to draw attention to an interesting painting or framed print. Hang the painting or framed print above a shelf several inches longer than the painting. Religious icons or images displayed in the homes for decoration or for religious reasons can also be hanged or displayed on a floating shelf. Scones can be installed on both sides of the painting or icon for added emphasis and rows of or a few decorative candles can be arranged on top of the floating shelves.
• Books are also common displays found on floating shelves; in fact floating shelves are the most ideal bookshelves for homes with limited space. Displaying books on floating shelves can be done creatively and artistically with the addition of plants or interesting collection items big enough to be used as book ends.
• For your kitchen, a floating shelf placed over a kitchen window full of your favorite herb planted in small decorative planters will not only brighten the kitchen but also fill it with the sweet and pungent smell of the herbs
How to Arrange Floating Shelves
How to Arrange Floating Shelves
Positioning or arranging floating shelves all depends on the available space and your preference. Floating shelves can be placed anywhere; a forgotten corner, above a fireplace, in the bathroom, kitchen, bedroom. And they can also be used to display anything from books, framed photos, mementos, wine glasses, spices, toiletries and many more. Floating shelves are so versatile that they are the best decorating item for a home or even an office.
Floating shelves, as the name implies appear to float. This is because there is no observable hardware keeping them affixed to the wall. Holes are drilled to the walls to secure the floating shelves, so moving them to another position or arranging them in another way will leave your walls with holes in the original position. It is best to decide the exact position and arrangement that you want for your floating shelves before drilling a hole. Here are several ideas on how to arrange your floating shelves:
Perpendicular Line
Arrange or assemble your floating shelves in a perpendicular l line if you have limited space. This can be used to hold books or movies rather than spending too much money on a bulky entertainment center. For this arrangement, it is important to measure the correct spacing between the shelves.
Alternate arrangement
Floating shelves can be arranged in an alternate or staggered layering that will make an expansive empty wall more cozy and snug. Floating shelves arranged in this manner is a great display shelf for framed photos and certificates or awards.
Parallel line
Arrange floating shelves on a parallel or horizontal line along one or more walls. Floating shelves arranged in this manner present clean lines and will look great in the dining area as a display shelf for plate and teapot collections. Ensure that the floating shelves arranged in this manner are at the same height or level, even if the shelves are not positioned on the same wall.
Best Types of Floating Shelves 2011
Best Types of Floating Shelves
Floating shelves are the most versatile decorating item for a home. These are shelves attached to the wall without any visible support making it seems like the shelves are floating, thus the name. It can be a display shelf for books, mementos and memorabilia, toys, even your prized china wares and wine glasses. Floating shelves are also great for the bathroom for towels, toiletries and more. It is an ideal space saver for rooms with limited space. It is functional as well as decorative. Floating shelves come in different designs and can be made of different materials such as wood and glass. But floating shelves can be grouped in 5 general categories:
Photo and memento shelves
These floating shelves are generally lighter in weight and narrow in width since they are meant to display items that are rather lightweight such as framed photos, collection of unique and decorative candles, travel mementos and the like. These floating shelves are meant to look undetectable so that attention is focused more on the display.
Corner floating wall shelves
A corner floating wall shelf is the ideal solution to making the most of a corner space that is difficult to decorate and is almost always neglected in the overall decorating scheme of a room. With corner floating shelves you can create an eye catching corner by displaying either book or decorative collection items.
Bijou wall shelves
Bijou wall selves are ornately designed floating wall shelves with baroque moldings that are more suitable for homes with traditional décor than for modern flats and condo units. The bijou wall shelves are decorations in themselves and are typically used to highlight a deco mirror, painting or any wall décor or a display shelf for small art objects.
Wine glass shelves
Typically mounted over a wine rack or behind a bar, this type of floating wall shelf is, of course, used for displaying wine glasses.
All-purpose shelves
There are other types and designs of floating wall shelves that will suit your preference and need. These floating wall shelves will fall under this category.
Floating Wall Shelf Bracket
Floating Wall Shelf Bracket
Although floating shelves appear to float without any support against the wall, the truth is these floating shelves are propped up or supported by floating wall brackets. These brackets are necessary to strengthen the shelves enough to hold the items that will be displayed on it. These brackets are hidden from view giving the shelves the impression of floating against the wall, thus the name floating shelves.
Two factors to consider in installing a floating shelf in your home are; first, the material used for the shelf which should be light but solid; second, the material for the brackets that should be sturdy and hard-wearing or heavy duty. Floating shelves are installed by first affixing the floating shelf brackets on the shelf by drilling holes or channels on one side of the shelf and mounting the brackets on the holes or channels. The shelves are then mounted on the wall with the use of screws found at the bottom of the shelves. This way, the brackets are not visible from the outside and the shelf has that tidy and uncluttered look
Floating shelves are typically of two kinds: floating glass shelves and floating wood shelves. For floating wood shelves, brackets used are also made of wood or the more modern metal floating shelf brackets. Floating wood shelves add dimension to a plain room or in a room with pictures, paintings and a bare wall. It is also very easy to install. The kitchen, living room and bedroom are the best areas to install floating wood shelves. They can be used to hold picture frames, unique and favorite dishes and glass wares and other mementos. Floating glass shelves are often found in bathrooms but will also be a flattering addition to a kitchen. A floating glass shelf holding colorful beans and candies in a clear jar is a great way to brighten one corner of a kitchen. Glass shelf brackets are specifically made for floating glass shelves.
The Best Places for Floating Shelves
The Best Places for Floating Shelves
Floating shelves are shelves constructed to appear as though they do not have any support at all but suspended against the wall. These floating shelves are great for putting on show collectible items, framed photos, memorable keepsakes and just about anything that you want to display. In spite of the “floating” appearance, floating shelves are actually sturdy and strong and most of all quite inexpensive and easy to install.
Some of the best places to install floating shelves are :
In your bathroom
Floating shelves in a bathroom is such a great idea since bathrooms are almost always in need of extra space. Floating shelves on a wall adjacent to the sink positioned in the same height as the medicine cabinet is a good place to put folded towels, hand towels and face towels. It is not only functional but decorative as well since the multi-colored towels will give added color to the bathroom. Floating shelves above a bathtub, opposite the shower is a good place for the soap, shampoos and other bath paraphernalia.
In your kitchen
Floating shelves in the kitchen is a great way to put on show all your collection of delicate dishes, unique coffee mugs, and unusual kitchen items. It can also serve as a spice rack and placed close to the kitchen range that can be reached easily, or near the sink as a place for soaps, and dishwashing liquids and supplies.
In your bedroom
Floating shelves can serve as a headboard for beds without headboards and a great place to put some mementos and framed photos. It also makes a great bed stand where you can put a reading lamp or a place to keep some books that you want to read at night. Floating shelves are also a great idea for children’s bedroom as a place to display toys, books, dolls and stuffed toys.
Fresh Floating Shelf Ideas
Latest Floating Shelves Ideas for Your Room
Here are some great examples of floating shelves of various types & materials. Having a floating shelf in your kids room, living room, kitchen or even bathroom is not only practical, but can look also very stylish and can make your room look much more modern & trendy. So checkout this great floating shelves ideas.
Floating Shelf for Kids Room
Floating Shelves for Your Living Room
Don’t Have a Space in Your Office? Floating Shelves are Perfect Solution
Simple Kitchen Floating Shelves
Floating Shelf is Perfect Solution for Your Books
Bedroom Floating Shelves
Corner Shelves from Glass
Corner Shelves from Glass
Glass corner shelves are one of the modern and most attractive decoration pieces available in the markets. These shelves are usually attached with the corners of the wall giving you an elegant and stylish look for your home décor. One great and beautiful thing about these shelves is there ideality that they can be easily matched with any shade and the design of the wall. These shelves are of different thicknesses. The thin shelves allow only the lighter materials to be placed on it. But the thicker shelves can withstand much more load due to which you can place heavy materials like flower vase on it.
There is only one drawback of these glass corner shelves and that is the delicate glass. The glass can easily be broken into pieces when it fell down from some height and in turn these will also be harmful, mostly for the children. But this drawback can be easily avoided if we use these shelves with proper attention and care. Besides this little drawback, these glass corner shelves are the most graceful and the appealing home décor than other decoration pieces. And one can easily enhance its beauty if some flower vase is placed over it, increasing its overall look and the style.
