The Consummate Presenter: The Shelving Unit
The shelving unit has always been something that is necessary. Since genesis, human kind has needed and depended on shelves. It is the advancement of modern society where shelving has also marched steadily along to the same drum beat. I am not denouncing other societies or cultures but the cultures that have thrived the most have had the intuition that the shelving unit is critical to prosperity. Christopher Columbus and the explorers of a few centuries ago even had wall shelving units in the confines of their sail boats. With shelving units, came along mass production and the industrial revolution so we could actually put objects and materials on those shelves.
Shelves have never excited anyone but they are practical and tied to our destiny, up there with clothing and air. The corner shelving unit serves its purpose because we can utilize spaces we normally would not use. Not all corners have the room or can be occupied with corner shelving but most corners could host some shelving designed for a 90 degree angle.
Most shelving has two sides, a rear and a number of shelves in the heart of the unit. Yet shelves are vital since they can stack things off the ground, making them easier to find so they will last longer. Paper bags and its contents, for instance, are not safe when lying in the ground for long periods. Shelves can be made in all different sets and styles. 
Shelves can be made to fit in alcoves or many other spaces. Some shelving designs do not have any sides or any backing but this is rare. This means they will not be as strong when standing on their own. Yet, when a shelf that does not have any sides or backing is attached to a wall, it can still be quite strong. But if your shelves are going to hold up some light books, DVDs and CDs, it does not have to be that enduring.
If you want shelves that are resistant to weather then a plastic shelving unit is probably the way to go. They are excellent and tremendous for weathering the elements. They are portable and light weight so they can be carried around easily. They are not meant to hold a lot of weight, so scratch that idea. They are designed for containing and shielding garden supplies, pet food, small garden tools, and things of this nature from outside critters, most outside critters, wind and rain. Sleet and snow cannot penetrate this type of shelving. This kind of shelving has doors, if it does not have doors, then much of what was stated in this paragraph is not the case.
A commercial chrome 5 tier shelving unit is also lightweight and portable. They are designed for kitchens. They are light weight and solid but do not plan on piling cement bags on them. They may be made of steel but it is a very thin or small gauge of steel. They can hold a variety of materials and tools that would be found in a kitchen. They can also be used in stores of various kinds. Their attributes, this chrome unit, are that they can be disinfected and they are totally water proof. This is something the wooden shelf cannot proclaim. The chrome unit also allows its items that it is sustaining to breath. So this is outstanding and helpful in washing rooms so when wet items are stacked on them they can drip and air dry naturally.
A glass shelving unit is designed to appeal. It can be useful but it is expensive. Glass shelving units are fragile but stunning as well. Because of their fragility, it is hard to label them portable. You should know exactly where it is supposed to go so there is not any unnecessary walking or carrying it around. Glass is see through for the most part so you or your guests can see much more of the item than wooden or metal shelves.
The cheapest item is the Ikea shelving unit. It is certainly light weight and this is made for someone who is in college or just exiting college. This type of shelving unit is also aimed at generally younger folks because of their more accepting styles and sometimes bizarre colors and shapes. For some people, this is appealing. They are designed for single folks or people in college since they are inexpensive and transportable. They are not industrial strength by no means but they do not have to be. They are made to hold up someone’s Transformers II DVD copy.
A metal shelving unit is quite the opposite of the Ikea type. While the idea type is progressive with funky and gay colors, the metal type is not like this at all but it can be painted to suit the owner’s color taste. Metal is strong and this makes this type of shelving not portable but mainly fixed. It is designed to bolster heavy items, meant to be in a workshop or industrial center and meant to stick around. Metal can rust so this type of shelving is probably best indoors but after painted or power coated, moisture and water is fought off easily.