Wood wall shelves are one of the most versatile products around. The uses are almost as variable as the pricing. They come in many different configurations and can be made of anything from repurposed wood to expensive exotics.
Cheap wood wall shelves work perfect in a garage situation. Usually in a garage setting the homeowner is simply looking a space upon which to store items. It does need to look nice but does not need to serve a decorative function. By utilizing a bank of wooden wall shelves along one side of the garage, it creates a mass of storage options. The shelves are hung up on the wall creating valuable floor space. It makes the perfect spot to put frequently used items. Add wire mesh baskets to hold like items together and you have the beginnings of a well-organized garage. Another way to use them is to hang the shelves low to the ground and use them to put boots and yard shoes on.
Playrooms can get into the action with wooden wall shelves too. They can be painted bright primary colors and used to display children’s craftwork. Kids feel a lot of pride and accomplishment when their items are displayed as if they were valuable treasures. Framed artwork, handmade pottery on display stands and more all look so nice and appropriate in a playroom. Shelving should be hung lower so that the children can enjoy looking at their things. The height needs to be around four feet so that little heads do not bump into shelf corners.
The kitchen can benefit from wall shelves too. If you have a small kitchen that does not have much cabinet space the wall shelf can come to the rescue. Hanging a small wood shelf over the stove to store frequently used spices can free up a lot of cabinet space and make the spices really easy to get to and organize. Another use would be to put up a shelf or two and put your pots and pans on them. Again, it looks decorative and frees up considerable cabinet space. For these applications, a good quality decorative wood shelf is best, or you could use an unfinished wood and paint it. If the shelf is to be utilized as a pot rack, the wood needs to be strong and put up with brackets on with end and in the middle. Brackets should be secured into wall studs. Use of iron brackets makes a nice decorative touch and works well with the wood. Another choice would be to go with an exotic wood that is stained and stands as a decorative base for your items.
If you have shelving needs in your bathroom wood can help there as well. Consider a grouping of square wood shelves for holding towels, wash cloths and extra soaps. You get function and style all rolled up into one. It also makes a nice place to put reed air fresheners, decorative items and even flowers arrangements. Floating shelves look good in a bathroom too. Mounted over the toilet it makes a nice place to put reading materials.
Wooden shelves have multiple applications in the bedroom area. If you do not have a headboard, consider hanging multiple floating wall shelves over the bed. They make a great place to display candles, pictures and other items to create the appearance of a headboard. Hang a shelf at a lower height beside a reading chair; add a small table and you have created a nice reading area.
A picture shelf looks fabulous in hallways. Use a thin wood shelf to run at eye height most of the way down the hall. The shelf needs to be somewhat plain and have a lip or divot on it so the pictures do not fall off. Then line your pictures up on the shelf rather than hanging them on the wall. The shelf itself needs to stay low key, you do not want it to take away from the pictures or artwork that you have displayed on it. Generally, a flat black or white looks best against the colors used in the art or pictures. A grouping of black and white photographs look awesome displayed in this manner.
Another way to utilize wood shelves is to attach them to other objects. For example a key rack by the door becomes a mail holder too it you put a small shelf on top of it with a little basket for the mail. When hanging brooms and mops in the laundry room add a shelf on top of the hanger and you have the perfect spot to put your furniture polish and other items.
Combine shelves with items like baskets to maximize the use of the space and keep things neat and tidy. Shelves come in a plethora of shapes, sizes and colors. Wooden shelves are long lasting and can re-purposed and repainted quickly.