20 Floating Shelf Ideas To Elevate Any Room
These designer-approved floating shelf ideas will show you how to make the most of a little bit of vertical space.
Courtesy of Ann Gottlieb, by Angela Newton Roy Photography
You can put floating shelves just about anywhere. Stack them over your desk and decorate with your favorite reads or line up your wine glasses on them and create a dry bar—the possibilities are endless. Named for the way they look on the walls thanks to hidden hardware, floating shelves are the most stylish form of storage. These floating shelf ideas from homes by designers across the South are sure to inspire and show you how to make the most of a little bit of vertical space.
Related: How To Style Shelves In Any Room, According To Designers
Install Under-Shelf Lighting
Courtesy of Amy's Interiors
If you feel like your shelves are missing something but can't quite identify what, try adding some under-shelf lighting. It helps create a little extra drama and makes whatever you've styled on the shelves shine—literally.
Trim Them Out
Courtesy of Creative Tonic Design, by Julie Soefer
Teal is the color of choice in this kitchen by Creative Tonic Design in Houston, Texas. Adding trim to the floating shelves in the same hue as the cabinets and hood make them feel all the more intentional and cohesive.
Add a Shelf Rail
Courtesy of Urbanology Designs, by Mike Davello Photography
The purpose of a shelf rail is to keep objects from falling, but the decorative impact it makes is undeniable. Here the brass creates a striking, vintage-inspired contrast against the wood.
Use Live Edge Wood
Courtesy of PRD Custom Homes & Interiors, by Ruta Smith
Instead of being perfectly cut and polished, live edge wood takes advantage of all the natural beauty of the material. Each shelf will be noticeably one-of-a-kind and add organic personality to your space.
Bookend the Television
Courtesy of Erin Myers Design, by Laura Visioni
No one wants their TV to be the focal point in a room. Sometimes though, the size of the TV or layout of the space makes its overwhelming presence unavoidable. Besides using a Samsung Frame TV to help camouflage the technology, Erin Myers Design in Washington, DC hung a trio of floating shelves on both sides to make the wall as a whole feel more styled.
Box Them Out
Courtesy of Jill Howard Design Studio, by Julia Lynn
Simple yet statement-making, we love the modern, unexpected look of rectangular floating shelves. Even better, the silhouette offers double the styling opportunities.
Stretch It Across the Wall
Courtesy of Urbanology Designs, by Matti Gresham
Make a long wall feel even longer with a floating shelf that stretches from one side of the room to the other. As seen in this space by Urbanology Designs in Dallas, Texas, you don't have to fill the whole thing up with knick-knacks—breathing room keeps it from feeling cluttered.
Layer Them Over Windows
Courtesy of Blackberry Farm Design, by Ingalls Photography
In most circumstances, you don't want to minimize any natural light, but sometimes you're lucky enough to have an abundance or the windows aren't giving you very much to begin with. Enter: floating shelves.
Create a Geometric Design
Courtesy of Emily June Designs, by Kerry Kirk Photography
With a lot of floating shelves, it's what's on them that stands out. In the case of these shelves designed by Emily June Designs in Houston, Texas, the shape and layout make a statement on their own.
Add Mini Cabinets
Courtesy of Jill Howard Design Studio, by Julia Lynn
The chief complaint about floating shelves is that they upkeep to continuously look good. By incorporating mini cabinets, you get the best of both worlds: beautifully styled vignettes front and center combined with practical storage behind closed doors.
Outfit a Nook
Courtesy of Blueberry Jones Design, by Avery Nicole
Nooks can be tricky: They're often big enough that you can't ignore them, but small enough that your design options are limited. Floating shelves are simple to install and work as both a storage and styling moment.
Wave Around
Courtesy of Stephanie London Interiors, by PaÌr Bengtsson
When you think of floating shelves, you typically imagine clean lines. In this boys' bedroom by Stephanie London Interiors in Austin, Texas, the wavy design brings playful personality that fits in perfectly with the space.
Create a Bookshelf
Courtesy of Ann Gottlieb, by Angela Newton Roy Photography
In this kitchen by Ann Gottlieb Design in Washington, DC, floating shelves used on the side of kitchen cabinets create a bookshelf that seamlessly transitions into the living area.
Thin Them Out
Courtesy of Chinotto House, by Native House Photography
Slender floating shelves have a minimalist feel to them, drawing your attention to other details. In this case, the brass hardware, wood countertop, and green sconce.
Create Unexpected Built-Ins
Courtesy of Four Brothers Design + Build, by Steve Hershberger
To break up the wall-to-wall green cabinetry in this kitchen, Four Brothers Design + Build in Washington, DC incorporated wood floating shelves with a brick backsplash. You could also add surprising floating shelf built-ins around your bed or in a bathroom.
Match Them with Painted Trim
Courtesy of Emily June Designs, by Claudia Casbarian for Julie Soefer
Painted trim is one of the biggest paint color trends of the moment, adding bold personality to a space. Why not take it one step further and match your floating shelves to the trim?
Make Them Invisible
Courtesy of Jennifer Barron, by Molly Culver
Redefine the "floating" part of floating shelves: Here, acrylic shelves minimize visual clutter and create the illusion that the books are suspended in the air against the wall.
Play With Visual Weight
Courtesy of Urbanology Designs, by Costa Christ Photography
Though symmetrical design is said to create a sense of calm and balance, asymmetrical design is often more interesting to the eye (and allows for more creativity). In this kitchen by Urbanology Designs in Dallas, Texas, glass-front cabinets on one side of the window and two floating shelves on the other play with the visual weight and catch the eye.
Build Them Into Your Headboard
Courtesy of Jill Howard Design Studio, by Julia Lynn
Especially ideal for small spaces and guest rooms that don't require as much storage, a mini floating shelf attached to a headboard kills two birds with one stone: form and function.
Position Them Above Your Counters
Courtesy of Four Brothers Design + Build, by Steve Hershberger
When you have more than enough cabinets but are lacking in counters, consider making room for floating shelves above them. There you can put your go-to cookbooks, seasoning, and oils, keeping them easily accessible and at arm's length while maintaining a clear food prep area.
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