The Best Floating Shelves, According to Design Experts
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Whether the problem is a lack of space in a small apartment or the gnawing emptiness of a blank wall, floating shelves — shelves with hidden brackets — are the solution. There’s one to fit any décor and budget.
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As with any piece of functional home décor, it’s important to consider both what a floating shelf looks like (its color, material, and size) and how it functions (its load capacity and bracket style). In general, floating shelves are better suited for lighter loads — like framed photos or tchotchkes — because design-wise, it’s easier to hide smaller, less sturdy brackets.
Budget is also a factor, of course, but floating shelves that are worth buying can go for as little as $25, so finding one that won’t break the bank isn’t too difficult.
What the Experts Say
Sources within the interior design industry say that there are a few factors to consider when shopping for floating shelves. For this story, SPY spoke with Raf Michalowski, founder of Meble Furniture, and Davin Eberhardt, founder of Nature of Home, to help sort through the best floating shelves available now.
Michalowski and Eberhardt agree that materials are an important factor to consider. Eberhardt, whose website is a home improvement resource, is unsurprisingly quick to recommend “durable materials like solid wood or metal for long-lasting use.” The more design-minded Michawlowski says that because floating shelves are commonly made from wood, consider alternative materials like acrylic, metal, or glass for a modern twist: “Experimenting with different materials can elevate the overall aesthetic of your space and create visual interest,” he says.
A shelf’s material is a big part — but not the only part—of another crucial consideration: load capacity. A shelf that can’t hold what you need is worse than nothing, especially considering potential damage to the property, walls, and wallet. All floating shelves have a certain load capacity, and it’s wise to err on the side of caution and avoid a given shelf if you think it may not be sturdy enough. Eberhardt adds that one should “ensure a shelf can support the intended items without sagging or bending,” because even a shelf that doesn’t come down won’t look good if it sags down the wall.
Floating shelves are the kind of simple home improvement project one shouldn’t need a handyman to complete — assuming, of course, that they’re not too complicated to install. “Look for shelves with easy-to-follow installation instructions and necessary hardware included,” Eberhardt says. “Consider your skill level and available tools when you choose one that requires drilling or has adhesive mounting options.”
BEST OVERALL
Welland New Chicago Floating Shelves
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It’s impossible to find an area in which these floating shelves fail — which is why they’re our best overall pick.
Eberhardt recommends this line of floating shelves because they have a modern, minimalist design that can “easily complement various décor styles.” He’s right. Plus, the 30-pound load capacity is more than enough to hold items for display. Installation is simple: two metal brackets attached to the wall (with two anchors each) and a shelf that simply slides in place on them.
A sub-$50 price tag for a 3-foot-long shelf is fairly in line with the competition, and it’s nice that lengths as short as 16 inches and as long as 60 inches are available for those with lots to display and the wall space to do it.
BEST VALUE
IKEA Lack
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While not quite as ubiquitous as the BILLY bookcase and KALLAX storage unit, the LACK floating shelf is still pure IKEA: useful, easy to assemble, and reasonably priced.
“Some popular shelves among my clients are the IKEA LACK shelves, which come in various sizes and colors at an affordable price point,” says Michalowski. They’re made of particleboard and mounted to the wall via a clever metal bracket, the only evidence of which is two small screws on the underside of the shelf. These shelves can hold between 11 and 33 pounds, depending on the hardware (which, it’s worth noting, is not included).
Where these shelves truly stand out is in price: $25 for a nearly 4-foot-long shelf is a stupendous deal.
BEST BOOKSHELF
Umbra Conceal Floating Shelves, Set of 3
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Concealing a shelf’s bracket for a floating effect is one thing, but these shelves from Umbra take things a step further by performing some serious sleight of hand — the shelves themselves look invisible, too. Michalowski says they’re “a great option” for a more minimalist look, “as it allows books to be stacked on top of each other for a floating effect.”
These powder-coated steel L-shaped brackets look simple, but they’re incredibly cleverly designed. Once attached to the wall, the bottom of the bracket slides under the last pages of a book whose back cover then rests on a couple of tiny hooks at the bottom of the bracket. This hides the entire horizontal support, while the vertical component of the bracket disappears once a few more titles are stacked up.
These shelves come in three-packs for either $34 (small, 15-pound capacity) or $40 (large, 20-pound capacity). That’s a small price to pay for the very specific effect they offer, though those who need to store a lot of books should probably opt for a bigger, less magical storage solution.
BEST WITH DRAWERS
Crate & Barrel Elias Natural Wood Floating Shelf
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Along with the stuff on top of this shelf, there are a couple of drawers for less aesthetic items in need of a semi-secret storage space.
Mike Rivers, owner of Fusion Office Design, says solid wood is “a high-quality and sturdy option that looks classic but is also versatile.” This Crate & Barrel shelf is made of solid elm, with an elm and birch veneer sourced from responsibly managed forests. The clean lines, inspired by Nordic and mid-century designs, give it an understated visual appeal that won’t distract from whatever’s perched on top. Installation is as simple as drilling a few holes into the wall, using anchors where there aren’t studs and simple screws where there are, and then placing the shelf so its rear hooks lock onto the bracket.
The higher price tag on this shelf is due to its higher quality, the expense of solid wood, and a more complex design that includes drawers. A better, more functional shelf justifies paying more.
BEST INSTALLATION
High & Mighty Modern Floating Shelf
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The number of tools needed to install High & Mighty shelves is zero, making them a great choice for the least handy among us.
Baltimore-based handyman Shlomo Cherniak says High & Mighty shelves are “noted for their ease of installation and decent weight capacity on drywall.” He’s underselling it, if anything. The bracket comes with a built-in level to ensure proper placement and a couple of brackets that can simply be pushed into the wall. Despite the ease of installation, the shelves hold 15 to 25 pounds depending on the size. It’s almost disconcertingly easy.
True home improvement haters would spend a lot more than the $35 this two-foot shelf costs for installation as easy as it offers.
BEST BRACKETS
Hovr Brackets
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Most floating shelves are designed for lighter items. These brackets, coupled with a strong shelf made of a solid material like metal or solid wood, can handle a whole lot more.
Cherniak says those who need to store heavy stuff — lots of books, for instance — should seek out “robust mounting systems like Hovr brackets.” Screw one half of the steel bracket into the wall, attach the other to the shelf, and then fit them together on the wall and attach them by screwing them up from the bottom. It’s more complicated than the tool-less system, of course, but it’s the best way to store up to 300 pounds on a shelf sans visible brackets.
At $50 for a two-foot bracket, the Hovr system is certainly pricier than many all-in-one shelves that come with bracket and shelf. But given the use cases it allows for floating shelves, it’s hard to say it’s overpriced, and it’s kind of nice getting to choose exactly what to use for the shelf itself.
BEST PHOTO LEDGE
West Elm Floating Lines Metal Ledges
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A photo ledge is essentially a shallow floating shelf with a lip, a product uniquely (and solely) suited for displaying framed photos or artwork.
The slender, striking form of this iron shelf makes something very heavy look very light and crisp. Rivers says metal can “offer a sleek option that can work great in an industrial-style setting,” but this particular metal ledge is austere enough to fit into décor that’s better described as modern or contemporary. It comes in a variety of lengths for easy mixing and matching, but the best part is that once mounted, it’s easy to move wall art around without putting additional holes into the wall.
Starting at $49 for a two-foot shelf, these ledges are pricier than their wooden competitors, a reflection of their higher-quality materials.
Frequently Asked Questions About Floating Shelves
What’s a Reasonable Amount to Pay For a Floating Shelf?
The two big factors in floating shelf cost are the materials and the length. Composite materials like particleboard and MDF, which are often veneered, tend to be cheaper, as do shorter shelves. Long shelves made with more solid materials can cost a few hundred dollars, which is about where the ready-to-install floating shelf market price range ends.
What Makes Floating Shelves Better Than Non-Floating Shelves?
Michalowski says that floating shelves “not only add a modern and sleek touch to any room but also provide great functionality by freeing up floor space and creating an illusion of more open and spacious rooms.” They look good and make spaces feel bigger. What’s not to like?
How Much Weight Will Floating Shelves Support?
Things like installing drywall anchors (vs. directly into studs), a shoddier shelf material, and daintier brackets can lower the weight a given floating shelf can hold. Use the maximum load capacities that each shelf comes with as guidance, but when in doubt, pick a shelf with a higher capacity than you think you’ll need.
When Will We Get Shelves That Actually Float?
When we move to space.
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