Wooden Shelving - Styles, Products, Information

Wood is a building material as varied in its usefulness as it is in appearance.  A warm wood readily yielding to carving can make a beautiful wooden shelving accent piece, while providing a strong base for display and storage.

Traditional and Contemporary

Wood decorative shelving may bring to mind the image of elaborate carving and an abundance of spindles, but wood shelves are not just about the colonial and the traditional.  Although an exquisitely made Colonial shelf bracket may fit into an older home, wood shelves and shelf brackets are made in many styles.  Because wood is such a versatile material, it can be custom made to work in a Mediterranean home, a contemporary home, or even a home with a strong influence of East Asia.

Examples of attractive factory made contemporary wooden shelving can be found at stores everywhere.  Many large US superstores carry shelving units with clean lines, and a major Swiss retailer is well known for its inexpensive, but sturdy modern furniture.  For more decorative pieces, there are an endless variety of locations to look.

Home improvement stores are the first on the list for a readily available stock of decorative shelving at reasonable prices.  These stores have unfinished pieces for mixing and matching to a certain degree, and carry a large selection of traditional pieces.  However, for a shelf worthy of passing down to the next generation, consider custom made units.

Whether you are purchasing a couple of shelves for a single room, or an entire shelving unit to act as the library bookcase, there are benefits to going custom. Custom fabrication allows you to choose from a variety of woods, not just what the store has available. So if you need to have a shelf build to match your 1920’s oak secretary desk, and it needs to be finished to match as well, a custom shelf is your best option.

The choice of shelf brackets may also affect the decision to go custom. Choosing brackets to match from an inventory on hand will not always be possible, or practical. When you go to a custom manufacturer, be certain of what you will be storing on the shelving units. This allows them to engineer and install the shelves to accommodate your items.

For example, if you’re wood shelf will be holding heavy collectibles, and you need matching brackets, they can be custom made with an attached bracket for additional strength.

If wood shelf brackets are not desired, choose a ready-made decorative iron or steel shelf bracket. These will screw into the shelf and the wall, but may add just the right touch to your décor.

Custom shelving outranks all other store bought inventory when you consider the need for a special fit. It is much easier to have a unit made to the space, rather than try to retrofit an existing unit.

Before purchasing any shelving units, ask about installation, especially for larger projects. A good company will have reputable installers, and be willing to show you their past work, and offer you references.