20 Floating Shelves Ideas, So You Can Create Extra Storage Space That Isn’t an Eyesore

You know those high-end minimal kitchen pics you keep saving on Pinterest? One of the things that makes them look so luxe is having open shelves that run the length of the wall. Many store-bought ones can be too short for wide walls, looking stumpy and, well, cheap. But it turns out that with some wood, brackets and just a few tools (namely, a tape measure, miter saw and stud finder), you can easily create shelves that are custom-fit to your space.

DIY coffee stations have been trending this year, especially as more people work from home. This floating shelf features hooks along the bottom, so displaying your mugs—and creating your own café in the kitchen—has never been easier.

Hanging a shelf about 42 inches from the floor and tucking a few narrow stools underneath is a space-saving way to create storage that doubles as a hangout. It’s perfect for small spaces where you can’t fit a kitchen island or a full table.

If you already have a gallery wall of art in the works, try adding a spotlight shelf, like this Anthropologie find that’s crafted out of a stump. It’s just the right size to highlight a single item you love—be it a bud vase or that Jonathan Adler candle holder that looks like a work of art.

Gallery wall? Try gallery shelves. Take a page from designer Jasmine Roth and hang three rows of narrow ledges (Roth found hers at IKEA) along a hallway. Overlap your favorite framed photos, securing them with a little Museum Putty, and you’ve got art with way more character than any “Live, Laugh, Love” sign.

Your shelves don’t have to be flat planks. A more sculptural shape—like these hexagon ones—can make even the simplest tchotchkes look expertly styled.

If a honeycomb shape is a little too out there for you, try this modern take on floating shelves. The matte black rectangles perfectly frame whatever you place on them, making each one look like a work of art.

Upgrade your basic floating shelves with a pair of chic brackets that can even dress up a wooden slab.

Display your favorite reads or your vinyl collection with a floating magazine rack.

Most of us stick a tall plant or a floor lamp in the corner and call it a day. To get more use out of that space, fit it with some DIY shelves, like A Beautiful Mess did here.

Speaking of putting awkward corners to use, if you don’t have an obvious spot for your TV (or you don’t want to make it the focal point of the room), consider installing a floating TV stand in that area.

A floating nightstand isn’t as bulky as the traditional design, so it lends a light, airy look to any bedroom. (Plus, if you have a small pet, you can easily stick the dog’s bed underneath. As if Kiki actually sleeps there and not in your bed, that is.)

C’mon, your exposed brick wall is begging for a tiny floating shelf that’s a perfect replica of a fire escape.

If you’re already organizing your kids’ books by color, you might as well go all out with matching rainbow shelves, too. We’re not saying your kids will keep it that way for more than five minutes but hey, it’s worth a shot.

These cloud-shaped shelves are so cute that you’ll actually look forward to hanging them up. Plus, each one can hold up to 30 pounds of Troll dolls, Poo-emoji toys or whatever the elementary-school set is into these days.

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This whimsical take on floating shelves invites your kids to get in on decorating—or they could just use it as a tiny dollhouse.

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The wall under a sloped roof can be a great place to add a few rows of floating shelves. This trio Roth used is the same length as the shelves of the built-in desk and the design draws the eye upward, making the nook seem larger than it is. Shelves spanning the full length of the wall might feel claustrophobic here.

So, you like to garden, but you don’t have a yard? This delicate nine-piece set lets you grow all of your favorite herbs indoors.

No matter which type of floating shelves you choose, follow these tips from Roth to keep them looking stylish, not cluttered: Vary the heights of the items you place there, mix in different textures and group things in threes. “If you have four items you’re styling with, try grouping three of them together in one cluster and the other item slightly away from it or behind it if it’s larger in size,” she says. “This arrangement would work for three small ceramic pieces and one piece of artwork, or three candleholders and a cool clock.”

Rows of shelves can often look dark and cluttered. Hanging shelves with LED lights pre-installed keeps that area bright—and saves you the step of searching for (and figuring out how to install) accent lighting.