How to make a shelf in a niche with your own hands - step by step instructions

It is difficult to imagine an interior in which there would be no shelves. Any style and design direction implies their presence. What is special about this piece of furniture? How to choose the right shelves for rooms of different purposes?

Varieties

Shelves perform a variety of functions, which is why there are so many varieties of them.

In particular, a distinction is made between wall, hanging and corner structures. Wall mounts are attached to the wall above a sofa, bed or table. Perhaps this is the most common type of shelves. Hanging shelves are attached to the ceiling using cables, belts or chains. Often these models are used for interior decoration in the living room, bedroom or kitchen. Corner models find their "refuge" at the junction of two walls. They are attached either to the walls or to the ceiling. Corner models are also actively used in the interiors of different rooms.

Given the shape of the shelves, their appearance, structures are subdivided as follows:

• By shape, color and size;
• By surface texture: matte, glossy, textured;
• By belonging to a certain style;
• By functionality (additional use of stands, lights, etc.).

Well, depending on the configuration, the shelf models differ in the following indicators:

• The presence or absence of side walls in the structure;
• Horizontal or vertical placement relative to the wall;
• Multi-tiered or side-shifting models;
• The presence of right angles or, conversely, rounded outlines.

The shelves can be made from different materials. The most popular are:

• Natural solid wood;
• Metal;
• Glass (colored, frosted, transparent);
• MDF;
• Chipboard;
• Plastic;
• Combined models (made of two or more different materials).

Features of location in different rooms

Undoubtedly, each owner is free to follow exclusively his preferences, decorating the interior of any room. But there are some simple rules for placing shelves, thanks to which you can hide weaknesses and emphasize the dignity of the room and interior.

Living room

The choice of shelves for the living room interior is as important as the choice of furniture, lighting systems and decorative elements. In modern interiors, minimalism increasingly prevails: bulky walls are a thing of the past, they were replaced by light, almost airy, modular structures. Such shelves combine the seemingly incongruous: without burdening the space, they are able to provide enough space to accommodate all the necessary things. And the room, at the same time, remains practically free of furniture.

Before purchasing shelves for the living room, decide on their function:

1. Often in the living room, shelves are hung above the seating area (above the sofa) or above the TV. In the first case, it will be a great opportunity to place the library, and in the second - to place photo frames, souvenirs or small vases on the shelf.
2. If there is a niche in the living room, consider it a bonus. Competent equipment of this space with the help of lighting will make the room unusual and interesting. Plus, a niche is a great way to save space.
3. If you consider yourself one of the lovers of all kinds of flora, place the shelves near the window and place flowers on them.
4. When placing shelves on the wall, stick to a checkerboard pattern. In this case, the interior will turn out to be very original. The main thing is that the models you choose are not cumbersome. And it is better to give preference to light designs.

If in your case the living room is combined with the bedroom, then the shelf can function as a partition. Moreover, she is "on the shoulder" the role of both "blank" walls, and through.

Kitchen

Shelves in the kitchen are needed both for solving very specific practical problems, and as a decor. Most often, the shelves for kitchen utensils, necessary appliances and utensils for everyday use are equipped with doors, which allows you to protect these items from dust and dirt. But the following is on display:

• Cookbooks;
• Sets of spices in beautiful jars (in sight, it is both convenient and beautiful);
• Vases with fruit (or with sweets);
• Decorative dishes (dishes, plates, jugs, samovars);
• Small frames with paintings or photos.

All this decorative splendor should not be placed on the wall where the work area is located, especially if the kitchen is small. Place spectacular decorative items on the opposite side. By the way, in this way, you will also ensure their safety.

Corner and suspended structures are also best positioned on the side opposite to the working area.

Bedroom

This is truly a sacred place that needs a well-thought-out interior. Especially if the owner (or, hostess) of the room is a person with claims for maximum comfort and style.

Most often, hinged shelves are chosen for bedroom decoration. In the sleeping space, pots of flowers, souvenirs, photo frames, figurines, candlesticks or books are placed on such shelves. As a rule, shelves in a recreation room do not carry a multifunctional load; they serve exclusively to accommodate little things dear to the heart. To accommodate clothes or other things, wardrobes and a place in the sofa (bed) are used.

So that the necessary items are at arm's length, often shelves are placed above the head of the bed. In order for the design to look like a single whole, the color scheme and shape are chosen in accordance with the design of the bed itself and the bedside tables.

Children's room

You can't do without shelves in the nursery. Moreover, the design and location directly depend on the age of the child.

While the baby is just getting to know the world around him, it is important to choose models with rounded edges in order to eliminate the likelihood of injury. The shelves will store toys, construction sets and educational games. The shelves themselves for the little ones are made in the form of clouds or flowers.

As the child grows up, shelves of a more laconic configuration are selected, because textbooks and other school supplies will "inhabit" them. At this age, it will be more convenient for a child if the shelves are hung over the desk.The ideal solution would be wall or corner models.

Well, in order to create the feeling of a single design concept, choose shelves that match the style of other interior items: wall and ceiling decoration, sofa (or bed), as well as chairs or bedside tables, if any.

Cabinet

This is one of the most specific spaces in any apartment. Its design depends on the direction of professional activity and the preferences of the owner of the office. In addition, the interior will have to be modified when the office is combined with a bedroom or living room.

Documents, writing utensils, and other small items are removed to the table. The shelves in the office most often perform exclusively a decorative function, therefore, photo frames, souvenirs, spectacular candlesticks and books in unusual bindings are placed on floor or hinged structures.

Bathroom

For reliable and convenient fastening of shelves in the bathroom, special hooks and brackets are used. And the shelves are selected either straight or angular.

It is very important to choose the right material from which the models for the bathroom are made, because they will be used in conditions of high humidity. Most often, preference is given to glass, MDF with a water-repellent coating, stainless steel.

In addition to the shelves, the bathroom must be equipped with systems for drying towels, as well as organized storage space for cleaning supplies.

Wardrobe

If you are fortunate enough to have an entire room as a dressing room, think carefully about your storage system. In this space, functionality comes first, and beauty, style and uniqueness take the following places.

The shelves should be comfortable, practical, and exactly the right size for your clothes and shoes. The design does not matter: floor, wall, corner or straight - the main thing is that they provide you with the comfort of use and the safety of things.

How to design a niche

A niche can be found in many layouts. Someone considers this a flaw in the room and begins to puzzle over: how to arrange it. According to professional designers, a niche is a bonus for apartment owners. Indeed, with its help, you can not only make a unique interior of its kind, but also add functionality to the room, especially if the apartment is small. So what do you do with a niche? One option is to place a sofa or bed in the niche.

The room does not always have openings in the wall, so if you wish, you can make partitions from drywall. The main thing is to use every centimeter of space, you can equip shelves around the sofa, and place books or souvenirs on them.

Even if the niche is very small and it will not be possible to equip a full-fledged sleeping place, still, build a small sofa. To do this, you need a mattress and a couple of pillows.

If it so happens that there is a window in the niche, even the smallest one, believe me, you are very lucky. Although additional lighting will still have to be done, you are guaranteed an unusual cozy atmosphere.

Shelves in a niche

In fairness, it should be noted that the owners of square meters with niches prefer to equip them for a storage system.This decision is considered more correct and closer to the realities of life. And how to make shelves in a niche with your own hands?

In fact, a simple classic design is extremely simple to make. Especially when you consider that you don't need to create the side pieces. Purchase a board from a hardware store, then cut it into pieces of the size you need. Sand the resulting wooden shelves well. This can be done either with sandpaper or with a sander. After that, cover the boards with a primer and then paint or varnish.

To install the shelves in place, holders or small brackets are most often attached to the end parts of the niche.

If you want to make the shelves closed, and the desired model assumes the presence of doors, then it is better to turn to specialists, since without certain skills it is difficult to cope with such a structure.

Choosing a style

It would seem that the shelf is the simplest detail of the interior, however, in order for the overall appearance to be decent, it is important that the shelves are designed in a specific stylistic solution.

• Classic. This style is characterized by the use of natural materials. Therefore, it is better if the shelves are made of natural wood. Structures can be attached to the wall, or located in a niche (if there is one).

  

  When choosing a shape, give preference to conventional rectangular designs. You can use carving as a decoration.

• Modern. For modern design solutions in this style, wall models of a closed glazed type are best suited. Matte or transparent shelves with multi-colored inserts or backlighting complement the interior quite well.

  

• Provence. The French rustic style is beautifully complemented by wooden structures. Just paint the shelf in light colors and age it slightly.

The presence of shelves is important for any room. With their help, not only does the functionality of the space increase, it becomes more comfortable and stylish. And the competent design of the existing niche will make the room unique in its kind, regardless of what you place in it: shelves or a sofa.

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