Choosing a Shelving System

Shelving systems come in a variety of styles, costs, and materials. Simple or complex shelving systems can redesign your room instantly. Once you decide what you want to accomplish in your room, head on out to find the best shelving system for your home. • Choosing the shelves. Choosing your shelving system depends on the area you will install your shelves. Are you thinking of your garage, clothes closet, living room, or kitchen? Once you decide on the location, you are one step ahead to improving your home’s space issues. Another consideration for the type of shelving system you choose is the location you are going to put your shelves in relationship to weather, humidity, and exposure. Do you really want an untreated wooden shelf system outside in your deck area where rain, sun, snow, or hail can ruin your shelves? • Type of walls. A consideration to keep in mind is the kind of wall to which you will be attaching the shelving system. Is the wall strong enough to hold your shelves? Do you have the appropriate nails and tools to install your shelving system? Heavy items on frail shelves are a recipe for disaster. Be careful that you do not overload shelves and have the correct type of support for your shelves. Improper use of shelves can create accidents when you least expect it. • Purpose. What do you need your new shelving system to hold? Will your shelving system be holding heavy tools in your garage or will it be installed inside your closet? Will you be holding stereo equipment in your den or living room? Perhaps you need a shelving system to hold your computer equipment. Whatever you want to place on your shelves, find the appropriate shelves that will hold your items. • Wood. Lumber that is no longer being used can make a sturdy, low-cost shelving system. Rustic looking shelves are fashionable in your den, living room, loft, and bedrooms. • Resurface. Remove old paint from your shelves and re-paint them with fun colors or subdue bold colors with neutral hues, adding an elegant look to your shelves. Shelves can be readjusted to new heights and lengths adding new dimensions to your room. • Lighting. Keep lighting in mind when choosing your new shelving system. Track lighting, hidden style lights, lamps, and candles can highlight or add shadows to different areas of your shelving producing a new look to your shelves and room. • Design. New shelving designs provide a multitude of options for anyone considering a new shelving system. Items that can be used with your new shelving system are decorative boxes, plastic bins and bottles, trays, and wire trashcans that come in a variety of sizes, colors, and shapes to help you store all of your valuables. A shelving system can be practical and provide many money saving options for storing your items. Many shelving systems will provide you with excellent instructions that anyone can install. Whether you want to install your shelving system yourself or have a carpenter or handy person install your shelves for you, remember to do your homework first!