Decorating
Clever Little Ledges and How to Use Them
Sometimes a ledge – not a shelf – is what you need for form and function. Here’s our room-by-room guide
One of my favourite unsung heroes of home design is the ledge. Its function is similar to a shelf, since you can put stuff on both. But shelves and ledges differ in terms of form.
While a shelf is a horizontal piece affixed to a wall, a ledge may be built out of the wall like a ridge (framed into the wall and finished), built on top of a half wall or created from some trim work. Ledges can be deep or shallow, offering a variety of uses. If you’re renovating or building, you might consider adding this pragmatic design detail for interest, depth and function. If you already have a ledge, consider the following ways to put it to good use.
While a shelf is a horizontal piece affixed to a wall, a ledge may be built out of the wall like a ridge (framed into the wall and finished), built on top of a half wall or created from some trim work. Ledges can be deep or shallow, offering a variety of uses. If you’re renovating or building, you might consider adding this pragmatic design detail for interest, depth and function. If you already have a ledge, consider the following ways to put it to good use.
Half wall, fully designed
Your home may have a half wall, sometimes called a pony or knee wall, as a partition between rooms. In newer construction, it’s often employed as a cost-effective staircase rail solution, since it’s cheaper to frame and finish a half wall than to install wooden spindles or decorative newel posts. Here, instead of leaving the half wall as plain plasterboard, the designer topped it with a finishing piece, creating a decorative ledge that adds visual interest.
This photo is a good illustration of the difference between a ledge and a shelf, as it also shows a reclaimed wood shelf, affixed to the lower half of the left wall, used here for displaying tea lights.
Your home may have a half wall, sometimes called a pony or knee wall, as a partition between rooms. In newer construction, it’s often employed as a cost-effective staircase rail solution, since it’s cheaper to frame and finish a half wall than to install wooden spindles or decorative newel posts. Here, instead of leaving the half wall as plain plasterboard, the designer topped it with a finishing piece, creating a decorative ledge that adds visual interest.
This photo is a good illustration of the difference between a ledge and a shelf, as it also shows a reclaimed wood shelf, affixed to the lower half of the left wall, used here for displaying tea lights.
Ledge completer piece
Here, the half wall separating the main entrance from this living room is treated with a sharp wainscoting moulding and capped by trim that looks more interesting than plain plasterboard would have. This ledge is clutter-free, but it could also be styled with fresh flowers, a row of books or even a lamp.
See more open kitchen/ dining spaces
Here, the half wall separating the main entrance from this living room is treated with a sharp wainscoting moulding and capped by trim that looks more interesting than plain plasterboard would have. This ledge is clutter-free, but it could also be styled with fresh flowers, a row of books or even a lamp.
See more open kitchen/ dining spaces
2. Kitchen
A smart place to consider building a ledge is the kitchen, where we often need a little extra functionality.
Splashback ledge
Here’s a great example of a splashback ledge made out of listellos, a tile finishing piece. The ledge is deep enough to accommodate kitchen items such as small potted plants, spices or bottles, perhaps filled with soap or hand lotion.
A smart place to consider building a ledge is the kitchen, where we often need a little extra functionality.
Splashback ledge
Here’s a great example of a splashback ledge made out of listellos, a tile finishing piece. The ledge is deep enough to accommodate kitchen items such as small potted plants, spices or bottles, perhaps filled with soap or hand lotion.
Banquette ledge
A banquette is a classic way to build a large eating area into a smaller space. The ledge created here by the back of the bench seating acts as a buffer from the windows and is an ideal spot for flowers or other decorative items.
Why you should install a banquette
A banquette is a classic way to build a large eating area into a smaller space. The ledge created here by the back of the bench seating acts as a buffer from the windows and is an ideal spot for flowers or other decorative items.
Why you should install a banquette
Bar ledge
Many homes and apartments have small kitchens that have been opened up with a pass-through, such as this one. No room for an island? The ledge on the half wall of this kitchen cut-through works for this homeowner as a breakfast bar area, thanks to additional extended benchtop material installed on top. A bonus shelf is added above for decorative serving pieces and pottery.
Many homes and apartments have small kitchens that have been opened up with a pass-through, such as this one. No room for an island? The ledge on the half wall of this kitchen cut-through works for this homeowner as a breakfast bar area, thanks to additional extended benchtop material installed on top. A bonus shelf is added above for decorative serving pieces and pottery.
3. Bedroom
Small bedrooms are often a challenge to design, in terms of placing necessary main furniture pieces and still having space for our lamps, books and other accessories. Built-in ledges can be the solution because they don’t take up precious floor real estate.
Bed ledge
Here, a bold wall treatment of dark-stained horizontal wood planks is applied around the bed, with an extended wooden ledge acting as a dramatic and creative alternative to a bedside table.
Small bedrooms are often a challenge to design, in terms of placing necessary main furniture pieces and still having space for our lamps, books and other accessories. Built-in ledges can be the solution because they don’t take up precious floor real estate.
Bed ledge
Here, a bold wall treatment of dark-stained horizontal wood planks is applied around the bed, with an extended wooden ledge acting as a dramatic and creative alternative to a bedside table.
Behind-the-bed ledge
Clever design is evident in this small bedroom, where a ledge is built out of a wall between two wardrobes, with just enough space to tuck in the bed. Again, there’s no need for bedside tables since the ledge behind the bed serves as the spot to arrange books and art.
Clever design is evident in this small bedroom, where a ledge is built out of a wall between two wardrobes, with just enough space to tuck in the bed. Again, there’s no need for bedside tables since the ledge behind the bed serves as the spot to arrange books and art.
4. Living Room
Sometimes we inherit quirky things in our homes, such as walls that have been built out in spots for no apparent reason. Often, in older homes, plumbing, electrical or HVAC elements were upgraded, and the wall was boxed out to accommodate them. If your home has a quirk like this, make it work for you. Add some decorative trim and create a ledge to display books, art or other items.
Sometimes we inherit quirky things in our homes, such as walls that have been built out in spots for no apparent reason. Often, in older homes, plumbing, electrical or HVAC elements were upgraded, and the wall was boxed out to accommodate them. If your home has a quirk like this, make it work for you. Add some decorative trim and create a ledge to display books, art or other items.
Fireplace ledge
This modern fireplace treatment is a bold focal point in this living room. The ledge is a place to lean artwork and may even be deep enough to provide additional seating for this small space.
The case for leaning art
This modern fireplace treatment is a bold focal point in this living room. The ledge is a place to lean artwork and may even be deep enough to provide additional seating for this small space.
The case for leaning art
Picture ledge
Not quite a floating shelf and not a built-in architectural element, this treatment is perhaps the most cost-effective way of using a ledge in your home. Made fairly simply from inexpensive strips of wood, the picture rail is installed in the wall and used to arrange art and photography in an informal way. Here, the rails are painted the same colour as the wall, blending in while still adding some depth.
Not quite a floating shelf and not a built-in architectural element, this treatment is perhaps the most cost-effective way of using a ledge in your home. Made fairly simply from inexpensive strips of wood, the picture rail is installed in the wall and used to arrange art and photography in an informal way. Here, the rails are painted the same colour as the wall, blending in while still adding some depth.
5. Bathroom
Ledges also have great utility in the bathroom, as they can act as dividers between the shower and toilet zones, as well as being pretty useful for storing toiletries.
Shower ledge
If you’re building or renovating a bathroom, a ledge in the shower should be on your wish list. Who wants shampoo bottles sitting in the corner on the floor? Here, a shallow, tiled marble ledge is built out of the shower wall. And see the bonus ledge? A deeper ledge is built right into the shower – that’s a ledge we can actually call a bench. Decadent? Maybe. Gorgeous? Absolutely.
Ledges also have great utility in the bathroom, as they can act as dividers between the shower and toilet zones, as well as being pretty useful for storing toiletries.
Shower ledge
If you’re building or renovating a bathroom, a ledge in the shower should be on your wish list. Who wants shampoo bottles sitting in the corner on the floor? Here, a shallow, tiled marble ledge is built out of the shower wall. And see the bonus ledge? A deeper ledge is built right into the shower – that’s a ledge we can actually call a bench. Decadent? Maybe. Gorgeous? Absolutely.
Toilet ledge
A nice separation of the toilet area from the vanity adds privacy here, and the trimmed-out top ledge creates a spot for towels and other details.
A nice separation of the toilet area from the vanity adds privacy here, and the trimmed-out top ledge creates a spot for towels and other details.
The freestanding tub ledge
The plumbing for the freestanding tub is housed in the wall boxout of this bathroom, creating a ledge. This one is clear of clutter, but it could be used to rest a glass of wine and a book during a relaxing evening soak.
Tell us
Do you have any clever ledges in your home? Tell us what you use them for in the Comments below.
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Be inspired by more beautiful homes
The plumbing for the freestanding tub is housed in the wall boxout of this bathroom, creating a ledge. This one is clear of clutter, but it could be used to rest a glass of wine and a book during a relaxing evening soak.
Tell us
Do you have any clever ledges in your home? Tell us what you use them for in the Comments below.
More
Be inspired by more beautiful homes
Build a ledge into the wall as part of the trim or moulding as a way to add function and smoothly incorporate an architectural element.
Trimmed out
In this entry area, a rail ledge caps off the board-and-batten moulding, creating visual interest and adding depth to the narrow space. Hooks are installed beneath the ledge for bags or coats, and the capping with the ledge gives them a finished look. The ledge also becomes a place to display 3D decor such as the lettering spelling out ‘Love’.