Make It Work: Open Shelving in the Bedroom
Don't hide away your books, heirlooms and keepsakes, show them off in your bedroom with clever open-shelving solutions
Open shelving is being seen more and more in homes and, while it’s the kitchen that most commonly features the open shelf, it’s well worth extending the idea into other rooms as well. Not only do open shelves make it quick and easy to access items, they bring a decorative feature to a space. Create a beautiful vignette with books, trinkets, vases and other decorative items and you can have a lovely, artistic piece of work permanently on display. Be inspired in your own bedroom with these open-shelving ideas.
… or paint the wall behind the shelves a vibrant colour to provide a contrast with the rest of the room. It will instantly give the room a lift, and will show off any items on the shelf to maximum effect.
An easy way to make open bookshelves is by grouping together some old wooden boxes. Contrast the textures and colours for added effect, and ensure the boxes have enough depth that you can also sit items on top.
Browse more kids’ bedroom ideas
Browse more kids’ bedroom ideas
Wardrobe features
If you’re anything like me, your mornings are a flurry of activity. What better way to help with choosing your daily outfit combo than to actually see what you have in your wardrobe. No doors to be seen here. Classify your clothing into colours and styles, and pop your shoe options on the open shelving above.
If you’re anything like me, your mornings are a flurry of activity. What better way to help with choosing your daily outfit combo than to actually see what you have in your wardrobe. No doors to be seen here. Classify your clothing into colours and styles, and pop your shoe options on the open shelving above.
Make use of those funny little spaces that might be an odd size, or build some into the configuration of your new wardrobe. The open shelving between two sets of wardrobes allows books to be put on display – an effective way to make the division, and the bookshelves also break up the blocks of colour.
Floating shelves
This type of shelf creates a simple minimalist look by providing a sleek line with no cumbersome wall brackets in sight. Here, the shelf is made of the same material as the wall, so it all works seamlessly together. Photographs look lovely on display in a bedroom, or even pieces of framed art.
This type of shelf creates a simple minimalist look by providing a sleek line with no cumbersome wall brackets in sight. Here, the shelf is made of the same material as the wall, so it all works seamlessly together. Photographs look lovely on display in a bedroom, or even pieces of framed art.
An easy way to add side tables is to fix a small floating shelf to either side of the bed. You can place them at a height that works for you, and vacuuming underneath couldn’t be easier.
8 brilliant ideas for walls of all shapes and sizes
8 brilliant ideas for walls of all shapes and sizes
Wall-to-wall shelving
Are you a book worm? A hoarder who can’t throw away any personal belongings? Let us present you with the wall-to-wall bookshelf system. Shelving this expansive will limit the wall space you have for other bedroom furniture, but the extra storage is a worthwhile trade-off – this cabinetry even extends over the bedroom door.
Make it a feature of your room, but make sure to carefully craft the placement of your books and other items to create harmony, rather than one big mess. Add some uniformity to books by grouping them together by colour and size.
Are you a book worm? A hoarder who can’t throw away any personal belongings? Let us present you with the wall-to-wall bookshelf system. Shelving this expansive will limit the wall space you have for other bedroom furniture, but the extra storage is a worthwhile trade-off – this cabinetry even extends over the bedroom door.
Make it a feature of your room, but make sure to carefully craft the placement of your books and other items to create harmony, rather than one big mess. Add some uniformity to books by grouping them together by colour and size.
Some homes come with a lot of built-in or recessed shelving. Having both is a great asset in a child’s room. Display cute toys or artwork and store away less-appealing items behind the cupboard doors.
Space filler
The area directly underneath your windows can make for a perfect shelving spot. Simply run some timber planks across and fill with all your books and other items that require storage. Shelving like this also provides a handy surface area on top, to put photos and other keepsakes on display.
The area directly underneath your windows can make for a perfect shelving spot. Simply run some timber planks across and fill with all your books and other items that require storage. Shelving like this also provides a handy surface area on top, to put photos and other keepsakes on display.
Recessed bedhead
Make a unique focal point in your bedroom with recessed shelves above your bed. This simple shelf works beautifully within the timber wall, perfect for small candles, and adds just that extra little bit of interest to the room.
How to make your bedhead work harder
Make a unique focal point in your bedroom with recessed shelves above your bed. This simple shelf works beautifully within the timber wall, perfect for small candles, and adds just that extra little bit of interest to the room.
How to make your bedhead work harder
Here, the recessed shelving allows enough space for all your key bedroom items – just be sure not to sit anything too close to the edge, especially if you have a cat with active paws!
Tell us
Do you have open shelving in the bedroom? Share a photo or tell us about it in the Comments.
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Browse more bedroom photos
Tell us
Do you have open shelving in the bedroom? Share a photo or tell us about it in the Comments.
More
Browse more bedroom photos
You can get very creative in children’s rooms and what better way to do this than with open shelving. Tie the shelves into the colour or materials of the wall …