Floating shelves are an inexpensive way to display your decorations, collections of certain items, or mementos that you want to include as part of the décor in your home. The use of these shelves is quite versatile, and you can install them in any room. Floating shelves are typically simple shelves made up of medium-density fiberboard (MDF), plastic, wood, or a combination of wood and plywood that can be fixed on a wall. They are installed in such a way that it appears that they are just extending out of the wall without any support, but in reality a specially constructed supporting bracket is used to provide the support to the shelf so it can hold weight. There are many DIY videos available on the Internet that can help you make suitable floating shelves for your home or office, but you must have some knowledge about using carpentry tools if you want to make your own. If you are looking out for some ready made ones, but do not know where to buy floating shelves, then here are some of the top picks that you can purchase online.
Set of 3 Floating U Shelves in Walnut Finish
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This set of three floating U-shaped shelves is a good choice for space utilization. These come in three different dimensions, thus they are perfect for displaying different types of items such as books, collectibles, figurines, CDs, photographs, and so on. With these U-shaped shelves you have the option of selecting whether you want to hang them with their end sides facing up or down. If you want to keep books on these shelves, then you should hang them with their short perpendicular ends facing up to act as bookends. This set is available at a price of $22.95.
Pros:
- Made up of high-grade MDF and walnut-finished laminate for a classy look
- Walnut color of the shelves makes it compatible with any type of décor
- Easy to fix on the wall, as all the hardware required for hanging is provided in the kit
- Not only suitable for decorating walls but also functional
- Different sizes of shelves allow different setups and configurations
Cons:
- Some of the people who reviewed this product find that the quality of the hardware provided with this set of three shelves is somewhat inferior
Conclusion: This set is quite good at its current price and comes with a leveling template along with all the necessary instructions, which allows you to hang these shelves without any problems using basic tools.
Burnes of Boston LL2931 Level Line Walnut 3-piece Ledge Set
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This product is a good choice for living rooms, as it comes in a three-piece traditional walnut finish. The complete set of these shelves includes 12-inch, 18-inch, and 24-inch ledges, which allows you to have a choice of different decorating styles. You can either install these shelves together on a single wall or you can place them on different walls or in rooms as per your requirements. All the hardware required to hang these comes included in the package. Just follow the instructions given in the manual to install these ledges within a few minutes. The Burnes of Boston LL2931 Level Line Walnut 3-piece Ledge Set is available at a price of $39.99.
Pros:
- Unique mounting brackets with built-in levels for easy and perfect installation
- Three different sized ledges in traditional walnut finish suitable for all types of décor
- Comes with all the hardware required to install the brackets
- Only requires a hammer to fix the brackets
- Perfect level mounting; these fit close to the wall
- Can be adjusted side to side for exact placement
Cons:
- Some of the users of this product found that the hardware that attaches the mounting bracket to the wall is not appropriate for heavier load levels, so they used sheetrock mollies, which completed the installation perfectly
Conclusion: This set comes in smooth and semi-gloss finishes, which look great with the true mahogany stain. These are really easy to install and are relatively high quality considering the price. Just be careful when installing them; if you use the provided hardware, don’t place heavy items on the shelves.
Southern Enterprises Chicago Floating Shelf, 24-Inch, Black
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This floating wall shelf is quite good for any type of room. It is easy to hang this shelf; if you have the skills to hang a picture then you can perfectly install this shelf on your wall. The Southern Enterprises Chicago Floating Shelf does not show any support brackets and it actually seems to be floating in the air. This shelf comes in four color variants and you can also opt for different sizes of this ledge available separately. It comes ready to assemble, and you can finish the job by following the instruction manual provided with the package. The dimensions of this particular shelf are 24″W x 10″D x 2″H. It’s available at a price of $36.99.
Pros:
- No visible screws, connectors or tracks when mounted on the wall
- Constructed of quality MDF
- The maximum capacity of this shelf is of 30lbs
- Quite easy to install
- All hanging hardware required for installing this shelf is included
- Shipped in economical flat pack
Cons:
- This product comes with weak drywall anchors, which are not suitable for holding heavy weights
Conclusion: This product is very good looking and serves its purpose well once installed. The only problem comes along with weak drywall anchors provided in the installation kit, which you should replace with quality anchors available in hardware stores.
Set of 2 Espresso Color “S” Wall Mount Shelves
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This is a set of two S-shaped wall-mount shelves that are quite harmonious with any décor, particularly if you have a contemporary feel in your living room or bedroom. These can be arranged in different configurations, thus allowing you the ability to customize them. These ledges can be used together or separately to show off your collectibles or for easy storage. They are quite easy to install and do not show any connector or hanging hardware. This set comes with all the hardware required. The dimensions of one shelf measure 22″W x 4.75″H x 4″D. They are available at a price of $32.99.
Pros:
- Individual shelf or the combination of both shelves can be installed symmetrically or reversed
- Comes in contemporary espresso finish
- Quite easy to install
- Does not show any connectors or hanging hardware when installed
- Comes with paper template for marking the mounting screws
Cons:
- Some of the people who purchased this product felt that the size of the shelves is too small to display multiple collectibles
Conclusion: This set has a contemporary color design that makes it quite suitable for living rooms. The espresso finish looks great with almost every other color. You can install this set in different positions to create an aura of uniqueness, as these are a little more geometric than plain flat shelves. They are quite easy to install, as they come with paper template for marking the screw positions. These are a great option for the price.
Decorative Espresso “H” Shaped Wall Shelf
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This single shelf is quite appropriate for displaying decorative items and creates an aura of modern elegance with the fashionable H-shaped design. This ledge provides three display spaces for large and small collectibles. This ledge is quite easy to install, as all the hardware required comes with the package. The dimensions of this shelf measure 31″W x 8″H x 7.5″D. This model is currently available at a price of $29.99.
Pros:
- Three display spaces for a combination of small and large decorative pieces allow you to customize
- Comes in fashionable espresso finish
- Easy to assemble and install
- No visible connectors once installed
Cons:
- Some customers have some issues with the price range of this product, as they felt that the current price of this shelf is bit on the steeper side for such a simple product
Conclusion: This shelf is quite easy to install, but you must have some experience using a level to properly hang it up. The H-shaped design is great if you have a grouping of differently sized items to display.
Summary
All of the items discussed above range from simple straight shelves to intricately shaped ones that suit contemporary looks and come in different dimensions to fit your space. For the most versatility, stick with the Burnes of Boston model, as it’s priced right and doesn’t have too much “personality” because of the simple design. For something more eye-catching, go with the floating U shelves; these are great for storing books, but their construction might not be the best. Lastly, the S-shaped shelves are great for sprucing up any room, but be careful that you don’t put anything too heavy on them.