Squeezing storage and display space into a small room is often tricky, but wall-mounted shelving units can make the perfect solution. They don’t take up any extra floor space and can be positioned above desks, sofas and the like; what’s more, their lightweight appearance creates the illusion of extra square meterage, and they’re often much less imposing than heavy freestanding pieces.
There are lots of compact designs to choose from nowadays, and I’ve picked out 21 of the best below. As always I’ve focused on timeless, minimalist style, and there are options for every budget – from £21 bargains through to iconic investment buys that will last for decades to come. Just scroll down for details…
- Natural oak ‘Shelf Library’ (also available in white-oiled and dark-oiled oak, and in various other configurations), €855, Frama
- String ‘Pocket’ white metal and wood shelving unit (also available in various other colours and materials), £126, Utility Design
- ‘Horizon’ oak shelving unit with sliding doors, £164, Maisons du Monde [AD – affiliate link]
- ‘Rosali’ black metal and cane shelving unit, £125, La Redoute [AD – affiliate link]
- Karakter Copenhagen ‘Libreria Pensile’ wire-hung oak shelving unit (also available in black ash), £829, Nest.co.uk
- ‘Spirollo’ black metal shelving unit (also available in various other configurations), £95, La Redoute [AD – affiliate link]
- ‘Astrid’ white metal and oak shelving unit with vegan leather magazine / book holder (also available in various other colours and materials), €203, By Crea
- Muuto ‘Stacked Mini’ modular shelving system, available in numerous colours, from £109 per compartment, Utility Design
- Skagerak ‘Norr’ leather-hung oak shelving unit, £259, Amara [AD – affiliate link]
- Woud ‘Stedge’ wire-hung white-pigmented oak shelving unit (also available in dark-stained oak, in a bigger size and with extra shelves), £293, Nest.co.uk
- DK3 ‘Royal System’ soaped-oak shelving unit (also available in black oak, smoked oak and walnut, and in various other configurations), £768, Nest.co.uk
- ‘Martha’ black metal shelving unit, £143, Maisons du Monde [AD – affiliate link]
- Hübsch black metal and ash shelving unit, £103, Smallable
- ‘Marin’ white metal and MDF shelving unit, £21, Maisons du Monde [AD – affiliate link]
- ‘BERGSHULT / PERSHULT’ white shelving combination (also available in black and grey, and in various other configurations), £75, IKEA
- ‘Crueso’ oak shelving unit, £160, La Redoute [AD – affiliate link]
- ‘Hiba’ black metal shelving unit, £110, La Redoute [AD – affiliate link]
- Ferm Living ‘Sector’ oak shelving unit with brass details (also available in dark-stained ash, with black metal details and in a smaller size), £262.50, Nest.co.uk
- ‘Nivo’ black ash shelving unit (also available in white and oak, and in various other configurations), €165, Gejst Design
- Fogia ‘Bond’ oak shelving unit (also available in walnut, and in several other sizes), £971, Nest.co.uk
- Gubi ‘Matégot Dédal’ black metal shelving unit (can be positioned horizontally or vertically; also available in numerous other colours), £266, Royaldesign.co.uk
The beauty of many of the above designs is that they form part of modular systems, meaning you could easily adapt, combine or extend them to suit different spaces in the future. Fogia’s ‘Bond’ unit is particularly versatile, as it can be hung on the wall or stood on the floor; there’s even a ceiling-mounted version to sit above kitchen worktops and island units.
Above: String ‘Pocket’ shelving and Fogia’s ‘Bond’ unit, both of which can be extended as needed
If you have tall or oddly shaped items to display, then consider designs with height-adjustable shelves. La Redoute’s ‘Crueso’ model and the String ‘Pocket’ unit (a compact version of the now-iconic String shelving system) are great examples. I have the latter above my desk, and I love being able to move the shelves up and down whenever I rearrange things.
Above: String ‘Pocket’ shelving in my home office
If you don’t want to spend much time drilling holes, or if you live in a rental property and need to keep wall fixtures to a minimum, then look out for units such as Skagerak’s ‘Norr’ and Karakter Copenhagen’s ‘Libreria Pensile’, which can be hung from a single hook.
Above: Skagerak’s ‘Norr’ and Woud’s ‘Stedge’ designs
It’s also worth remembering that shelving units can be put to all sorts of different uses. They can double as side tables and nightstands in rooms where space is particularly tight, and I’ve seen several hung in a row to form a sideboard or bookcase. Some of the above designs, including Frama’s ‘Shelf Library’ and Ferm Living’s ‘Sector’, can even incorporate desk attachments.
Above: Gejst Design’s ‘Nivo’ shelving used as a nightstand, and Frama’s ‘Shelf Library’ with a desk attachment
Finally, if you want some tips on how to style your chosen shelving unit, take a look at this blog post from last year.
Please note this post contains affiliate links (all clearly marked), which means I will receive a small commission on any resulting sales. You won’t pay any more by clicking on these links than you would by visiting the websites directly.
Images five and six by Abi Dare; all other photography via the brands named above
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