The Best Wall Shelves - 2022
We looked at the top 5 and dug through the reviews from 13 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best .
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Our Picks For The Top
Low-Profile DesignThis set of six bookshelves has a minimalist design to emphasize the items on it rather than the shelves.
Versatile DesignThe versatile design of these floating shelves makes it perfect for any room in your home, from your living room to your bathroom.
Farmhouse DesignThe rustic design of this floating shelf makes it a great match for your farmhouse decor.
Customizable Design OptionsThis three-shelf set has three different installation modes to let you find the configuration that works best for your space.
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Our experts reviewed the top 5 and also dug through the reviews from 13 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best .
DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.
The Best Overall
Wallniture Metal U Shape Wall Bookshelf
Our Take
Ideal for showcasing your book collection, this set of six bookshelves is barely detectable when filled with books. They're U-shaped and don't extend far from the wall to maximize your floor space. Your purchase includes six 17-inch metal floating shelves and mounting hardware.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
The Best Bang For Your Buck
SODUKU Wall Mounted Floating Storage Shelves
Our Take
This set of two floating shelves are made from high-quality pine wood that is both moisture and heat resistant. This makes it work even in rooms prone to moisture, such as your bathroom. It even includes an optional towel holder that hangs from the bottom shelf.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
Our Findings
Wallniture Metal U Shape Wall Bookshelf
What We Liked: Ideal for showcasing your book collection, this set of six bookshelves is barely detectable when filled with books. They’re U-shaped and don’t extend far from the wall to maximize your floor space. Your purchase includes six 17-inch metal floating shelves and mounting hardware.
SODUKU Wall Mounted Floating Storage Shelves
What We Liked: This set of two floating shelves are made from high-quality pine wood that is both moisture and heat resistant. This makes it work even in rooms prone to moisture, such as your bathroom. It even includes an optional towel holder that hangs from the bottom shelf.
Peter’s Goods 2-Tier Rustic Floating Wall Shelves
What We Liked: This two-tier shelf set is made from environmentally-friendly, lightweight Paulownia wood, with the rustic look that’s so popular today. The bottom tier allows enough space for a 10-inch book to stand upright. The quick and easy installation process just requires attaching the shelves to the frame before mounting the frame to the wall.
BAYKA Rustic Floating Wall Shelf Set, 3-Pack
What We Liked: This shelf set uses unique triangle-shaped supporting hardware to give you multiple options as you decide how to install it. You’ll need only screws to attach these shelves to the wall, with an installation process that’s a breeze. The wood shelves are wider than usual to give you room for decorative items that wouldn’t normally fit on floating shelves.
Homissue Vintage Industrial Pipe Wall Shelf Unit
What We Liked: The four shelves in this floating set are supported by dark brown metal pipes to give it a rustic, industrial look. The shelves are 43.9 inches high by 31.5 inches wide by 12 inches deep and the board size is 1.2 inches high by 31.5 inches wide by 12 inches deep to give you extra space for decorative items like potted plants and candles. Both the shelves and pipes are of durable, solid construction to give you years of reliable use.
Our Buying Guide
Wall shelves are a great way to enhance your home’s décor. Instead of setting up an end table or dedicated bookshelf to display your books and other items, you can mount these shelves to the wall. This keeps your floor space free while still serving the purpose.
But before you buy wall shelves, there are a few things to consider. Start by taking a close look at the wood that’s used for the shelves. You’ll want something that complements your existing décor while also being sturdy enough to hold up after years of use.
Wall shelves are also known as floating shelves for a reason. They mount to the wall with brackets rather than being part of a bigger bookcase. But some use decorative brackets or piping to enhance the look. Still others hide the brackets or have the shelves maintain a low profile to emphasize the items you’re displaying on top of them.
The size of the shelves is an essential choice, as well. Measure the area where you’ll be mounting them and make sure to factor in clearance between shelves when you’re determining if your chosen shelving will fit. You’ll need enough clearance between each shelf and the one above it to display items, whether they’re books or decorative items.
DWYM Fun Fact
Although humans have likely always sought a way to arrange their books, the demand for storage accelerated around the fourth century B.C. At that time, a manuscript volume known as a codex was used to bind the papyrus rolls in a manageable format. At that time, though, the process of binding those rolls was so pricey, they were mostly limited to religious authorities.
As the printing press grew in popularity, furniture for storage began to emerge. Early storage came in the form of wall shelves, available mostly to the wealthy. Everyone else was relegated to a piece of furniture known as the “low bookshelf.” This item was 4 feet high by 5 or 6 feet wide and had a marble top and wire lattice doors with curtains.
The Tips and Advice
- Before you start shopping for wall shelves, plan what you’ll set on top of them. Shelves will have a depth, which is the distance they’ll extend from the wall. If you aren’t careful, you can easily choose one that’s too shallow for the items you want to set on them.
- Books are popular for wall shelves, just as they are for bookshelves. But there are plenty of other uses. If you’re setting them up in the kitchen, for instance, you can use them to store all your cookbooks. For the living room, items like framed photos and knickknacks usually top the list. In a bathroom, they can be either decorative or functional, displaying trinkets, bath soaps, lotions or anything else you can imagine.
- If you’re environmentally conscious, choose shelves sourced responsibly. Eco-friendly wood is certified to have been harvested in a way that ensures additional trees replace what was taken.
- Not all shelving is meant for every room. Moisture-prone areas like bathrooms will need shelving made from wood and hardware that is moisture and heat resistant.
- Before buying, look at what you’ll need to do to install the shelves. If hardware is necessary, make sure it will be included or have it on hand, along with any tools you’ll need.
- If your plans for the shelves are more decorative than functional, you can find plenty of inspiration online. Search for “wall shelf decoration” or “floating shelf decoration” for ideas.
- With floating shelves that use brackets or mounting hardware, look into the material of those items. You’ll want hardware that’s built to hold up over time.
About The Author
Stephanie Faris is a novelist and professional writer. She lives in a beautiful one-acre home in the suburbs on the outskirts of Nashville. Her home and garden work has appeared on popular home sites. She's a true homebody and loves looking at new houses for sale for inspiration on her own home remodeling projects.
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