What are in wall shelves called?

In wall shelves, also known as built-in shelves or recessed shelves, are a great way to maximize storage space and give a room a polished, custom look. As the name suggests, these shelves are set back into the wall itself, creating a seamless, integrated storage solution. But what exactly are the different types of in wall shelves called? Here’s an overview of the common names and terms used for these built-in shelving systems.

Floating Shelves

Floating shelves are wall-mounted shelves that seem to “float” on the wall without visible brackets or ledges. This creates a light, airy, minimalist look. Floating shelves come in a wide variety of materials, sizes, and finishes. Some popular options include:

Wood floating shelves – Typically made from wood boards in finishes like natural, white washed, or stained wood.

Metal floating shelves – Made from steel, aluminum, or other metals with powder coated or plated finishes.
Glass floating shelves – Glass shelves usually have metal or wooden support brackets underneath.

Floating shelves are a great choice for displaying decor, plants, books, and more. They offer a streamlined, modern look perfect for contemporary rooms.

Open Shelving

Open shelving refers to in wall shelving units that are open at the front, with no doors or face frames. This allows for full visibility of contents. Open shelving can be designed with:

Exposed shelves – Shelves are visible and items are openly displayed.
Box shelves – Shelves are constructed in box formations with short sides to help corral contents.

Ledge shelves – Shelves are narrow ledges jutting out from the wall.

Open shelving creates an airy, spacious feel and is ideal for showcasing items in a room. It’s a common choice in kitchens, pantries, living rooms, and offices.

Closed Shelving

Closed shelving refers to shelving units with doors or drawers concealing the contents. This type of shelving allows for hiding clutter while still offering storage space. Popular styles include:

Cabinets – Full cabinet units with doors/drawers built seamlessly into the wall.
Cubby shelves – Open cubby holes with wood partitions between each space.
Bookcases – Full bookshelves with doors to conceal contents.

Closed shelving is ideal when you want to tuck away clutter and create a streamlined, uncluttered look. The doors help hide any mess!

Wall Niches

Wall niches are small, recessed spaces carved out of a wall. These small voids display, stage, or store items in an alcove. Wall niches come in many shapes including:

Square cubby niches

Curved arch niches
Rectangular niche shelves
Decorative ogee niches

Wall niches are great for highlighting decor, plants, artwork, or displaying framed photos and collectibles. They add visual interest and use empty wall space creatively.

Picture Ledges

Picture ledges are narrow, horizontal shelves protruding from the wall. As the name implies, they are designed to display framed photos, art, and other wall décor. Picture ledges come in varied materials and lengths. The most popular are:

Wood picture ledges – Often made of stained wood or painted white.

Molding picture ledges – Made from architectural trim molding.
Metal picture ledges – Wrought iron or steel.

Picture ledges add both form and function, allowing you to neatly display wall art while adding architectural interest.

Corner Shelves

Corner shelves are built-in shelving units tucked into a room’s corner space. This allows full use of awkward angled corners. Popular corner shelf designs include:

Angled corner shelves – Shelves aligned on an angle in the corner.
Curved corner shelves – Concave shelves shaped to fit snugly in the corner.

Tiered corner shelves – Stacked shelves ascending in the corner.

Corner shelves maximize your storage potential by making use of wasted corner space. They are especially handy in kitchens, bathrooms, and home offices.

Under Cabinet Shelves

Under cabinet shelves are narrow, horizontal shelves installed under wall-mounted kitchen or bathroom cabinets. They come in two main types:

Fixed under cabinet shelves – Permanently installed.
Adjustable under cabinet shelves – Can be moved up/down or removed.

Under cabinet shelves increase your storage capacity by using the empty space below cabinets. They provide a place to store and display kitchen/bathroom necessities at arm’s reach.

Wall Bookshelves

Wall bookshelves are, as their name indicates, built-in shelving units designed specifically for books. They can be open or enclosed with doors. Common types include:

Floating wall bookcases – Shelves that appear to “float” on the wall.
Floor to ceiling bookcases – Tall bookcases reaching floor to ceiling.

Ladder bookcases – Shelves accessible by a ladder on sliding tracks.

Wall bookshelves create custom spaces to organize book collections and display cherished volumes. They are often focal points in home libraries and studies.

Display Shelves

Display shelves are open shelving units meant to show off prized objects or collections. Some popular styles include:

Glass display shelves – Glass shelves allow visibility.
Lit display shelves – Illuminated with LED lighting.
Curio cabinets – Cabinets with glass doors ideal for collectibles.

Display shelves provide an optimal way to beautifully exhibit meaningful or valuable collections from every angle.

Choosing the Right Built-In Shelving

When selecting built-in shelving, consider your functional needs and design style. Ask yourself:

What do I need to store? Books, display items, general household goods?

Do I prefer open or closed storage?
What’s my interior design style? Modern, traditional, industrial?
What’s my budget?

Also measure the intended shelving area and note any electrical outlets, windows, and doors that could impact placement. Shelving can be installed on virtually any wall space, so get creative with underused areas like corners, awkward nooks, and under windows.

For a fully custom look, have cabinetry designed and built to exactly suit your shelving needs, with details like moldings, trim, and coordinating stains and paint colors. Work with experienced carpentry professionals on proper installation.

Benefits of Built-In Shelving

Integrating shelving directly into your wall design offers many advantages:

Personalization – Built-ins can be fully customized to your space.
Stylish design – Achieve a polished, high-end designer look.
Space savings – Shelves maximize vertical storage area.

Utility – Enjoy shelving exactly where you need it.
Value – Built-ins add monetary value to a home.

With infinite options for materials, configurations and style, in wall shelving offers the perfect storage solutions. Integrating shelving directly into the architecture creates a seamless, sophisticated look in any room.

Material Options

Built-in shelving can be crafted from a vast array of materials. Consider the pros and cons of each:

Material	Benefits	Drawbacks
Wood	Warm, natural beauty Variety of wood types and stains Easy to cut, shape and install	Vulnerable to scratches, water damage Can warp or discolor over time
Metal	Sleek, modern look Sturdy and durable Easy to clean	Prone to scratches Can be cold to the touch Metal marking/fingerprints
Glass	Sleek transparency Illuminates spaces	Fragile Shows smudges/fingerprints

Consider the look you want to achieve, and how much use or abuse the shelves will endure. Durable materials like wood, metal and stone are ideal for heavy use. Glass provides a lighter, airier aesthetic perfect for display. Mixing materials can maximize form and function.

Installation Tips

Proper installation is crucial to building shelving that is level, secure, and structurally sound. Follow this professional advice:

Use brackets, cleats and anchor hardware designed for the shelf’s weight load. This provides full structural support.
Secure shelving firmly into wall studs, or use hollow wall anchors if attaching to drywall without studs.
Ensure shelving is level using a spirit level tool. Shim as needed during installation to avoid tilting.

Fill any gaps between shelving and walls with filler or caulk for a seamless built-in look.
Consider hiring a carpenter or handyman for installation, especially for large or complex built-in projects.

Rushed or incorrect installations can lead to wobbly shelves, uneven surfaces, and collapse hazards. Take time to properly mount shelving securely into the wall framing.

Accessorizing Built-In Shelving

The right accessories can make built-in shelving even more functional and stylish. Try these shelving add-ons:

Cabinet doors – Conceal clutter while maintaining storage space.
Drawers – Perfect for tucking away small items.

Baskets – Woven baskets provide rustic flair.
Lighting – Accent shelving and contents with LED strip lighting.
Glass doors – Provide dust-free display space for collectibles.

Backing – Use corkboard, chalkboard, or pegboard to enhance shelf walls.

When selecting accessories, consider your shelf contents and overall home décor style. Built-in cabinetry offers a blank slate for truly custom storage.

Inspiring Built-In Shelf Ideas

Built-in shelving offers stylish form and function. Here are some gorgeous ways to incorporate shelving into your home décor:

Kitchen Pantry

Maximize kitchen storage with a floor to ceiling custom pantry complete with open and closed storage. Mix shelves, cabinets, drawers, and cubbies to organize cooking supplies.

Home Library

Bookworms will adore built-in bookshelves surrounding a reading nook or comfy chair. Include lighting and ladder access for a true personal library feel.

Media Unit

Entertain in style by recessing your TV between customized cabinetry with media storage. Built-ins streamline clutter beautifully.

Display Case

Show off your fine china, glassware or treasured collections in a stately, sunlit built-in display case featuring glass doors and interior lighting.

Bathroom Niches

Carve out specialized storage spots in the bathroom with wall niches and cubbies for folded towels, toiletries and decor.

Office Built-Ins

Enhance productivity by customizing a home office with drawer storage, shelving, cabinet filing and other built-ins tailored to your work style.

Recessed Window Seating

Frame out a cozy window seat complete with storage drawers and bookcases built right into the seat framing and surrounding walls.

Corner Shelving

Take advantage of wasted space by installing angled, curved or multi-level shelving into room corners. Great for displaying art and décor.

With a little creativity, you can incorporate customized built-in shelving into nearly any room for added function and beauty. The possibilities are virtually endless!

Conclusion

Built-in shelving comes in endless styles and configurations to meet your home’s unique needs. With floating shelves, open bookcases, closed storage cabinets, and more, you can create custom shelving perfect for your space and décor. Consider your organizational needs, design aesthetics, and budget when selecting materials and accessories for your new shelving. Proper installation is also key to creating shelving that will stand the test of time. In the end, built-in shelving adds beauty, function and value to any home.