40 INCH FLOATING SHELF FULL
40 INCH FLOATING SHELF PLUS

“The heaviest of all floating shelves but also the strongest by far, ¼-inch steel shelves can hold 90 pounds per foot,” says Anderson. The higher the quality, the steeper the price tag, but solid wood or steel ensures longevity.

Our Shopping Checklist Materialįloating shelves can be made from pretty much anything but are most popularly sold as solid wood, plywood, metal, and plastic.

40 INCH FLOATING SHELF FULL

We then rounded up shelves made from wood, powder-coated steel, composite wood, iron, and acrylic so you can spice up or take full advantage of any nook or blank space in your home. That’s why we reached out to Anderson to shed some light on what makes a floating shelf work (and what to look for in a quality one) and Casey for foolproof shelf styling tips. The best floating shelves are one of the most practical pieces of decor you can add to your home, but they also vary greatly in style, size, and color. Think of it as an ideal spot to put lightweight trinkets on display, house your paperback books (most floating shelves we came across in our research aren’t designed to do this), or place a trendy mini lamp. It’s actually an expandable piece keep it at its smallest, 11 inches, or extend it to the full 20.75 inches. But the fun visual detail isn’t the reason this one earned a spot on our list of the best floating wall shelves. If you’re interested in something beyond a simple slat of wood, this scalloped piece is just the ticket. Leave it to Urban Outfitters to offer an eclectic take on a wall shelf. Why we chose it: A two-for-one, wavy detail exclusive to Urban Outfitters. Best Metal: West Elm Floating Metal Shelves Another echoes, “Great shelves, nice and deep, allowing for potted plants.” Our only caveat, really, is that we’re not sure how long the 33% off discount will last (we also clocked this well-reviewed pair discounted on Amazon down to about $30), so jump on the deals while you can. I have bought three sets now,” writes one reviewer.

40 INCH FLOATING SHELF PLUS

Plus the invisible mounting bracket offers more support than screws alone. Made with engineered wood, they’re also water resistant and bathroom- and basement-appropriate. With a depth of 9 inches, they should hold even your large coffee-table books, and if you mount the pair together, you’re working with an extra-long 48-inch foundation. These all-white floating shelves offer a neutral display, allowing everything from baskets to diffusers to take center stage. Why we chose it: A set of shelves great for a corner of lightweight knickknacks, and for a steal, too.

Included drywall anchors are a bit flimsy.

Best expandable: Urban Outfitters Expandable Metal Wall Shelf Setīest Overall: Shelfology Aksel Floating Shelf.Best acrylic: CY Craft Clear Acrylic Floating Shelves.Best kids: Marie Kondo Wall Mounted Bookshelf.Best metal: West Elm Floating Metal Shelves.Best overall: Shelfology Aksel Floating Shelf.“Is it magic? Sure, some call it that we just call it engineering.” To take the guesswork out of which wall shelf is best for highlighting all your tchotchkes without diving too much into the technicalities, we rounded up seven of our favorite finds, from the neutral to the colorful, including Anderson’s tips for mounting correctly and Casey’s foolproof styling hack. “A ‘floating’ shelf is, of course, a shelf that projects off the wall without any kind of visible support, hence the silly moniker,” he says. “They keep floor space accessible and sight lines open, and because floating shelves lack outside supports, you can store and display your most used items while allowing natural light to flood through.”Īccording to Shelfology CEO (and chief shelf geek) Kevin Anderson, the best floating shelves are deceptively simple: There’s actually quite a lot of mechanical support that makes these tried-and-true display systems work. “I love floating shelves in kitchens, because everything you need is easily accessible,” says Anastasia Casey of the Identité Collective.

But for those items you’re particularly proud of-a ceramic coffee mug collection or a thriving philodendron in a chic pot-there may be nothing better than a floating shelf, especially where space is hard to come by. Sometimes it’s nice to close the doors on clutter with chests, cabinets, and buffets to house all your kitchenware, work papers, and half-used toiletries.

We do the tedious part-deep-dive research, hands-on testing, and tapping experts for advice-so all you have to do is hit “add to cart.” That’s why we call them Simply the Best. Reading up on Domino’s shopping guides is like having your own personal product concierge. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.

40 inch floating shelf