For most people, the days of shelves filled with stacks of CDs and DVDs are long gone. Digital entertainment is stored or streamed in realtime on the best smartphones, e-readers, tablets and other electronic devices. But these technological advances haven’t made shelves completely redundant. The best books, photos and knick knacks will always need a place to live. That’s why, if you’re in need of extra storage or display space, you should consider installing one of the best floating bookshelves.
The best floating bookshelves come in a variety of styles and sizes to suit every situation. This means there’s an option for every household and every room. Floating bookshelves create versatile spaces to store and show off your belongings. From photographs and arty sculptures to potted plants and other display-worthy items, you’ll be able to display your favorite things without having to sacrifice precious floorspace. Read on to find one for your home and discover why the best floating bookshelf may be the display space you never knew you were missing.
What to Consider Before Buying Floating Bookshelves
When it comes to finding the best floating bookshelves for your home, there are a number of questions worth asking yourself to ensure you find the right one for you. These handy hints help you narrow down exactly what shape, style and size of floating bookshelf you should choose.
Related Stories
- What will you be displaying on your floating bookshelf? Knowing whether you’ll be displaying heavy plants or light ornaments is a key factor in choosing the best floating bookshelf for you. Each shelf has a different weight capacity which is dependant on its design and bracket strength. Floating bookshelves are generally able to hold between 20 and 40 pounds of weight, which should be enough for the average person’s needs.
- What floating bookshelf style is best suited to your home? Once you’ve decided which room of the house your new shelf is going in, it should be easier to decide what style of floating shelf you want. Floating bookshelves come in a huge range of different colors and designs to suit all kinds of interior decor, although you’ll most often find them in popular wood colors, like brown, white and black. Remember, you can always paint them.
- How much wall space do you have available? One of the best features of floating bookshelves is they don’t require any floor space. However, they do require wall space, and therefore the amount you have available will determine which styles are suitable. Some individual shelves have small widths, making them ideal for limited spaces, whereas other units combine multiple shelves into one fixture and require a much larger area.
How We Chose the Best Floating Bookshelves
Given that the best floating bookshelves are so on-trend at the moment, there is a wide selection of well-rated shelves to choose from. Styles range from more traditional wooden bookshelves to fancier options, such as one which uses a mix of steel piping and solid wood or another which sports a unique, geometric design.
When we were compiling our selection of the best floating bookshelves, we made sure each floating bookshelf met certain criteria. From good value for your money and a wealth of customer reviews to an eye-catching look and high-quality construction, these floating bookshelves are all worthy of a place in your home. Your job is simply to decide which of them is best suited to your existing decor and personal preferences.
To help you make the right decision, we’ve put together a selection of the 25 best floating shelves available online. Each option is designed to give you display space for books, photos and other knick knacks that make you, you, and all without wasting floorspace, either.
1. Sriwatana Floating Shelves
These Sriwatana Floating Shelves are ideal for showcasing all types of belongings, from books to family photos. Each U-shaped shelf features high ends to hold things in place and prevent them from falling off. The pack includes three shelves of different sizes which are all constructed from quality paulownia wood. This particular set has a vintage black finish, but the shelves are also available in white, dark brown and weathered gray. If you don’t fancy yourself an interior designer and are looking for a reliable, go-to choice for your floating bookshelves, this is it.
2. Love-KANKEI Floating Shelves
By including three pieces in each pack of these Love-KANKEI Floating Shelves, you’ll have plenty of space for storing and displaying your things. We particularly love the beautiful brackets which hold these floating shelves in place. Instead of more familiar triangles or right angles, these brackets are slightly curved. Furthermore, the rustic-styled wood is available in five different colors, allowing you to choose the style best suited to your home decor.
3. Greenco Wall Mount Corner Shelves
With its five levels and unique shape, these Greenco Wall Mount Corner Shelves are a great option for users looking to store a lot of books, movies and more, while creating an eye-catching piece of decor at the same time. The shelves are available in a range of different colors, including walnut, white and natural, and allow you to customize the number of shelves you hang. This arrangement is a great option for anyone looking to give an individual stage to important items, such as wedding photos, a favorite book or a child’s trophy.
4. Storage Maniac Invisible Floating Bookshelves
If you like the sound of housing your books on a wall without any visible way to see how they are held up, these Storage Maniac Invisible Floating Bookshelves are for you. The ultra-thin, L-shaped shelves provide plenty of support for your books while remaining hidden from view. The shelves are also available in either black or white and are capable of accommodating up to 15 pounds. In addition, the simple, four-screw installation can be done quickly and without too much previous DIY experience.
5. Arshaun Floating Shelf
This Arshaun Floating Shelf is crafted from manufactured wood and comes in your choice of either white or espresso. It’s capable of holding up to 20 pounds of books, photos or plants and comes supplied with wall-mounting hardware for easier installation. In addition, this attractive shelf can be used as a standalone bookshelf or combined with others to create extra storage space or more visually appealing display.
6. Eachpai Corner Floating Shelves
Unlike most floating shelves on this list, these Eachpai Corner Floating Shelves are designed to be mounted in corners. Each set includes four L-shaped shelves which are made from quality paulownia wood and have a dark brown finish. Their classic style makes them a versatile addition which can be mounted in any room of the house. Plus, there’s four in every set, so you could split them across multiple rooms or spaces, too.
7. Wallniture Bali Floating U-Shaped Shelf
The Wallniture Bali Floating Wall Mount U-Shaped Shelf delivers function and style all without stealing the limelight from your books. The thin metal construction provides plenty of support for your books and other items while ensuring the shelf itself stays in the background. The enclosed style also keeps your belongings from any accidental falls. The minimalist style makes these shelves a great choice for any room of the house, whether you want to store books in the lounge, toys in your child’s bedroom or even food items in the kitchen.
8. Sooyee Acrylic Invisible Floating Bookshelves
These acrylic bookshelves from Sooyee are translucent and a simple design that will make your books or knick knacks pop. Put your child’s books on display or present your own favorite volumes on a shelf that won’t take attention away from them. This pack comes with six floating shelves that are easy to install and come ready to hang. These can be staggered or stretched along the wall for a visually appealing storage solution.
9. Threshold Wood Hanging Wire Wall Shelf
With its combination of solid wood and hanging wire, this Threshold Wood Wall Shelf is an ideal option for mixing in with farmhouse-style home decor. The wire supports provide handy bookends if you’re looking to display books in an upright orientation, while their thin structure doesn’t waste any unnecessary space. In addition to books, this shelf is great for displaying souvenirs, curios, framed photos and potted plants.
10. Welland Mission Floating Shelf
This Welland Mission Floating Shelf mounts on the wall using a discreet, invisible system, which provides a totally seamless finish. The hidden suspension brackets ensure only the shelf itself can be seen once it’s in place on your wall. Plus, this shelf is available in a great range of smaller-than-usual widths, which makes it possible for you to use it in spaces in which most floating shelves would be too wide.
11. Greenco Cube Wall Shelf
With a design made up of four overlapping squares, this Greenco Cube Wall Shelf provides a unique decor piece to hang on your walls. The overlapping design also provides a range of differently sized surfaces to display everything from books and photos to trinkets and house plants. The shelf is also made from durable MDF laminate and fits in with a range of home decor styles.
12. Sudoku Floating Shelves
These Sudoku Floating Shelves come as a set of two units, each of which can hold up to 30 pounds. They’re available in a range of neutral and dark colors to suit modern homes, and also feature a metal barrier around the edges to help keep your belongings in place. Furthermore, the shelves are designed to be mounted one above the other as the lower shelf includes a towel rail. Because of this handy feature, the set is ideal for bathrooms, bedrooms or kitchens.
13. The Container Store Wall-Mounted Double Bin
The Container Store Wall-Mounted Double Bin includes three sections made up of two fully surrounded bins and an open-top shelf. This combination provides a good mix of different display options, while the steel wire construction gives the shelf an attractive, industrial-style appeal. This double bin is also surprisingly versatile, capable of fitting in with a range of decor as well as multiple room types, including bathrooms, lounges, entryways and bedrooms.
14. Zipcode Design Wickes Floating Shelf Set
This Zipcode Design Wickes Floating Shelf Set is another popular option which provides plenty of display space. Each set includes three floating shelves of varying sizes, with the largest measuring 17 inches across. The set is also made from manufactured wood and comes in four different colors. Additionally, the versatile set is ideal for mounting in living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms, and comes backed by more than 6,000 five-star ratings.
15. Bayka Floating Wall Mount Shelves
With a range of possible orientations, the Bayka Floating Wall Mount Shelves puts you in control. The set includes three wooden shelves and six metal brackets, which provide plenty of freedom when it comes to installing and arranging your shelves. These rustic wooden shelves are also available in gray-white, natural wood and weathered gray. Plus, they are a great way to add a touch of class to most modern kitchen, bedroom or living room interiors.
16. Muzilife Floating Display Shelves
Sometimes you don’t want to or can’t put a bunch of nails in your walls. That’s why floating photo ledges are growing in popularity. These narrow shelves are designed with short lips to hold your photo frames in a line across the shelf. And while the Muzilife Floating Display Shelves were designed for that purpose, these shelves can also be used to show off other items, such as plants or photos. These really are incredibly multi-functional shelves.
17. Superjare Wall Mount Floating Shelves
These Superjare Wall Mount Floating Shelves are simple, traditional and most of all, effective. This two-shelf set provides plenty of space to store and display all kinds of items. They also come in a range of colors to ensure there’s an option to match your interiors. These traditional-style shelves can be installed in any room of the house and the thickened wood used in production provides a reliable and stable base for displaying all your favorite things.
18. Helsin Industrial Pipe Shelf
This Helsin Industrial Pipe Shelf combines metal piping and wooden shelving to give these home additions their industrial yet classy appearance. The piping attaches to the wall to provide a secure hold while the three shelves create a sturdy base for storing everything from towels to potted plants. You can also choose between a 24-inch wide and a 32-inch wide model, both of which can accommodate up to 100 pounds of weight.
19. Amada Homefurnishing Floating Shelves
The lower brackets on these Amada Homefurnishing Floating Shelves not only look great but also offer more stability and weight capacity than most standard fixtures. Their triangular shape and longer spokes provide additional support and allow these shelves to hold up to 40 pounds. The top shelves are available in white, black, gray or marble, allowing users to select the option which is best suited to any existing color scheme.
20. Wallniture Denver Wall Mount Floating Shelves
If you’re after a set of shelves to help keep kids interested in reading, the Wallniture Denver Wall Mount Floating Shelves could be the answer. These floating bookshelves feature an intentionally shallow design that allows you to display books in an upright orientation, making sure they’re always going to catch little eyes. This is a great option for kids who love to pick out a book before bedtime. They’re available in black, gray or white, so you can choose the style that best suits your child’s bedroom decor.
21. Birch Lane Solid Wood Floating Shelf
With more than 9,000 five-star ratings from Wayfair customers, you can be confident these Birch Lane Solid Wood Floating Shelves are going to be popular with you, too. The solid wood shelf comes in your choice of four different finishes, including white, gray and walnut. The set is made up of two shelves which are installed using a hidden bracket system to maximize the amount of shelf space for books, photos and other display-worthy items.
22. Rustic State Brooks Wall Mount Hexagon Box Shelf
For those users looking for a balance of shelf-storing space and eye-catching appeal, let us introduce the Rustic State Brooks Wall Mount Hexagon Box Shelf. As you’d expect, each of the three shelves included in the set has a hexagonal appearance that provides plenty of internal storage space, with additional space on the top. The shelves can be mounted away from each other for a more individual look or close together for an attractive, hive-like arrangement.
23. Nathan James Theo Modern Bookcase
Alright, so this Nathan James Theo Five-Shelf Modern Bookcase isn’t really a floating bookshelf, but we’ve included it anyway because of its unique design. The bookshelf boasts two rails on the sides of five shelves that appear to be floating on their own power. The combination of the gold rails and the white shelves makes this a bookshelf that would look amazing in any clean, modern home or one that is going for a retro feel.
24. Anthracite Floating Bookshelf
Thanks to its freestanding design, 10 shelves and all-steel construction, this Anthracite Floating Bookshelf gives you plenty of reliable space for displaying books of all different shapes and sizes. When filled with books, the weighted base helps the bookshelf remain stable while the ultra-thin cut shelves disappear into the background to let your books take center stage. Additionally, you get to choose between white and black to ensure your bookshelf fits in with your existing aesthetic.
25. Homeforia Rustic Farmhouse Floating Shelves
Made from the finest natural pine wood, these wide Homeforia Rustic Farmhouse Floating Shelves are best for farmhouse chic homes or those who use antique wood in their decor. Each set of two shelves is available in four different finishes and a variety of lengths, which you can specify when ordering. Furthermore, the bracket is hidden from view and can be hung on a variety of materials, from brick to drywall. These classy shelves can display almost anything and mounted in any room. Plus, their versatile design even allows them to be used as a mantlepiece or as a makeshift dining table in smaller spaces.