DIY Guide for 10 Simple Shelf Units
Shelving lends style, function and panache to any room of the house. From the smallest, most ornate decorative shelves meant to hold one vase or ornament to full wall bookshelves, you can design shelving to fit any decor easily. Shelving is a DIY-ers dream. It's easy, quick and even fun to create. Here are 10 shelf units in various home decor themes to make quickly, easily and inexpensively.First, a word about the installed shelving units that are screwed into the walls: forget them. They labor intensive, difficult to get straight and they damage your walls. Most of us rearrange our spaces periodically, so you want shelving the grows and adapts to your life. Essentially, portable shelves are the answer.
Retro 1970's shelves: My mother made a wonderfully artsy set of shelves for our living room with red bricks and wood planks back in the early 1970s. You will need 6 red clay bricks and one plank per shelf. Treat the wood in a oil stain of your choice. If you want to make really green shelves, stain with cold coffee and apply a coat of olive oil to seal. Stack three bricks on each side and lay the plank across the bricks. It's that simple. These shelves will hold books, lamps, even baskets with items in them. These shelves make great bedroom of bathroom shelves. Place woven baskets on the shelves to hold and organize clothing, toiletries, accessories, towels, etc. Purchase bricks and lumber from any home improvement outlet.
Vintage shelves: Choose two book ends or flat topped statuettes; Victorians loved carved elephant, giraffe or other safari animal statues. Place a wooden, wicker or metal tray atop the the bookends or statues. Use one statue and place a round metal, mosaic or wood tray atop. Use for accessories and books. TJMaxx, Barnes and Noble, Target, Kirkland's and Pier One Imports have attractive, unusual and affordable bookends. Gardening centers and flea markets are a great source also. Yard statues often have flat tops or upheld hands to hold a table top or tray.
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