When it comes to finding more room for your things, look to your
walls. With inexpensive shelves, unused space becomes instant
storage. This clutter-clearing trick works throughout the home — in
the office, bedroom, living room, laundry room, bathroom, and
kitchen. Best of all, it's easy. You don't have to hire a carpenter
to mount these shelves, and in most cases you won't even need to
fire up the dreaded drill.
Here are three versatile shelves, with room-by-room suggestions for
putting them to work.
Lightweight
Ikea's simple, floating Lack shelf is easy to install: It slides
onto a back plate, which you mount on the wall first.
Home Office: Shelve CDs and a few magazine files to clear
desk clutter. A clock displayed here won't get lost under a pile of
bills. But as this shelf holds a maximum of 11 pounds, don't think
of lining up your Funk & Wagnalls here.
Kitchen: To cook without interruption, keep a few essentials
within reach — the pepper mill, a salt crock, a couple of favorite
cookbooks. Leave out bowls and other small dishes used regularly.
To Buy: Ikea Lack wall shelf, 43 1/4 by 10 1/4 inches, $13,
www.ikea-usa.com. Also available in birch, beech, or oak veneer.
($15).
Reversible
The keyholes on the back let you hang the C-shape Flying Nun shelf
in two directions for different looks.
Bedroom: For a space-saving alternative to a nightstand,
flip this shelf so the sides are facing down and mount it next to
your bed, aligned with the top of the mattress.
Bathroom: Keep rolls of toilet paper out so you (or, worse,
your guests) don't need to rummage under the vanity. Pyrex jars can
be too deep for the medicine chest; shelve them instead. Park your
watch here while you're in the shower.
To Buy: Flying Nun wooden shelf by LyndonDesign, 24 by 6 inches,
$31, Woodform Inc., 800-728-5698. Also available in seven other
finishes.
Heavyweight
The Container Store's Solid shelf is easier to mount than it looks,
because its cables adjust to accommodate the shelf's depth.
Living Room: The perfect home for your stereo — mount it at
ear level for the best sound quality. Or, if you don't have a
liquor cabinet, set up a home bar here.
Laundry Room: A
sturdy shelf above the washer is a good spot for those heavy
containers of detergent, bleach, and white vinegar. Or keep the
laundry basket out of the way while you're waiting for the next
load.
To Buy: Solid shelf, 24 by 16 inches, $14; also available in beech
or walnut veneer. Cable shelf brackets, $5 each. All at the Container Store,
www.containerstore.com.
