Glass shelves on the wall: difficulties of choice (35 photos)

Glass shelves on the wall can be attached to almost any room in an apartment or house. They would also be appropriate in the kitchen to arrange spices or put on the TV.

They will come in handy in the bathroom - you need somewhere to place cosmetics and washing supplies. You can put gloves and hats on them in the hallway, and books in the living room or bedroom.

The main difficulty is to make glass shelves on the wall in the interior look good and not ruin the overall decoration.

Advantages of glass shelves

Glass shelves have a number of advantages over others:

• Beauty. Glass is perhaps one of the most unusual and interesting interior materials in general. It looks simply chic and never goes out of style.
• Relevance. Glass fits perfectly into both modern and classic styles - the only question is what materials to combine it with.
• Reliability. If you don't hit the glass with a hammer, it will hang on the wall for many years.
• Easy to clean. The glass can simply be wiped with a dry cloth from time to time.

You should not buy fragile sheet glass - it will quickly become unusable and can also break into many sharp fragments. It would be much smarter to make a shelf from plexiglass, tempered glass or, if the budget does not allow, from acrylic.

It is also worth remembering that in those rare cases when general cleaning is required, you need to use special products to clean the shelves that do not leave streaks.

Advantages of glass shelves

A huge plus is the ease of maintenance. They are not afraid of water, so you can easily wipe them with a damp cloth.

Glass shelves are very popular due to a number of advantages.

Glass visually enlarges the space, and the wide possibilities for creating and designing unique designs allows you to bring to life the most daring design solutions.

Shelves made of glass are highly resistant to moisture and aggressive detergents and do not require complex maintenance. Using soft sponges and liquid detergents, you can easily and quickly remove dust and other dirt from the shelf;

Thanks to the peculiarities of the production technology, glass shelves have high strength indicators, so you don’t have to worry that under the weight of objects placed on them, they may crack or break;

It is noteworthy that with the help of painting, you can periodically transform the appearance of the glass shelf and change it at any time, since the paint can be easily washed off and a new one applied. Due to the specific structure of the glass, the shelves can be painted multiple times without any problems;

Glass shelves are suitable for use in interiors of a wide variety of styles. They look fashionable, stylish, fresh and not hackneyed.

In addition, glass structures fill the room with a special atmosphere of light and weightlessness.

Varieties and main characteristics

There are different options for shelves - first of all, they come in different thicknesses:

• thin, up to five millimeters, suitable exclusively for light souvenirs;
• medium, up to a centimeter, suitable for dishes and things of medium weight;
• thick, more than a centimeter, suitable for large bulky objects such as a TV or stereo system.

There are also different types of fastening:

• hanging ones are attached to the wall with chains or cables, which looks good in classic interiors, but is reliable only for thin shelves;
• fixed ones are mounted on brackets, the design of which can be quite fancy and perfectly complement the rest of the interior.

The holders can be forged or made of wood, with carvings or intricate curls, they can depict something or be a simple triangular shape.

The shelves themselves can also be of different shapes.

How to make an original glass shelf with your own hands

It is technically easy to make glass shelves for any room. There can be two ways:

• order all the necessary elements: glass (cut to size and processed), shelf holders,
• consumable fasteners - then assemble the structure;
• Do everything yourself, purchasing only accessories.

Let's focus on the second option. Required tools:

• glass cutter;
• belt sander (grain 120 units);
• impact drill (for attaching the shelf to the wall).

To make a shelf with your own hands, you can use ready-made glass of the desired size.

You can choose a design idea on the Internet in the photo: shelves for flowers, dishes, books, family heirlooms are presented in various options.

First of all, you need to mark the cut line on a sheet of glass with a marker, put a ruler (it will also act as a stop), and use a glass cutter to draw a smooth line with a confident movement. Then move the workpiece to the edge of the surface and, by pressing, break the glass along the cut line.

Important! This action should only be performed on a flat surface.

Then, using a grinder, you need to clean the ends of the future shelf. It is advisable to bring them to a round shape (except for the side inserted into the holder). During grinding, the glass must be moistened with water to prevent dust from flying around. Next, you should fix the holders, separate the parts for attaching to the wall and directly for the shelf. The wall part must be attached using dowels, which are included in the kit. Then the shelf needs to be inserted and clamped.

Fittings and fasteners for glass shelves must be durable and of high quality

The limitation of making a glass shelf at home is that tempered glass cannot be used as a material. It can only be cut in a specially equipped workshop.

Cutting glass and mirrors: important subtleties of technology

Making a glass shelf yourself significantly reduces its cost. And yet, many people prefer to entrust cutting and processing of glass or mirrors to a specialist. The production of glass shelves to order, that is, direct cutting, can be done in the following ways:

1. Manual. It is distinguished by its affordable price, roughness of the end surface, and limited types of cut lines.
2. Automatic cutting. A more expensive method is performed on a computer-controlled machine. It is distinguished by a smooth cutting surface and the manufacture of products of any configuration.
3. Laser cutting. Smooth cut, no gaps when joining, cutting of glass of almost any type is possible.

You can use a special knife to cut glass.

If there is a need to drill a hole in the glass (this is most often required by shelves that are mounted on brackets), it is safer to contact a specialist. In this process, the progressiveness of pressing on the drill is important. With a slight sharp movement, you can split the shelf - and then you will have to start all over again. When processing the ends of a glass shelf yourself, you need to monitor the shape of the roundness along the entire length: it should be the same. Irregularities, especially on thick glass, will appear visually and negatively affect the decorative effect of the shelf.

Rectangular glass shelves

Simplicity of shape, sharp or slightly rounded corners - rectangular shelves can be considered classic. They have no specific advantages other than this aesthetic nobility, but they do have a unique disadvantage - you can stumble into a sharp corner and get seriously injured.

If you have a child or animals in your home, take this into account in your design decisions and choose rounded corners. They will not spoil the overall appearance.

Corner designs

In small rooms, corner shelves will look much better. They are built into the corner, completely occupying it, and as a result seem light, almost weightless.

They take up almost no space, but they provide no less space than rectangular ones.

They are usually installed in bathrooms and tiny kitchenettes typical of Khrushchev-era buildings.

Custom shaped glass shelves

Since glass is usually cast, there is a huge scope for non-standard shapes - you just need to make the appropriate design for casting.

It could be waves, a shell, a flower, a triangle, a cone, a blurry blot with curved outlines, a heart - in fact, anything.

The big minus is the price. The more original the shelf, the more expensive its production will be.

But, if your budget allows, you can order a shelf to your taste, according to your sketch. And get a real work of art that would look good at an exhibition.

Drawing

A shelf with a pattern - if you add lighting, it looks even more impressive

You can apply a drawing to a shelf in different ways:

• Stained glass. Perhaps the most obvious idea. Stained glass is made simply - pieces of colored glass are inserted into the frame and folded into a pattern. But pieces can fall out, and this is a big minus.
• Fusion This method is devoid of such fragility - the pieces of glass are not inserted into the frame, but are placed on a large piece of glass and baked in an oven. As a result, the color will remain bright, and the glass itself will become even stronger than before.
• Paints. Drawing with paints is also a pretty obvious idea. You can even decorate a shelf in this way with your own hands, if you are not afraid to use a brush and ruin the craft.
• Photo printing. If stained glass seems fragile to you, you don’t like fusion aesthetically, and you don’t know how to draw, you can simply print a photo you like on the shelf. The result will look great and cost very little.
• Engraving. If the drawing looked very stylish, you can engrave it on glass - it will have a beautiful shade, it will look original. The only negative is that the glass will become more fragile. The drawing itself can be made in any way. Flowers, patterns, waves, birds, butterflies, plant motifs, favorite characters for a children's room - everything that comes to mind.

The main thing is that shelves with a pattern are not suitable for bulky items. They cannot act as shelves for crystal or TV. You need to put something light on them, otherwise no pattern will be visible.

Glass shelves on the wall: how to ensure safety

Glass shelves occupy a special place in the interior. However, it would be wrong to say that they are absolutely safe. Glass, even the strongest, is more fragile than other materials used to make furniture (an exception may be plastic, but it is less dangerous). A few simple but important tips will help you make your glass shelves as safe as possible:

The glass shelf must be of sufficient thickness and properly secured

1. When choosing a shelf, special attention should be paid to the type and thickness of the glass, so that a metal goblet or ceramic jug that slips out of your hands does not violate the integrity of the surface.
2. Make sure the fastening is secure. With moderate pressure or a blow from below, the shelf should not tear out of the profile or shelf holders.
3. Place it in a convenient place. When actively used, the shelf must be accessible; ladders and stools are strictly unacceptable.
4. When hanging, be sure to ensure the correct level. Even a slight tilt can cause objects to fall from a smooth surface.
5. You should not use shelves that have defects in the form of cracks and chips, even if they are barely noticeable. Problems can be aggravated by certain mechanical influences and will lead to negative consequences.
6. When designing illuminated shelves, the priority should be the requirements for organizing electrical safety.

Beautiful glass shelves, made by yourself, made to order or purchased in stores, will bring aesthetic pleasure, decorate the interior and make it convenient to use the items stored on them. However, only if the shelves are correctly selected and hung.

Ekaterina Popkova 2018-12-22T11:58:08+03:00

Matting

Colored matte shelves - you can choose the color to suit your taste

A glass shelf does not have to be transparent at all - it can also be matte. Most often this effect is achieved using sandblasting. A jet of sand is passed over the glass under pressure, and it becomes dull and dark.

You can also use etching - instead of sand, acid, the effect is similar, only there are bright streaks along the surface, reminiscent of lightning.

Frosted glass can be colored in different ways and be:

• colorless - this type is not very interesting, but it fits in everywhere;
• colored - and then the color can be anything, from white to black.

The main thing to remember is that no matter how high-quality the glass is, frosting will in any case make it more fragile.

Toning

Tinting that perfectly matches the souvenirs on the shelf

If you want the shelves in your room to be dark, but not frosted, you can use tinted glass. It is stronger than other varieties, and looks no worse.

Glass shelves with wood

Wood is a frequent companion of glass. We can say that this is a classic. Glass shelves in a wooden bookcase, next to a wooden door, on a wooden shelf, on wooden brackets, in a wooden niche, on a wooden shelf - all this looks familiar and good.

Fits well into classic interiors. Serves for many years. Rarely breaks.

The main thing is to ensure that the wood matches the glass in shade if you decide to make it different from the standard transparent option. And do not use chipboard - it breaks down too quickly.

Light and interesting facade: shelves with glass doors

A special type of furniture is closed glass shelves on the wall. This furniture, in addition to the main ones, performs several more functions:

• protects objects located on it from dust penetration;
• creates a barrier to the influence of moisture on the contents of the shelf;
• is a more compact (compared to open shelves) storage space.

Such models are often used in the kitchen and bathroom, where the humidity level is quite high and there is a risk of burning particles settling on the shelves and their contents. Shelves with glass doors on the wall can be purchased not only for rooms with special conditions. Many people prefer to keep books, souvenirs (especially if they have a hard surface), and photographs closed. The doors are made of thin glass 4-6 mm, often transparent, so that the contents can be seen. Sometimes frosted, colored glass, with a pattern is used - depending on the requirements of the interior style.

Shelves with glass doors are the best option for kitchens and bathrooms

A rather important element of shelves with glass doors is fittings. It occupies an open position, therefore, it must be beautiful and have reliable functionality. The industry offers several hinge options. Almost all of them have a chrome surface, various shapes and sizes. Visible plastic inserts somewhat reduce the cost of the appearance of individual fastening structures. For wide shelves, it is better to prefer a sliding opening system. This makes using the doors comfortable and safe.

Illuminated structures

Every designer will agree that the right lighting is the best complement to any glass decorative element. Light makes glass sparkle and turns it into a real jewel. And most importantly, you don’t need any complicated equipment. Simply run the LED strip along the edge of the shelf.

It can be white, green, blue - in fact, any color. If this color matches the interior, the result will be beautiful in any case.

Glass shelves with mirror

The mirror combines with glass shelves no worse than the lighting. It is usually wall-mounted, hung directly above the shelf, and the design, although not original, does have a touch of traditional chic.

On the shelf under the mirror you can place cosmetics, washing supplies, and a comb. You can look in the mirror.

The best solution for the entire structure is to place it somewhere in the bathroom or hallway so that you can clean yourself up in the morning.

It is interesting, by the way, that the glass shelves themselves can be mirrored.

Rooms where glass shelves are appropriate

The final touch is placement. Whatever shelf you end up with - wood or metal, patterned or matte, colored or transparent, thin or thick - it needs to find a place.

Varieties

Before you figure out what accessories are used to make the shelves beautiful, and what materials are used on them and make them resistant to the external environment, it’s worth understanding what kind of shelves there are in general.

Frame

Such shelves, as can be concluded from the name, are attached not directly to the wall itself, but to a frame that is hung on it. If it is closed, it actually turns out to be a cabinet with glass shelves, but if it is open, then it is an ordinary wall structure.

Frame option for choice

The following frame materials can be used:

• Glass . If the interior requires lightness, airiness, transparency, but you still want to make shelves on a frame, then this option is best suited. All the advantages of the frame and shelves coincide, the overall impression is harmonious and pleasant. Moreover, if you are willing to spend money, you can order a frame of a different color or differently processed. The combination of transparent shelves and stained glass frame looks most interesting.
• Tree . For all its transparency, glass looks like a somewhat cold material. Wood will help balance this impression and make the overall impression more comfortable and warm. However, it is not so reliable - it is afraid of moisture, does not tolerate temperature changes, and can be destroyed by fungus or parasites. It is more difficult to wash and cannot be treated with aggressive chemicals. The combination is suitable for the living room, but not for the bathroom or kitchen.
• Metal . The coldness of glass combined with the coldness of metal is ideal for high-tech. You can place shelves in the bathroom, kitchen, anywhere, since metal is also not afraid of moisture, temperature changes, or fungi. Perhaps for a child’s room such a combination would be too strict.
• Plastic . In contrast to metal, it is good for a nursery - it dilutes the severity of glass and adds bright colors. It is better not to place it in the kitchen, as it is afraid of temperature changes and may melt. In the bathroom it’s possible, since plastic is completely insensitive to humidity. In the living room or bedroom it will look good only in specific interiors, since it always seems cheap.
• Chipboard and other materials of this type. They are afraid of literally everything - from treatment with aggressive chemicals to high humidity. It can rot or dry out, and if done poorly, it can release toxic fumes. But if you choose the lot well, it can look just as good as real wood at a much lower cost.

Wood - as a basis for arranging shelves

The frame can have any shape - from geometric to more interesting like a branched tree or a pirate ship.

Advice If you want to get a truly original design, order it according to your drawings. If you cannot sketch your imagination, pay a designer.

Wall mounted

The frame is hung on the wall, the shelves are attached to it - this is understandable. But there are also purely wall-mounted shelves, which are fixed directly to the wall using special fasteners, between which the glass is fixed.

Wall shelves in the interior

They are different:

• Regular . Straight, fixed with fasteners, usually have a geometric shape - either a rectangle, or a triangle, or with rounded corners. They are not original, they are the most common.
• Mounted . Bolts are attached to the wall, and a shelf is hung from them using a chain, cord or even fishing line. They are not suitable for large sizes and heavy weights, since the fastening will be very strong and therefore thick - so thick that it will look unaesthetic.
• Cast . They are also fixed with fastenings, but differ in shape. These are shelves with raised edges, in the form of a cube or hemisphere, spiral or zigzag - in the form of any relatively complex shape. They come in the form of ladders.

Shelves can also be built into a niche

Separately, corner ones are distinguished - they have the shape of a triangle and are built into the corner of the room. Typically used where space needs to be saved, such as in a small bathroom or small living room.

Advice: Cast ones are more expensive, regular ones are cheaper. Mounted ones are not common; you will have to either install them yourself or spend time finding a good craftsman.

Corner shelves for nice little things

Bathroom

The very first and most obvious thought is the bathroom. Any residential building requires that residents get up and wash in the morning, come home from work and wash their hands, and take a shower in the evening. And for this to become possible, there must be a space where you can put a glass of toothbrushes, soap and shampoos.

Shelves in the bathroom are usually either:

• corner, on a special plastic pipe so as not to take up much space - often this is the corner where the bathtub is installed;
• narrow rectangular, held on mounts under the mirror.

And if space allows, then you can hang shelves here and there.

Kinds

Since glass furniture is not only functional and practical, but also quite aesthetic in appearance, in stores you can find a variety of models of glass shelves that will suit any interior.

Shelves can be not only a standard rectangular shape, but glass corner shelves in the shape of a triangle, classic options, original figured shelves and modular shelf models are perfect for a small room.

In addition, there are various options for decorating the material, for example, glass can be tinted, matte, with a pattern, with faceted edge processing, in the form of a stained glass composition and with LED backlighting.

Kitchen

In a small kitchen, glass shelves create a feeling of spaciousness, especially if the walls are painted a light color.

Kitchen glass shelves usually:

• support the TV - such a shelf in the corner, above the level of the furniture;
• support all kinds of tools and ingredients - and then serve as a replacement for wall cabinets.

It is important to remember that open shelves should not be hung right up to the ceiling, and it is also better to keep them away from the work area. Otherwise, your regular routine will include constantly cleaning them from grease and stains.

Living room

Glass shelves in the living room are a great place to display souvenirs.

In the hall, hanging glass shelves are needed not so much for practical purposes, but to complement the interior and show that the owners have taste.

You can put decorative plates, photographs, souvenirs, icons, books or even a TV on them - as long as they generally look good.

Glass shelf in apartment rooms - how to use it?

A wide variety of types and decors of glass shelves allows them to be used for various purposes, allows you to store many things on them, and just as we found out in the article, they can be used in completely different rooms.

Glass shelves for TV

The interior, made in high-tech style, is well emphasized by a glass shelf for a TV. Plus the presence of a modern flat LCD TV will complete the composition. In general, they and bedside tables for audio-video equipment always look advantageous and, of course, modern. Moreover, thanks to the use of different glass, they look different.

Glass shelves for flowers

The presence of fresh flowers in the interior of a house or apartment has always been welcomed; they are placed in different places, this could be a special stand, a window sill, or glass shelves. They can have completely different shapes. Here, as they say, if you like it, take it, because there is no such separate type - there are no glass shelves for flowers, flowers can be placed on any of them, the main thing is to securely fasten the shelf itself.

Glass shelves will fit perfectly into the interior of any apartment; moreover, they are a great way to bring newness to the space of the room. And of course, such shelves fulfill their main role fully; most accessories and interior attributes can be placed on them.