Shelving and storage – they’re not the most glamorous part of interior design, are they? But get them right and they can transform your living space into a stylish and clutter-free idyll, and in this guide we’ll teach you how.
Whether it’s a row of brightly coloured jam jars or a selection of ornate trinkets, some things are worth showing off. Others – like stationery, tins and your growing odd sock collection – are best kept behind closed doors.
Take some inspiration from our hints and tips below.
Leaning shelves
Ladder-like shelving is great for breezy living rooms, home offices and even bedrooms.
You can arrange house plants, books and ornaments on each step, with each differently sized step providing a home for tiny collectables and bigger souvenirs.
Floating shelves
From one optical illusion to another, floating shelves are even sleeker and they don’t take up floor space. This type of shelf is the younger, more fashionable sibling of the traditional wall shelf.
A bracketless design means floating shelves are a popular choice in kitchens, where they pair beautifully with butcher-block worktops – a contrast between modern and traditional, simple and rustic. It’s also possible to layer them up in small alcoves, like within the indented walls around fireplaces, or in awkward nooks around your home.
Built-in bookshelves
Built-in, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves are timelessly elegant. They can fit in crevices, around door frames and can even be used to create unique feature walls, especially in bright living rooms with high ceilings. Modernise the look in brilliant white then pair with a library ladder.
If you love to read the classics and want to show off your collection, this is the only type of shelving for you.
Built-in shelving units can even be designed to combine the best of shelving and storage. Simply add elegant doors to the lower half and let the higher shelves speak for themselves.
Sideboard
The sideboard is the classic choice for living room storage. They’re beautiful statement pieces, either acting as honorary mantelpieces or simply to add some character – and storage.
Keep your TV, fruit bowl or flowers on top – and store your selection of ‘90s CDs inside. Some sideboards and cabinets have multiple uses – folding out into desks or bars, for instance – so look out for these if you live in a smaller space.
Storage in sofas
Storage in sofas is one of those small but genius ideas. Easy to reach, practical and stylish, it’s a great place to put your go-to books and to rest your brew if a coffee table just wouldn’t look right.
You’ll find one in the Cedar fabric sofa range, where, in place of an armrest, there’s a handy cubic shelf for books, magazines and remote controls.
Storage footstools
Storage footstools are great for hiding away the items you don’t want on display, but need quite often. And, of course, add foot-resting comfort and an extra place to perch if you’ve got guests.
You’ll find them in many of Sofology’s sofa ranges, such as the Hetty storage footstool and the dual storage footstool in the Rico collection – half of it folds up to create a back support. Meanwhile, the Savanah footstool comes in an oversized option, making for a great centrepiece in larger lounges.
Coffee table storage
Storage in sofas is one of those small but genius ideas. Easy to reach, practical and stylish, it’s a great place to put your go-to books and to rest your brew if a coffee table just wouldn’t look right.
You’ll find one in the Cedar fabric sofa range, where, in place of an armrest, there’s a handy cubic shelf for books, magazines and remote controls.
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