Shelving Materials and Design Considerations

Shelves are the most versatile form of storage; they don’t just serve as places to put our stuff, they also give a visual guide to how the room functions.  Select the types-fixed or adjustable, styles- formal or informal, and materials of your shelving to complement the architecture of the room and the nature of the objects to be displayed or stored.  Hire an interior decorator to help you get a handle on your things.  Here are some guides on shelving materials and methods.

• Wood:  Hardwood is the most formal, expensive, and elegant material; it has natural beauty and wears well.  Softwood such as pine is more casual, cheaper, but less sturdy.  Coordinate and use the type of wood that match other wood in the room.   

• Tempered Glass:  Glass shelves have a luminous quality that can be enhanced by good lighting.  They are particularly suitable for display purposes and in bathrooms- to reflect airy feel.  Glass shelf should not be used to handle heavy loads. 

• Plywood:  Plywood is a cheaper alternative to wood.  It can be veneered in different woods such as birch, which make it extremely strong.  It is available in a waterproof variety. 

• Medium-Density-Fiberboard (MDF):  This is a very flexible material that often used as a wood substitute.  It is available in many thicknesses and can be easily cut into different shapes.  MDF board must be painted or varnished. 

• Melamine-Faced Board:  This material tolerates wetness.  It is inexpensive and practical choice for kitchen, bathrooms, and utility areas. 

• Galvanized Metal:  Metal shelves are usually bought in freestanding kit form to use in garages, greenhouse, and sheds ranging from lightweight to heavy-duty shelving units.  Industrial-style galvanized metal shelf that is designed for heavy-duty garage and workshop will not rust and can hold a lot of weight. 

• Shelf Supports:  There are two basic types of built-in shelving:  Fixed shelves, which are often custom-built; and adjustable shelves which are available as a ready-made unit and are more flexible, since the heights can be moved. 

• Shelf Spans:  The load a shelf can hold depends on the type of material used, its thickness, and the distance between supports.  If you plan to attach the shelves to your wall, evaluate and make sure your wall is able to bear heavy loads.  The list below shows the maximum span to allow between supports for medium loads such as light books or light porcelain.  For heavier loads, shorten the distance between supports.

• Wood 5/8-inch (15 mm) thick needs 20-inch (50cm) distance between supports.
• Wood 7/8-inch (22mm) thick needs 35-inch (90cm) distance between supports.
• Wood 1-1/8-inch (28mm) thick needs 42-inch (106cm) distance between supports.
• Glass shelf ¼-inch (6mm) thick needs 8-inch (20cm) distance between supports.
• Glass shelf 3/8-inch (10mm) thick needs 16-inch (40cm) distance between supports.
• Glass shelf 5/8-inch (15mm) thick needs 16-inch (40cm) distance between supports.
• MDF 5/8-inch (15mm) thick needs 20-inch (50cm) distance between supports.
• MDF ¾-inch (18mm) thick needs 28-inch (70cm) distance between supports.
• MDF 1-inch (25mm) thick needs 35-inch (90cm) distance between supports.
• Melamine-faced board 5/8-inch (15mm) thick needs 16-inch (40cm) distance between supports.
• Melamine-faced board ¾-inch (18mm) thick needs 24-inch (60cm) distance between supports.
• Plywood 1/2 inch (12mm) thick needs 16-inch (40cm) distance between supports.
• Plywood ¾-inch (18mm) thick needs 24-inch (60cm) distance between supports.
• Plywood 1-inch (25mm) thick needs 32-inch (80cm) distance between supports.

 It is virtually impossible to go through life without accumulating some possessions and a few accouterments for your home.  Shelving offers flexibility in term of storage, display, and organizing your gizmo and gadget.  Analyze carefully how you want your shelving to look, what you intend to place on the shelves, and how you would keep your shelf clean will help determining the choice of your shelving material.  Don’t forget to use the shelf-span formula for placing the supports; otherwise your stuff and your shelf might end up on the floor.