When it comes to your home, corners can be some of the hardest spots in a house to decorate. You might feel like your furniture and decor never quite fit how you want. As a result, these spaces often get ignored or filled with something that feels more like an afterthought rather than an intentional design.
Treat corners as added storage, a cozy nook, or the perfect place to display your style. This space is great for your favorite books stacked neatly on corner floating shelves, pretty plants, or even unique odds and ends that reflect your personality.
To really make corner shelves shine, it helps to tailor them to your space. Every home is different, and custom shelves give you the opportunity to choose the exact size, wood type, and finish that works best for the room.
Kitchen Corner Shelves Versus Living Room Corner Shelves
The style of corner shelves will differ based on the room you’re in. Let’s compare how you decorate in the kitchen to how you handle the shelves in your living space.
In the kitchen, corner shelves can be an incredible space saver and a way to bring personality into the room:
-
Spice and pantry essentials: Keep jars of spices, oils, or baking staples within easy reach while freeing up your counter space.
-
Cookbooks and art: A small stack of your favorite cookbooks, a cutting board, or a framed print can make your corner shelf feel more like you.
-
Display dishes: Show off pretty mugs, bowls, or a matching glassware set. Shelves can serve like open cabinetry without taking up an entire wall.
-
Custom shelves: Match the stain or wood type of your shelves to your cabinets for a seamless look. If you’d rather they stand out, choose a contrasting wood.
A living room gives you an opportunity to turn your shelves into statement pieces:
-
Mini library: Place a few of your favorite books on the shelves, and then add a candle or small plant to break up the lines.
-
Personal collections: Corner shelves are the perfect place to give those random items a home. Think ceramics, knick-knacks, framed photos, travel souvenirs, or a few of your favorite things. Corner shelves are the perfect place to highlight those odd pieces that tell your story.
-
Plants and lighting: Trailing greenery, vases, or even seasonal decor look great when paired with integrated lighting.
-
Minimalist display: Keep it simple with one striking decor piece that lets the quality of the shelf itself shine.
Decorating Shelves in Other Areas of Your Home
Corner shelves aren’t just for kitchens and living rooms. They can work in almost any space in your home.
-
Bedroom shelves: Your bedroom is your personal living space. The same shelf design ideas apply here. Books, plants, and framed photos work well. Soft lighting and candles can also really add to a cozy, relaxed aesthetic.
-
Bathroom shelves: Bathrooms are typically tight on space, which makes corner shelves a smart space solution. Use them to store extra towels, toiletries, or baskets to keep the overall aesthetic clean and uncluttered. A lighter wood finish can also help the room feel brighter and more open.
Store-Bought Versus Custom Shelves
Anyone can walk into IKEA or Home Depot, pick out some corner shelves, and install them in their home. However, you’re often stuck with a limited selection of finishes, low-quality construction, a fake-feeling wood, and standard sizes that may not actually work well for you.
Let’s break down the pros and cons of both options.
Store-bought shelves are:
-
Quick, easy, and inexpensive to install
-
Can be purchased in one visit
-
Come in limited sizes and finishes
-
Often made with particleboard or laminate
-
Can only handle so much weight
Custom shelves:
-
Are made to fit your exact space
-
Can be made in selected wood types, stains, and finishes
-
Are built with solid, durable wood that lasts longer
-
Have hidden brackets for a cleaner look
-
Require a little more lead time, but are worth the wait
Custom corner shelves will always win when compared to off-the-shelf options.
Measure and Order Your Custom Shelves from Lyons Crafted
Knowing how to measure for a corner shelf is one of the only steps you’ll need to understand. Leave everything else to Lyons Crafted. We specialize in handcrafted wooden shelving with built-in LED lighting to ensure your decor is always seen.
All of our shelves are made to order! They arrive ready for you to install and add a personalized touch to any room.
