A wide variety of wall mounted shelves are available at NookWoodworking. The best type for you depends on your room's specific needs and style. From functional storage to decorative floating shelves, let's explore the popular choices for different spaces in your home.

For Functional Spaces: Kitchen & Bathroom

Kitchen floating shelves need to be durable and practical for holding dishes, spices, and cookbooks. In bathrooms, bathroom floating shelves are perfect shelves for small spaces, helping to organize toiletries and towels without taking up floor space. A floating wooden shelf adds warmth to these often functional rooms.

For Personal Spaces: Bedroom & Office

In the bedroom, bedroom floating shelves can be used to display photos, art, or a favorite book. A small floating shelf next to the bed can act as a minimalist nightstand. For a home office, office floating shelves are essential for organization. A long floating wall shelf works wonderfully as a floating book shelf, keeping your desk clear and your resources accessible.

For Living & Specialty Spaces

Living rooms are a great place for a statement piece, like a large floating shelf or a sleek modern floating shelf. This is also where specialty shelves shine. For music enthusiasts, a floating record shelf (or vinyl record wall shelf) is a stylish way to display your collection.

Solutions for Awkward Spaces

Don't forget the nooks and crannies. Floating corner shelves are brilliant for turning an unused corner into a feature. A simple single corner shelf or a mini floating shelf can fill an awkward spot perfectly. Unique shapes like square floating shelves can also be grouped together to create a custom look in any space.

Yes, absolutely floating shelves are still in style. In fact, they have proven they are far more than a passing trend; they are a timeless design staple. Their enduring popularity comes from their clean lines, versatility, and ability to adapt to evolving design aesthetics. In general, they’re popular primarily thanks to the following reasons: 

• Artistic Quality

One of the biggest reasons floating shelves remain so relevant is their evolution from pure storage to a decorative feature. Homeowners now use them as an art display shelf for showcasing sculptures, pottery, and personal treasures. The focus is on creating beautiful vignettes, making decorative wood shelves an integral part of the room's overall design, not just a place to put things.

• Modern Layouts and Contemporary Styles

The way we arrange shelves has also changed. The trend in 2025 is to move away from rigid, symmetrical lines and embrace more organic layouts. Creating arrangements with staggered floating shelves of varying lengths and depths adds visual interest and a dynamic feel to a wall. This approach perfectly complements the clean aesthetic of a modern shelf, making contemporary floating shelves feel fresh and current.

• Ultra Personalization Options

The demand for unique, personalized spaces has kept floating shelves at the forefront of design. Customisable shelving allows you to create a look that is entirely your own, fitting perfectly into an awkward nook or making a grand statement on a large wall. It's this adaptability that gives floating shelves their lasting power. They are less of a specific trend and more of a versatile tool for personal expression.

Today, modern home décor is all about clean lines, simple forms, functionality, and a touch of organic softness. The best shelf styles for this aesthetic reflect these principles through their shape, material, and timeless floating shelf design. We recommend incorporating any of the following design characteristics into your shelves for a perfectly modern touch. 

Clean Lines and Simple Geometry

The quintessential modern shelf is the classic floating rectangular shelf. Its simple, unadorned form is the epitome of minimalist design, providing a perfect horizontal line that doesn't distract from the items it holds. For a more graphic and playful approach, homeowners are using mini square floating shelves, often arranged in a grid or an asymmetrical pattern to create visual interest on a large wall.

Curves and Unique Forms

Modern design today isn't just about sharp angles. We're seeing a huge trend towards incorporating softer, more organic shapes. Rounded shelving and the elegant curved corner shelf add a fluid, gentle element to a room, breaking up the rigidity of a space. These unique floating shelves offer a custom, high-design look that feels both contemporary and inviting.

Airy Materials and Functional Designs

The choice of material is crucial. Light wood floating shelves, like those made from maple or white oak, are extremely popular for their bright, airy feel that complements modern, Scandinavian, and Japandi interiors. Functionally, a long, slim floating shelf above couch is a stylish alternative to a large piece of art. For the ultimate integration of form and function, we're even creating floating shelves with speakers built-in, offering a seamless way to incorporate technology into your décor.

Choosing the right shelf size above furniture is all about creating visual balance. A good rule of thumb is to select a shelf that is roughly 2/3 to 3/4 the width of the furniture below it. This ensures the shelf complements the piece without overpowering it. Additionally, we recommend the following sizes when browsing shelves to place above desks, couches, and beds. 

Desks

For a standard desk, you want a size that provides storage without feeling cluttered. A 30 inch floating shelf or a 36 floating shelf are excellent choices for floating shelves office setups. These sizes are perfect for holding books, supplies, or even a small wall shelf for cable box and other electronics. For a smaller workspace, a 24 inch floating shelf keeps essentials at hand.

Couches

A shelf above a couch acts as a major focal point. For a standard sofa, a 5 foot floating shelf (the same as a 60 inch shelf) creates a beautiful, balanced line. For smaller loveseats, a 4 foot floating shelf or a 40 inch floating shelf works wonderfully. If you have a large sectional, you might consider extra long floating shelves or a statement-making long wall shelf to match its scale.

Beds

For floating shelves bedroom applications, the size should complement the bed's width. A queen bed looks great with a shelf in the 4-foot range, while a smaller bed might only need a decorative accent like a 16 floating shelf. If your bed is tucked into a corner, a wall mounted corner shelf is a brilliant, space-saving solution for a lamp or a book.

If standard sizes don't provide the perfect proportion for your furniture, custom length floating shelves are the ultimate solution. We can craft a shelf to the exact inch to ensure a flawless, professionally designed look. Interested? Just reach out to get started!

There are two primary methods for installing wall mount shelves, each offering a distinct look and level of support. The choice depends on whether you want a seamless, modern aesthetic or a more traditional style where the hardware is part of the design.

Method 1: The Heavy-Duty Floating Bracket

The true floating look for our standard and heavy-duty shelves is achieved with an invisible shelf system. This method uses floating brackets—in our case, a flat steel plate with solid rods—that are mounted directly to the wall. The shelf, with precisely drilled holes, then slides over the rods, completely concealing the hardware. This self mounting shelf design creates the cleanest possible look and is perfect for modern and minimalist interiors. And as a bonus, installation has never been easier.

Method 2: The Low-Profile T-Bracket (For Thin Shelves)

If your shelf is on the thin side, installation is even easier with our custom T-bracket. To install:

1. Mark your wall where you want to drill your pilot holes.
2. Secure your T-bracket to the wall.
3. Slide your shelf onto the T-bracket.

Method 3: The Single-Post Mount (For Small Geometric Shelves)

Have a small geometric floating shelf? Believe it or not, installation just gets easier. This method uses a single, secure anchor point for lightweight, decorative shelves. To install:

1. Mark where you would like your floating shelf to hang and drill a hole.
2. Insert the threaded anchor and screw in the bolt.

Twist your shelf onto the bolt and voila, you successfully installed your shelf!