A buyer's guide to decorative shelving

Decorative shelves don't have to be expensive and can sometimes be made with items found around the house. You can make storage shelves out of wicker baskets, books and even household furniture. These add depth to any room and can be made uniquely yours by following these do-it-yourself shelving instructions.

Wicker basket storage

Decorative wicker storage boxes are an inexpensive purchase that can improve the appearance of any room. Rectangular baskets work best for this craft, but circular shapes will also work. Choose the location where you would like to place it. These are great space savers for small bathrooms. Using two nails, hammer them into both top corners of the basket. For extra reinforcement, nail the bottom corners as well. Be sure to measure the basket against the wall with a measuring tape for a level shelf. These shelves are perfect for holding make-up, hand towels and magazines. They should not be used to hold heavy items.

Floating books

Floating bookshelves are a must-have for any book lover. These units can be purchased at most hardware stores or you can make them yourself. Begin with a book of your choice. Place one side of the L-shaped bracket at the centre of the bottom page of the book. Mark the outline with a pen. Remove the bracket and cut a chunk of the stencil with a knife so that the book can close evenly. Glue the bottom page and cover to the bracket. You should also secure the rest of the pages with either screws or glue so that they will not fly open when they are on the wall. Wait for this to dry overnight and then, screw the bracket into the wall and use this as a shelf. Choose classic children’s books when decorating a nursery or a beautifully detailed antique book for an antique or shabby chic style room.

Upcycled furniture

Recycling isn't just good for the environment, it's also pretty. The pieces that you choose for shelving should not have any drawers and should have interesting shapes, such as with the antique Queen Anne style. Pieces may have to be cut in half. Choose around four pieces that will stack on top of one another well. Begin with a long coffee table and set a smaller coffee table and end table on top of it. On top of the smaller coffee table, put a tall standing shelf unit. You may have to secure these pieces to both the walls and each other with nails. To make this unit even more of a focal piece, paint all of the pieces with the same colour. This idea is great for both vintage and modern style rooms.