How to Pick a Bracket

Traditional, wall-mounted shelves can take on new life with the help of decorative shelf brackets. Rather than the typical L-shaped resting spot, unconventional shelf supports will add interest to your space and allow you to better match your decor. For instance, rope supports would mesh well with farmhouse decor, while pipes give shelving a distinctly industrial vibe.

You can make standard brackets more interesting with a simple coat of paint. Plain metal shelf supports can be painted to blend in or stand out against the wall color, and there are even specialty spray paint options that will give you metallic, mirrored or textured finishes for a truly bold statement.

Note: Pay careful attention to the manufacturer's instructions regarding weight limits as you try out your decorative shelf ideas. Going over the limit could result in the shelf failing, causing all the items on it to crash to the ground.

While you can use brackets by themselves to add to your decor, adding hanging flower baskets are a great adornment. Choose self-watering, coconut fiber, clay or plastic hanging planters to hold real or artificial flowers. You can hang them from decorative brackets in any room where you want to add a splash of nature.

Once you’ve chosen the type of bracket you want, it’s time to build shelving systems that meet your needs. If you have lots of shoes to organize, a shoe wall in your closet can be the answer. A shoe wall keeps your footwear off the floor and makes your collection visually appealing. You can organize them by color, type, ranked by favorites or any way you prefer.

Garages often wind up being in disarray, but you can get yours under control with a variety of shelving solutions. Garage wall shelving is perfect for keeping items organized so you can use your floor space for larger items like lawnmowers or cars.

The laundry room, or just the laundry area of a garage or basement, is the perfect home for brackets and shelving. The space above the washing machine and dryer is often wasted space, but you can make the most of it with the help of wall shelves. You can store detergent and other laundry needs, you can add hangers to air dry delicates, or you can use it for a variety of other storage solutions.

If you have a plants, especially if you have a lot of them, you know it can be difficult to find places to put them. Brackets can be used to create wall shelves to display your plants, and they’re easy to attach near windows for sunlight.

Floating shelves make a striking addition, and there are ample floating shelf ideas to inspire you. This style of shelf is attached to the wall using hidden brackets or supports, which makes them appear as though they’re floating. Because they have a sleek, streamlined appearance, floating shelves are ideal for those with a minimalist sense of style, and they’re great for showing off artwork and small pieces of decor.

Another one of the most popular floating shelf ideas is using box shelves, which have four sides like a picture frame. This style of floating shelf can be made from different types of wood in varying thicknesses, allowing you to adapt them to your own style and display items of various sizes.