Floating Shelves: Fleeting or Here to Stay?

By‌ ‌Ashley‌ ‌Zimmermann,‌ ‌Creative‌ ‌Content‌ ‌Director‌ ‌for‌ ‌@designREMODEL‌ ‌

Floating shelving is having a major moment over these last few years. The trend seems to be going strong, but as with all trends, we must ask: is this going to be a stylish look a few years from now? Or will it look dated and unattractive? It is the classic design dilemma, the process of weighing the pros and cons of investing in a design trend. In this article, we will explain what floating/open shelving is and will discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of the trend to help you decide if the look would be a good fit for your home. 

What are floating shelves? What are open shelves?

Floating shelves are simply a form of shelving with no visible supports. They are anchored directly to the wall and the screws are hidden so they give a sleek, ‘floating’ appearance. You may often see floating shelves in a staggered, step-like or asymmetrical design, which accentuates the floating appearance. Take a look at the photo at the beginning of this article for an example of true floating shelving.

Open shelves are similar, but they tend to look more standardized than the floating style. Think kitchen storage cabinets without the cabinet doors.

How do you install them?

I learned two different designs and installation methods for floating shelves from Glen of DIY Creators. Check out his first floating shelves design video and his second, newer one both linked below. As part of his second design video, Glen tested out the strength of the new shelves by placing dumbbells on them, showing that the design can be very strong, if done right. Better Homes & Gardens offers step-by-step instructions, linked below. The typical method involves hanging a ‘hidden’ bracket and sliding the shelf piece over it.

Pros

*A note: Though I consider floating and open shelving more so as cousins to each other, I will attribute pros and cons to both floating and open shelving in general, in the next sections. 

There is a lot to love about open shelving. One key is the attractiveness of the two-in-one: floating shelves are a space-saver and decor option in one, offering practical space to store items as well as the opportunity to display them. You can build much of your room design off the focal point of your displayed items. The kitchen photo featured in Southern Living’s open shelving article is a beautiful example. Everything is within easy reach, and you and your guests can enjoy the view of your curated decor when it isn’t in use. 

Floating shelves can help you incorporate much of your personality into the design in a tight space. The first DIY Creators design video features a panned overview of a floating shelves duo holding camera lenses and accessories at 0:13. You could substitute the camera for the trappings of any other hobby. 

DIY floating shelves can be very cost-efficient, which is another aspect loved by many. The cost of materials in the DIY Creators videos is around $10, and that price point is found across other DIY designs. Of course, you can still create an elevated DIY project, if you want to.

Cons

You will need to be a stickler with your organization and neatness if you choose open shelving in the kitchen, bathroom, or another functional space. Realtor.com warns, “Shelves that are open can be a hot mess.” That is a good warning to heed! Part of the attractiveness of floating/open shelves is the clean, minimalist feel, so you will need to walk the talk. That might require getting rid of any utensils or plates that are chipped or mismatched, or completely overhauling your dishware in order to make things match the design of your kitchen. 

If you decide to go the route of open shelving in the kitchen, be aware that you will likely need to wash your dishes more often if they aren’t already in daily rotation. Cabinets protect from dust, but without cabinets, you still have dust.

Here to stay?

The consensus is: floating and open shelving is here to stay. I believe the trendy, tiered floating layout option will run its course over the next decade (and will inevitably then come back in style again in the future), but the balanced, symmetrical open shelving look will be sticking around. We’ve seen this open shelving look in rooms with very different interior design styles, from farmhouse to minimalist, for practically forever, and I predict that this will continue. 

Open and floating shelves are convenient, space-saving, and versatile. They offer pros that are too good to pass up.

References: 

https://www.homestratosphere.com/what-is-a-floating-shelf/ - What is a Floating Shelf?

https://diycreators.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wki3wMAbtLg - Easy DIY FLOATING SHELVES No bracket | DIY CREATORS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn4CoaCNkNY - Easy DIY Floating shelves | DIY Creators

https://www.bhg.com/decorating/do-it-yourself/accents/hang-floating-shelves/- How to Hang Floating Shelves

https://www.southernliving.com/home/kitchen/open-shelving-kitchen-tips - The One Thing I Wish I Knew Before I Chose Open Shelving in My Kitchen
https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/open-shelving-pros-cons/ - Open Shelving in the Kitchen: Pros and Cons