Cantilever shelves are anchored on one side and protrude from the wall, relying on the wall’s integrity for support. The type of wall must be considered before selecting shelves, with drywall walls requiring studs and proper hardware. Masonry walls require concrete screws. The best shelving for a room depends on its purpose and design. Materials such as stainless steel and glass blocks offer modern twists, while reclaimed materials are eco-friendly options.
A cantilever is a structure that is anchored along one side only and protrudes or sticks out into space like a ledge. Cantilevered shelves appear to emerge from the wall, sometimes without any visible support, which is why they are sometimes referred to as floating shelves. Choosing the best cantilever shelving is a decision based on a number of factors, including personal taste, budget, and most importantly, the type of wall the shelving is to be attached to.
Cantilever shelves rely on the integrity of the wall to which they will be attached for their support, so the building materials that make up the wall must be considered before selecting any cantilever shelves. Walls made of drywall, sometimes called drywall, typically can only contain cantilevered shelving if two or more studs are located behind the sheet metal and the fasteners used to mount the shelving are driven directly into those studs. Special fasteners called toggle bolts can further strengthen the attachment of cantilever shelving to drywall walls, although these are not designed to go into studs.
Trying to attach a cantilevered shelving, or even a heavy piece of framed art, to a drywall without locating the studs and using the proper hardware often results in valuable home decorations falling to the floor, leaving a hole behind crumbly in the wall or nail used to be. Locating studs behind drywall walls is best done with a stud finder. Knocking on the wall and listening for the pitch to rise can sometimes give a hint as to where the studs might be, although this is not a recommended method of pinpointing their exact location. Once the pivots have been identified and the proper hardware established, choosing the best cantilevered shelving for drywall walls is now a matter of aesthetics, in terms of both the form and function of the shelves.
Fastening cantilevered shelving to brick or stone walls requires the use of concrete screws and a large drill. While more difficult than finding a stud behind the drywall, the solid construction of brick walls allows you to mount heavier shelves and hold more weight. Again, once the supporting structural elements are considered, the best cantilever shelving for masonry walls becomes a matter of room design and decor, and what looks most appealing in the space.
Determining which cantilevered shelving is best in terms of style must be based on the purpose of the shelves. Small, decorative cantilevered shelving serves a different purpose than shelving meant to hold books or display a heavy ceramic vase. When cantilevered shelving is sturdy and boldly designed, it becomes the centerpiece, so if the shelves are meant to showcase a sculpture or other decorative piece, the shelves shouldn’t draw too much attention to themselves. If the goal of cantilevered shelving is more practical, such as providing a way to increase storage space in a room without giving up floor space, sturdy thin shelving works well and the design element can come in with color .
Stainless steel and glass block materials are modern urban twists on the cantilevered shelving. Shelves made from rare materials, such as exotic woods or slabs of granite, will likely be expensive and may be heavier than your wall can support. There are plastic and sacred cantilever shelves made to look like wood and concrete that are much lighter and less expensive than the real thing. Collecting shelving from old demolished buildings is becoming a popular way to “build green” and would be considered the best cantilever shelving if your priority is to protect the environment.
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