Best Shelves

Best Shelves

Our editors independently research the best products online to produce this list. We may receive commission on purchases made from the links below but this will never affect our product choices.


Shelves are excellent space savers and provide a great way to showcase your ornamental objects. Whether you’re looking to add a finishing touch to a newly decorated room or want to organise your home in style, a good shelving unit is a must. But making your mind up can be challenging with so many options available. Read our expert reviews and buyer’s guide to discover the best solution for your home.

How We Compared Shelves

To find the right shelves, we considered multiple factors, including:

  • Materials
  • Sturdiness
  • Design
  • Style
  • Assembly

Our team planned comparison points and specifically looked for products that would cater to all kinds of needs. We spent countless hours researching, consulting customer reviews and comparing features to come up with this list.

Shelf Reviews

Peter’s Goods 2-Tier Shelf (Editor’s Choice)

This contemporary shelving unit is our Editor’s choice and the best solution overall. Its clean lines and two-tier design make it an excellent pick for most homes, saving space and complementing your décor.

The Peter’s Goods 2-Tier is a good sturdy model thanks to its strong steel frame. The tiers are made from sustainably sourced Paulownia wood. This ensures this shelf can accommodate objects weighing up to 50 pounds. As it is wall mounted, it’s a great way to save space and enhance your room’s style.

This unit’s frame is powder-coated for maximum durability. Plus, its wooden shelves feature a resistant triple-coated cream finish. Its modern looks and subtle style make it an ideal pick for your bedroom, bathroom, kitchen or living area. It is also easy to assemble. All in all, this is a top choice and one of the best available on the market. 

Pros:

  • Wall-mounted 
  • Strong steel frame
  • Sustainably sourced Paulownia wood shelves
  • Modern design
  • 2-tier shelf

Cons:

  • It possibly could be improved with a drilling template
  • The material may scratch quite easily

Vasagle Ladder Shelf (Luxury Choice)

If you are looking for a freestanding, stylish unit, this ladder model is sure to be at the top of your list. Our luxury choice has a loft or industrial style but would equally look the part in almost all types of rooms. 

The Vasagle Ladder Shelf can accommodate plenty of items thanks to its four tiers. Whether you want to better organise your possessions or to display them in style, it’s definitely a great choice. Each shelf has a five-kilogram load capacity, so you can use it to store a wide variety of items, including books, vases and ornaments. 

This shelf’s sloping ladder design is easy on the eye. Plus, its greige and black finish allow it to stand out without overpowering the harmony of your room. Simple to assemble with a strong steel frame and particleboard shelves, it’s a good sturdy choice that can be attached to your wall for extra stability. 

Pros:

  • Four-tier ladder shelf
  • Loft/industrial style
  • Strong steel frame
  • Five-kilogram load capacity per shelf
  • Easy to assemble            

Cons:

  • It could arrive missing some pre-drilled holes
  • Its hardware could be improved

Pipishell Floating Shelves (Best Value)

Our best value pick is this contemporary set that makes a great buy. It consists of three floating shelves that will allow you to transform the look of your room without taking up any valuable floor space.

These Pipishell Floating Shelves, made from real Paulownia wood with metal brackets, are a good sturdy choice. Each can hold up to 18.5kg, while the brackets can be used beneath or above, depending on the final look you want. This means you will be able to display a good range of items, including potted plants, which can be too heavy for some lower-capacity shelves.

Thanks to their varying lengths, they allow you to create a decorative wall display. With their pale wooden shelves and black metal brackets, their rustic, contemporary style ensures they will look the part in any room. They can be on your wall in just minutes, thanks to their easy assembly. 

Pros:

  • Set of 3 floating shelves
  • Paulownia wood shelves with metal brackets
  • 18.5kg load capacity per shelf
  • Three different lengths
  • Brackets can be used in 2 different ways

Cons:

  • It could be a little sturdier 
  • Its wall plugs could be better quality

G-Rack Garage Shelving Unit (Best Freestanding Option)

Are you looking for strong, sturdy shelves to better organise your garage, shed or utility room? This unit, our best freestanding pick, could be your ideal choice.

With five tiers in total, the G-Rack gives you plenty of space to organise all your stuff. Each shelf has an impressive 175kg load capacity, so you won’t have to worry about overloading them. Whether you want to store your heavy tools or DIY supplies, this robust unit can easily accommodate them.

This is a sturdy, durable model thanks to its alloy steel frame and MDF shelving. It features non-slip rubber feet for greater stability, even on your rough garage floor. Lastly, its boltless assembly system makes this model effortless to build and adjust to suit your needs.

Pros:

  • 5-tier freestanding shelving unit
  • 175kg load capacity per shelf
  • Alloy steel frame & MDF construction
  • Boltless assembly system
  • Non-slip rubber feet

Cons:

  • It might need treating against damp
  • This model may require two people to put it together

Umi Rustic Floating Shelves (Best Industrial)

This set of three shelves is our best industrial choice. Use them separately around your home or all on one wall to make a standout feature that is sure to become one of the leading design elements of your home.

Each shelf has a different size which enhances the overall style when mounted on the same wall. The Umi Rustic Floating Shelves are made from strong MDF, while the sturdy brackets are metal with a black finish. The braces on them enhance their looks and make them more robust. 

This wall mountable, industrial-style shelf set is straightforward to assemble. It also comes with mounting hardware, saving a trip to the DIY store. If you are looking for a rustic feel, these shelves are a great way to display your collectables and other small decorative items.

Pros:

  • Three shelves per pack
  • Three different sizes
  • Wall mounted
  • MDF shelves with black metal brackets
  • Mounting hardware included

Cons:

  • It may look smaller in real life
  • The shelves may be less suitable for heavy items

Comfify String Floating Shelves (Best Shabby Chic)

If you’re a fan of the shabby chic look, these vintage-style string floating shelves are sure to fit in with your décor. Use this set of two to add extra style and character to any wall in your home.

The Comfify String Floating Shelves are trendy yet durable thanks to their Paulownia wood and jute rope construction. They feature a distressed pale finish which adds to their rustic charm. Use them for small plants, ornaments or photos; they will seamlessly blend in, putting your decorative items centre stage.

These shelves are extra easy to install. They come ready to hang, so if DIY is not your thing and you already have a couple of nails or hooks, you could have them set up in seconds. You could also use a command strip if you’re renting and don’t want to make holes in your walls, as they’re nice and lightweight. 

Pros:

  • Set of two shelves
  • Very easy to hang
  • Paulownia wood & jute rope construction
  • Rustic style
  • Lightweight

Cons:

  • It may be less suitable for holding several items
  • They may be difficult to adjust due to the glued knots

Sriwatana Wall Shelves (Best Modern)

Our favourite modern wall shelves, this set of three shelves, makes a good choice to enhance your home. Use them in your kitchen, bedroom or living area; their muted design will complement any modern or minimalist home. 

Featuring three different sizes of shelves, you can wall mount this set in a cluster to provide an attractive wall feature. Moreover, thanks to their 40lb load capacity, you can use them to display a wide range of objects. This could include books, vases and framed photographs – whatever you wish to show off. 

The Sriwatana Wall Shelves have a discrete weathered grey finish and are made from Paulownia wood with strong iron brackets. These also double as handy end stops, preventing books and other items from falling. This set is effortless to put up and comes with all the mounting hardware for easy installation. 

Pros:

  • Set of three shelves
  • Wall-mounted modern style
  • Iron brackets can double as end stops
  • 40lb load capacity
  • Paulownia wood with a weathered grey finish

Cons:

  • It could be less suitable for large items
  • They may mark a little too easily

How to Choose Shelves

Choosing the best shelves for your home can be challenging with so many models out there. Make sure you know what you need to look out for with our buying guide.

Materials

It’s important to focus on shelves made from high-quality, durable materials. For extra sturdiness, steel frames are a good choice. The products themselves should be crafted from sturdy wood or composite such as MDF. 

Sturdiness

Ensure your model is sturdy enough to hold the items you want to store or display. Aside from checking the robustness of the materials, you should also consider the design. Some manufacturers will give you a maximum load capacity per shelf which can be really useful if you have any heavy items to store.

Design

Take a few moments to consider which shelf design is best for your home. If you are short on floor space or want to create a wall feature, wall-mounted shelves will be your best choice. Otherwise, consider a freestanding model if you have many items you need to find a home for. 

Style

Your pick must complement your style of décor. While rustic shelves will look good in most homes, they will appear out of place in an ultra-modern room. Understated, industrial-style shelves are a popular contemporary choice. However, if you have more traditional tastes, you may prefer to opt for a polished style.

Assembly

While shelves are generally easy to put together, some can be unnecessarily difficult. Make sure you have all the required tools available and, if possible, take a quick look over what is required before purchasing. If you don’t want to make holes in your walls, consider a freestanding shelving unit or a lightweight model that you can use with command strips. 

Summary

You can’t go wrong with our Editor’s choice, the wall-mounted 2-Tier Shelf by Peter’s Goods. This model has a nice, clean, modern look with its triple-coated cream finish. Made with sustainably-sourced Paulownia wood and a powder-coated steel frame, it is durable and sturdy. Able to accommodate objects weighing up to 50 pounds, this two-tier shelf makes a top pick for any room in your home. What’s more, it’s also very easy to assemble, making it the best choice all around.

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