Floating shelf
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A floating shelf is a form of shelf with its wall fixings hidden within the shelf board, with no visible supporting brackets.[1][2][3]
History
It is believed that late 1950s contemporary designer Magnus McCormick invented the term floating shelf, however it is unclear if he was the first to use them.
Use
Floating shelves are a good fit for a contemporary minimalist style interior.[4] They can be used to expand storage space, atop a radiator to double as storage, as overhead storage, or inside a hallway to double as a console table.[5]
Technical description
A floating shelf can be supported on hidden rods or bars that have been attached to studs. A thick floating shelf may be made of a hollow-core shelf glued to a cleat.[6] A floating shelf may have two or more channels open from the back towards, but without reaching, the front, into which slide fasteners attached to the wall, typically held in place by screws inserted through the bottom of the shelf.[7] Depending on the thickness of the floating shelf t-brackets can occasionally be used. Named for their distinctive 'T' shape, t-brackets distribute the weight of the shelf and fit securely within drilled holes with the aid of an anchor to provide additional support.[8] There are also corner shelves, which may use different supports to make them "float".[citation needed]
Weight limitations
A floating shelf's weight capacity depends primarily on the number of wall studs its brackets are attached to. Each stud can typically support around 45-50 pounds. So, a 3-foot shelf secured to two studs can handle about 100 pounds, and a 2-foot shelf with the same stud attachment can hold the same weight. While stud attachment is crucial, other factors also play a role, including the installation method, the shelf's quality and design, and its desired length and depth.[9]
See also
- Adjustable shelving
- French cleat, modular way of securing objects to a wall, e.g. for adjustable floating shelving
References
- ^ Le Van, Marthe (2005). Shelf Expression: 70 Projects & Ideas for Creative Storage & Display. Lark Books. p. 120. ISBN 978-1579906900. Archived from the original on 2022-09-29. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
Free from distracting brackets, floating shelves seem to defy gravity by having no visible means of support.
- ^ Foster, Allen (January 14, 2021). "The best floating shelf". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on June 22, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ "Are Floating Shelves Right for Your Kitchen?". kitchenstarhouston.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ Brown, Grace (August 6, 2020). "20 Home Office Wall Decor Ideas For A Creative Workspace". squaresigns.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ "Shopping Edit – 8 space-savvy floating shelves for modern homes". Ideal Home. September 23, 2021. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ Joanne Kellar Bouknight (2012). Taunton's All New Built-ins Idea Book. Taunton Press. ISBN 9781600853883. Archived from the original on 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
- ^ Ettlinger, Steve; Schmidt, Phil (2017). The All New Illustrated Guide to Everything Sold in Hardware Stores. Cool Springs Press. p. 43. ISBN 9780760357736. Archived from the original on 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
- ^ "How to Install Floating Shelves". NookWoodworking. NookWoodworking. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ "How Much Weight Can a Floating Shelf Hold?". Shelfology. 2025-01-15. Retrieved 2025-01-17.
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