Harry Potter may have come and gone (Ok – for some of us he lives forever), and yet the ENTIRE book series is STILL gathering dust on a table at home because the kids (and dad) won’t let you put it away.

To keep everyone happy, why not bring the magic in the room back to life, and show off other treasured items, on some new shelving?

Custom-built shelving is one way to reduce clutter in your house and guarantee you get stylish and practical storage space for your entertainment unit, magazines and books – as well as your CDs and DVDs if you are still into that sort of thing. (For more on decluttering, read our guide.)

Interior designer Claire Armytage knows that your budget will probably be the main thing that will affect what you do and how far you go with shelving: “Usually, in modern houses shelving and storage space has been allowed for, so it tends to be older places where you may need extra shelving,” she says.

“Then it really comes down to how much you want to pay, but shelves can be built to meet any configuration the client wants.”

Freestanding bookshelves are all the rage and they allow you to do just about anything to suit your space, but Claire says more traditional bookshelves are still popular. They can even be modernised by attaching castors, so they can be wheeled around easily.

When choosing shelving you need to consider thickness and spacing between the shelves. It’s no good getting a shallow 10cm shelf if you are going to put grandma’s antique vase on it.

Hot tip! If you are using the shelf for electronics think about where the power points are.

Claire also recommends local, custom-built products over pre-made, imported shelves. “You not only get a one-off that suits your space, but the longevity and durability of well-made shelves is much better than that of imports,” she says. “Also, from an environmental perspective, you can ensure that your shelves are coming from sustainable plantations, whereas bookshelves bought off the floor could come from anywhere.” Find a furniture store close to you here.

Who would have thought there was so much to think about with just a simple old (new) shelf?!

This is why you might want to consider a shelving expert like Claire to advise you on the best way to go with your shelving.
Chat today with a shelving expert in your area to find out how you can make room for some new specialised shelves at home.