Shelf

Shelf is a flat horizontal plane which is used in a home, business, store, or elsewhere to hold items that are being displayed, stored, or offered for sale. It is raised off the ground and usually anchored/supported on its shorter length sides by brackets. It can also be held up by columns or pillars. A shelf is also known as the physical structure, such as a bookshelf, to which the word shelf is applied.

Shelves are usually made of strong materials such as wood, bamboo or steel, though shelves to hold lighter-weight objects can be made of glass or plastic. Shelves can be attached to a wall or other vertical surface, be suspended from a ceiling, be a part of a free-standing frame unit, or it can be part of a piece of furniture such as a cabinet, bookcase, entertainment center, some headboards, and so on. Usually two to six shelves make up a unit, each shelf being attached perpendicularly to the vertical or diagonal supports and positioned parallel to one another. Free-standing shelves can be accessible from either one or both longer length sides.

Types of Shelves

There are various types of shelves, including:

• Floating Shelves: These are shelves that appear to float on the wall with no visible supporting brackets.

• Corner Shelves: These are shelves designed to fit into a corner.

• Wall Shelves: These are shelves attached directly to a wall.

• Bookshelves: These are shelves designed specifically to hold books.

• Kitchen Shelves: These are shelves used in the kitchen for storing cooking utensils, spices, and other kitchen items.

• Bathroom Shelves: These are shelves used in the bathroom for storing toiletries, towels, and other bathroom items.

See Also

• Bookcase
• Cabinet
• Cupboard
• Drawer
• Wardrobe

Shelf Resources
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