When Are Glass Shelves the Best Choice?

When Are Glass Shelves the Best Choice?

Your choice of shelving can make a huge difference to the look and feel of any room and your choice will depend on several factors.

Firstly, you will need to think about what you intend to display on the shelves. If the shelves will be carrying heavy items such as big books then glass will probably not be the best choice because its load bearing capacity is less than wood or metal. This does obviously depend on the brackets and fixings you use as well but generally glass is more fragile and therefore for peace of mind you would probably want to opt for a more robust material.

Secondly, you need to consider the effect you are hoping to achieve and the ambiance and existing furniture in the room. If your décor is cozy, traditional and rustic then shelves may be a touch too modern or minimalist and wood would be better suited. Having said that, glass does suit a great range of styles and interior décor and can complement a wide range of design.

Thirdly, you need to consider safety. If the shelves will be quite low and you have young children then glass can be a hazard even though most glass shelves these days are made of toughened and strengthened tempered glass which is much stronger.

Glass shelves are particularly suited to bathrooms which are often smaller than other rooms and do not need to display heavy or bulky items. Also, tinted glass can work well with bathroom colour schemes which tend to be blue or green hues.

Glass shelves are easy to clean and maintain with no veneers or varnish to worry about. Even scratches and chips can be repaired and they allow light to shine through and are less obtrusive than wood so you can see the objects displayed from all angles without needing to pick them up.