Cabinets & Shelving

Freestanding or wall mounted?

Freestanding bookcases and shelf units go wherever there is floor space and move with you when you change the room around. Wall shelves keep the floor clear, which helps in small rooms and above desks, TV units and sideboards. Several of our wall shelves are designed to sit above a matching TV unit, such as Corona, Cortina, Naxxar and Pontypool.

For wall shelves, check what your wall is made of before you order. Solid brick, plasterboard and older lath and plaster all need different fixings. The product page explains how each shelf mounts and what is included.

Open, closed or a bit of both

• Open shelving is ideal for books and things you use every day. The Seaford black metal bookcases, ladder and asymmetrical designs have a light, open look.
• Combination bookcases with doors or drawers at the bottom, such as Prima, Shetland and the Basic combination units, hide the clutter and show off the rest.
• Display units with lighting, such as Galicia and Leon, add LED lighting to open shelves.
• Small storage units, such as the Mauro one-shelf units in a choice of colours, fill gaps beside a chair or bed.

Safety with tall units

Any tall bookcase or shelving unit should be secured to the wall, especially in homes with children. Load the heaviest items on the lowest shelves and keep the top shelves for lighter things.

Finishes and sizes

Choose from oak effect, white, black and grey, painted colours, and metal frames with oak or black shelves. The Alice Springs tall narrow bookcase comes in eight colours, from soft neutral and taupe to sage green and night blue. Titles usually tell you the number of shelves; the product page gives the exact height, width and depth.

For more on bookcases specifically, see bookcases. If you want glass doors, browse display cabinets. Shelving for a study sits nicely with our desks, and you will find more ideas in living room furniture.