Features of glass shelves
Any glass interior item looks very impressive and unusual. And if we talk about glass shelves on the wall, then they are generally capable of bringing some kind of magic, even to the most ordinary design.
Glass has one main advantage: it is reliable. If you don't intend to drop it, it can last for decades without changing at all in appearance.
Glass structures are ideal for placing books, antiques, souvenirs, as well as all kinds of sets and crystal gizmos. Thanks to the transparent plane, it becomes possible to view objects from all sides.
It can be washed using any substance - this will not affect either the strength or the appearance of the shelves.
The main advantages of glass shelves:
- The material is not afraid of high humidity, unlike wooden surfaces or MDF products;
- Resistance to the appearance of fungus and other harmful microorganisms;
- Cleans well (especially for non-frosted glass);
- There is always the opportunity to realize your own design ideas;
- Looks great from any angle.
Speaking of disadvantages, we note that dirt on the glass surface is always clearly visible. So, if there is such a piece of furniture in your living room (kitchen, bedroom or bathroom), you will have to carefully monitor and wipe the surface out of turn, without waiting for the next cleaning. In addition, the surface of glass shelves is very slippery (unless special sanding has been done), which means there is a risk that unstable objects may fall. Finally, high-quality durable glass is not cheap.
The glass does not become cloudier or fade, even if it is constantly exposed to the rays of the sun.
A glass shelf is not only a functional piece of furniture, but also an effective decor and a harmonious addition to almost any design concept. Proper placement of glass surfaces and mirrors guarantees a visual increase in space. Well, by adding lighting to the glass shelves, you will not only make their contents more visible, but also fill the room with a festive atmosphere.
A well-fixed shelf made of triplex or tempered glass can support twenty kilograms of weight.
Role in the interior
Corner glass shelves on the wall are the most common type of product. Thanks to their transparency, glass shelves look elegant, airy, and help to rationally use the interior space of rooms .
Loading capacity is determined by the power and quality of the bearing surface. The thickness of the glass for a shelf that can support a TV and several flower pots reaches 1 cm. For lighter objects, 5-9 mm will be enough.
Important! Tempered glass can withstand twice the load of regular window glass.
Wall shelves perform various functions:
- serve as an elegant decoration for the room;
- used for storing small items;
- for installation of music and video equipment;
- create a place to place flower pots.
There are a variety of options for placing holding surfaces.
Glass shelves in the bathroom make it convenient to use detergents:
- shampoo bottles;
- hair balm;
- shaving cream;
- liquid soap.
Varieties
As mentioned earlier, glass shelves perform not only a practical, but also a decorative function. This probably explains their diversity.
Over time, it does not deteriorate, does not become deformed, and can serve for decades.
The shape of the model can be:
- In the form of minimalistic rectangles;
- Corner triangle shelves;
- Classic boxes;
- Modular designs;
- All kinds of curly models.
Each of the above forms will easily add a “zest” to the most seemingly everyday interior.
Glass will make the room look more spacious, brighter, fit well into high-tech and modern styles, and help avoid overcrowding the interior.
And the glass itself can undergo certain processing:
- Tinting;
- Faceted glass edge processing;
- Drawing or matting;
- Stained glass compositions;
- LED lights.
Previously, shelves were illuminated using low-power lamps, which, moreover, consumed a lot of energy. Today, lighting using LEDs guarantees minimal power consumption, a long service life of the LEDs themselves, as well as an impressive and stylish design.
Manufacturing instructions
Let's figure out how you can make a glass shelf with your own hands. There are 2 ways: the first is to buy all the components in the store, according to the instructions
put everything together, put the structure in a free place. However, in terms of cost, such an idea will cost you the same as buying a ready-made glass shelf. Therefore, we will pay attention to the second method - making your own shelves from scratch. You will need the following tools:
- glass;
- aluminum profile for fastening;
- glass cutter;
- meter tape;
- electric jigsaw, screwdriver, drill;
- belt sander;
- construction level;
- hammer.
It all starts with cutting the glass to the desired size using a glass cutter. Using strong pressure, an incision is made along a line previously drawn with a marker, along which the material will be broken. The sharp edges of the glass are processed with a belt sander, which is passed along the edges of the glass several times until rounded edges are obtained. During the grinding process, it is important to regularly moisten the glass with water; this will make the edge transparent and prevent glass dust from spreading through the air. After cutting the glass, you need to take care of its reliable, safe fastening.
Placement methods
Bookshelves
Any shelf is associated primarily with books. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that the range of book shelves is very large. Some people prefer simple classic models, while others prefer glass cabinets or spectacular tower shelves that can save space and make the interior stylish.
Glass shelves for books look more elegant in any interior than wooden ones.
Glass shelves in any design look more impressive and elegant than wooden ones. Especially if you place not only books directly on them, but also small beautiful trinkets: vases, figurines, candlesticks. On such surfaces you can often see collections of cups that weigh a lot. Therefore, structures of this type are made of tempered glass that can withstand weight up to 15 kilograms.
Glass can have different thickness, color, degree of transparency or be of an original design.
Glass TV stand
The TV becomes a mandatory companion of a person not only in the living room, but also in the bedroom and in the kitchen. A glass shelf will help you place it conveniently, while maintaining a stylish interior design. The main thing is that the shelf is made of tempered glass and can easily withstand the weight of the TV.
Elegant shelves made of transparent glass, if successfully placed in the interior, improve the design of the room.
The advantage of installing the TV this way is that you do not need to look for suitable fasteners, brackets and a lot of other devices, and then mount them to the wall. You simply purchase the shelf you like and install the TV on it.
The range of models is impressive. Shelves made of tinted glass, or combined models made of wood and glass, or glass and metal, look very nice. If you consider yourself a fan of home theaters, then a variety of modular shelves are at your service, on which both the TV itself and speakers will fit.
Shelves for flowers
Another popular type of shelves. Flowers are an interior decoration, and for some, a favorite hobby. Pots with plants placed on glass surfaces fit best into modern design concepts.
Made glass shelves for home flowers look beautiful due to their lightness and weightlessness.
The range of such shelves is surprisingly diverse. There are tall models from floor to ceiling, and there are very laconic ones that can be placed right in front of the window.
A competent approach to using glass shelves in an apartment will allow you to create an entire greenhouse. And, who knows, perhaps over time you will begin to grow not only ornamental plants, but also spices or some vegetables.
Their size and shape are selected individually for each room.
If we talk about flower shelves and stands, then corner structures made of glass with forged elements look incredibly stylish.
Glass shelves on the wall are a great opportunity to breathe a breath of fresh air into your interior design, making it unusual and cozy. And remember, for a glass shelf to become a decoration, it must be in its place in every room. And to avoid unpleasant surprises, purchase designs only made of tempered glass.
This option is perfect for flowering and light-loving plants.
DIY making
It’s not at all difficult to make glass shelves with your own hands. To do this, you need to choose a suitable place, purchase a high-quality glass cutter and a grinding machine. Tools can be rented. But it is better to work with familiar equipment.
Note! When processing an edge with a grinding machine, the edge must be constantly watered with water.
This complex operation requires experience and knowledge of glass working technology. First, consider several options for placing shelves. The number of holding surfaces, the distance between the planes and proportions, and the type of fastening are important.
The following mounting options are popular:
- ordinary rectangular ones on the walls, replacing large cabinets;
- suspended, which are attached to the ceiling on chains and cords;
- corner, often found in the bathroom;
- low, standing on supports;
- in several tiers, with different types of installation and fastening.
The price of the finished product is calculated based on:
- tempered glass sizes;
- type of cutting and grinding (with your own hands or from a professional);
- prices of fasteners and decorative fittings;
- presence of LED backlight strip;
- number of planes.
You can mount self-made racks not only on the wall ; sometimes they are successfully placed against the side strong wall of a wooden cabinet, near a mirror, and serve as a bridge between two elements of cabinet furniture.
It is advisable to round off and polish the sharp corners of the load-bearing planes to avoid injury from accidental contact during operation.
The master will need to prepare:
- ready-made tempered glass of sufficient thickness, with a polished end;
- fasteners;
- electric drill;
- pieces of duralumin profiles;
- LED strip (when backlighting is needed).
Step one
When the master decides on the place on the wall where the shelf will be attached, markings should be made. First, mark the place at the level where the mount or holder will be located. Using a building level, horizontal guides are drawn with a thin line so that the glass plane is fixed strictly horizontally.
The markings are applied with ordinary white chalk. You can also apply masking tape using a ruler and a triangle.
Step two
Ready-made shelf holders have two parts: one nailed to the wall and one holding the glass strip. Some designs are equipped with limiting pins, sides, and design elements. Any shelf needs at least a pair of holders and one horizontal fragment, rigidly fixed to the wall in two places.
Complete with shelves, you need to buy duralumin sections of profiles that match the size of the glass. Holes are drilled in duralumin for attaching dowels.
The edges of the profile section are sanded with fine sandpaper to avoid the risk of injury.
The finished section is secured with self-tapping screws, plastic, and wood inserts in the recess of the wall, previously drilled at the designated points with an electric drill.
Profile sections are sometimes attached as follows:
- one end is not rigidly fixed to a self-tapping screw;
- set the profile along the specified horizontal line;
- make a second mark on the wall through the finished hole;
- the second screw is screwed into this hole;
- insert the glass and firmly fix it in the holder.
For corner shelves, 1-2 holders are attached to each wall. The holder should be located no less than 5 cm from the edge of the plane.
The LED strip is inserted into the groove of the profile without removing the thin plastic layer, which serves as an insulator, protecting the diodes from short circuits. In this case, the light spreads over the entire internal plane, highlights the ends and creates a mysterious, beautiful vision in the night. You won’t accidentally stumble upon such an obstacle in the dark.
50 design options for glass shelves in the interior
Mounting methods
To secure glass shelves, 2 elements are used: a “joker” aluminum frame profile and special holders. Both holder options are not inferior to each other in functionality and reliability, the main difference lies in the installation features. So, if glass of any thickness can be installed on special holders, then the aluminum “joker” will have to be selected according to the size of the shelf.
The holders are very easy to install. They consist of 2 parts: a decorative stop and a base, which is fixed on the wall surface. Initially, the parts of the holders will have to be separated, after which, using a ruler, marker, level, mark on the wall where the shelves are attached, drill holes for the dowels with a drill (usually included with the holders), and use a hammer to hammer them in until they stop. The screws are threaded into special holes in the base and pressed against the wall with a screwdriver. After this, holders are attached to the base (the number depends on the load on the glass), on which the shelf is installed.
If you cannot use a glass cutter, do not want to cut your fingers, or breathe glass dust, then an experienced glazier will cut out the glass shelves for a small fee. And anyone can figure out the fastening; this does not require any special skills, and there is a lot of useful information on the Internet for completing such a task.
Types of shelves
The simplest furniture designs are used in different ways, so they are classified according to functionality:
- book;
- shoe;
- for working tools;
- under dishes;
- shelves for flowers and indoor plants.
Free walls are never enough to accommodate small items, especially in the kitchen and children's room.
By the way, the space in the corners is often empty. The combination of corner designs and straight shelves for DIY books will eliminate the need for cabinets and shelving.
According to the method of fastening they are distinguished:
- wall products;
- floor modules (mobile mini-racks and built-in ones);
- hanging shelves (attached to ceiling beams or other objects).
Any shelf should be easy to reach with your hands while standing on the floor. But there is an exception - collectible display cases near the ceiling, for example, in the kitchen for painted ceramics or in the bedroom for handmade dolls.
Shelves can be single, double or multi-level. Based on their location in space, they distinguish between straight and angular products, as in the photo of a shelf made with your own hands from wood.
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Variety of interior glass structures
Doors
Glass doors are made from tempered sheets or triplex (multilayer impact-resistant material). The model ranges consist of products:
- single and double leaf;
- swing and sliding;
- dull and transparent;
- plain and decorated with multi-colored images.
Photo 6 - Door with black glass in the interior, decor - sandblasting pattern
Partitions
The glass interior created by partitions is typical for offices and public buildings as a transitional option between open space and standard architecture with separate offices. However, now this zoning technique is actively used in residential premises.
Photo 7 - Transparent partition in a loft apartment
A wall made of glass blocks in a studio interior looks interesting, aesthetically separating the kitchen and dining areas or the living room and bedroom.
Photo 8 - Wall made of glass blocks in the interior of an ethnic style kitchen
Stairs and railings
The glass staircase in the interior emphasizes its uniqueness. The manufacture and installation of structures requires considerable costs, so such stairs are appropriate only in reputable private houses or public buildings.
Photo 9 - Staircase with tempered glass railing
Floors
The potential of glass floors in interiors is much greater. Transparent or colored, matte or glossy material can serve as a floor covering even in a small room or kitchen. Thanks to this, the room will acquire a unique charm - the glass floor looks like a daring challenge to conservative habits.
Photo 10 - Eclectic interior: wood, metal, glass, brick
Furniture
Glass furniture in interiors is striking in its diversity: from this material, again thanks to the development of processing technologies, almost any furnishings and even full-fledged sets are now made. Depending on the functionality of the furniture and the design idea, glass is used for individual parts and inserts or as the main raw material.
Photo 11 - Office interior with glass table
Decorative accessories
Only decorative glass products for the interior can be more diverse than furniture. Traditional accessories include figurines and vases, mirrors and paintings, stained glass and mosaics. The returning fashion for constructivism has made decorative glass balls, pyramids and cubes especially popular - such figures are used to decorate home and public interiors.
Photo 12 - Glass vases in the interior
