A couple of weeks ago, we shared with you the way-too-deep baseboard in our rented Montreal apartment. We decided to install a low, linear shelf along the wall the bed is on.
Look!: Shelving Over a Deep Baseboard
The shelf is made up of 3'-long segments like this. The back of the shelf rests on the baseboard and the front on paper tube legs that we scavenged from a fabric supply shop. The legs insert snugly over tin cans(!) that are screwed into the bottom of the shelf. The cans act to hold the legs in place and connect one shelf to the next.
The solution has worked well for us in this one-year rental: We didn't have to mar any of the apartment's surfaces, we can reuse the 3' long shelves when we move out, and the paper tubes and tin cans will be recycled. In the meantime, we have a bedside table, a little book storage space, and we've put that 3" deep baseboard to work.
Comments (7)
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very nice! i want to do the same, now!
might i suggest painting the paper tubes? or perhaps, draping a long piece of fabric across the length and width of the shelf, and coming down to the floor? as a bonus, it'll hide your wires, but still leave you with easy access to your plugs... and create even more storage... perhaps a spot to hid some baskets or boxes of items you use less? oh, boy... i'm all inspired... thanks!
view closertotheocean's profile
i agree, the tubes would look nice painted white and baskets (like the type to hold CDs...long and not too deep) would help hide cords. I think fabric would make it look like a too low bench though.
view Enamorada's profile
Great job, an excellent solution. My bottom bookshelf is drooping. To prop it up, I've thought of cutting lengths of bamboo (similar in diameter to your cardboard tubes) to push underneath. Screwing cans to the bottom of the shelf to keep the tubes in place is clever.
view Carol in Denver's profile
Great idea and I don't have deep baseboards. But, I love the low shelf for books! It would make my life easier as I'm quite vertically challenged.
view williamsweyr's profile
Clever. I am in the process of moving into an apartment that has no baseboards. I didn't even notice it when we viewed the space, what with the previous tenants' furniture still there, but in the empty rooms it's very noticeable. I'm hoping it won't be obvious when we get our stuff in.
view lurker2209's profile
This is excellent. It makes me wish I had baseboards.
I don't agree with painting the tubes. I think they look fine as they are, but also, you can't recycle them if you paint them.
view Orchid64's profile
go away, WallPrint! booo!
view *heather leaf*'s profile