apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I have a Target bookshelf. I am afraid it will tip over every time I'm in the room.

I bought two sets of commercial chrome shelving as wardrobes a few years ago (from Storables.) I had a top and bottom shelf for each, along with a rod for hanging.

After moving, and gaining closets, I reconfigured the two into one with 4 shelves (the vertical poles and hang rods are now in the basement storage) for a catch all (cat box below, cat food and recycling shelf, indoor tools and emergency supplies (candles and batteries) shelf, extra office stuff shelves. It started out as a pantry, but the kitchen has enough space.

They are too deep for bookcases and you need a solid shelf liner if you want to use them for books and not be driven crazy. You can buy these in wood or plexiglass sometimes.

If you're worried about a tall bookshelf tipping, you really should use a little furniture strap on the back to keep it attached to the wall. Sure, it means having to patch a little screw hole in the wall when you want to move the shelf, but it's much safer.

Most cheapo commercial bookshelves come with their own strap, but you can probably find one at Home Depot or the like.

Another way to keep bookshelves from tipping, especially on carpeting, is to use wood shims from the hardware store. Put one under each front edge, hammer until the shim is flush with the bottom of the shelf (or as far as you need to for leveling, then break the shim off...)

The only shelving I have ever strapped is my IKEA display shelving (Billy with doors) and then only because of the fragile things stored inside and the weight of the glass doors overbalancing when open. Shims work for everything else.

I'm wary of buying furniture from Target. Our TV console cabinet thing looks downright sad and we've only had it for 4 years. I'd consider buying metal / glass stuff but not their particleboard furniture.

I wouldn't buy furniture that I expected to last more than three years from Target or Ikea. If they survive longer than that, it's a pleasant surprise.

These are not affordable prices, especially in this economy. I got almost the exact same five-tier chrome rack at Walmart for $45.