Space Saver: Tall, Narrow Shelves

Many homes have nooks, alcoves, or narrow walls that offer a sliver of space too small for most furniture. Tall, narrow shelves can transform areas like these from underused space into valuable storage.

If you're working with an alcove, it's easy to fake the look of built-ins by installing a wall-mounted shelving system (photos 2 and 5). Freestanding shelves can also be useful. Look for tall dining hutches in thrift stores and on craigslist, and keep an eye out for unusual pieces that could be repurposed as shelves. Roommates B, Joe, and Rachael painted an old gun rack a bright blue (photo #4) and remade it into shelving.

SHOWN ABOVE
• 1 Martha and Ben's Southern Mix
• 2 Tanis and Terry's Workman's Cottage
• 3-4 B, Joe & Rachael's Eclectic Split-Level
• 5 Terisa, Colin, and Lauren's Family Home

Photos: Sarah Coffey (1, 3, 4, 5), Evan Thomas (2)

Comments (5)

love that brown shower curtain?
any idea as to where its from??

posted by owlish on February 10th 2010 at 11:13am
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dwell studio for target

posted by ScottieG on February 10th 2010 at 11:15am
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Ditto. Love the shower curtain!! Thanks for the source, ScottieG.

posted by mrsjonessoapbox on February 10th 2010 at 5:12pm
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Holy cow I was just about to ask that because I love it as well!!

posted by amp7 on February 10th 2010 at 5:13pm
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Would be interested to know about the hardware used for installing the shelves in picture 5. Have a very similar nook that I'd like to put shelves in without using back rails.

posted by acmurr on February 12th 2010 at 3:25am
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