20 New Ways to Use Shelf Brackets You’ve Never Thought Of
Shelf brackets’ primary purpose is well known and documented: prop up and secure boards to create wall storage. But did you know that there’s an entire outlaw gang of brackets that went rogue? They shrugged off society’s expectations about their usefulness and devised entirely new roles for themselves within households and workspaces everywhere.
1. Kim & Scott of Yellow Brick Home modified a pair of IKEA brackets to become a kraft paper dispenser.
2. Joe made the bike racks from basic white shelf brackets which were covered with thick pieces of cork then sealed to keep it clean and in tact. From Design Sponge.
3. Emma of A Beautiful Mess bought some mega brackets to create a standing desk in her home office.
4. You can use a series of IKEA brackets in lieu of hooks or traditional clothing rack.
5. Organize your linens Country Living-style with some well-placed decorative brackets on shelves and in closets.
6. This table was made using garden variety brackets from Lowes as the base.
7. From Slovakia, Jules Yap came up with several smart IKEA Hacks, including this magazine rack in the bathroom.
8. These mounted planters were created by Landchenlust by cutting pot-sized holes from shelves and using the brackets to mount on a side of a building.
9. After drilling a couple of holes in two wooden brackets, Antuan created a hanging wardrobe.
10. Connie of Salvage Savvy added some antique iron brackets to the corners of her archway and voilà! Instant architectural interest.
11. Corral all your magazines and file folders in one spot with this desk organizer from The Lovely Side.
12. This kitchen banquette was made by Kristen Maynard and almost appears to float with some slim brackets peeking out from underneath.
13. This modern vanity by New Blooming is a half-table of sorts, being supported underneath by unobtrusive brackets.
14. New Blooming also modified some metal brackets with wooden dowels to look like modern pegboard.
15. From Hometalk comes this cottage-style kitchen, which got some of its detail from handmade wooden brackets that decorate the cabinet bases.
16. This hanging plant was spotted by Victoria of The Owl & the Accordian at Grand Designs Live.
17. Jennifer Rizzo’s kitchen window is framed by a couple of wooden brackets, which dress it up without needing a curtain.
18. The desk created in
The Yellow Cape Cod’s dormer window is embellish by some classic brackets on each side.
19. When painted the same color as the wall, a corbel-mounted piece of wood is a handy bedside table for Jenny Komenda’s small bedroom.
20. Create a wall sconce with a bracket and simple corded socket, like this one from Nalle’s House.
21. Poppytalk shared this old photo from Wish Magazine years ago and it’s too good not to share (even though the photo’s not great). How smart is using a decorative iron bracket to prop open a window?
– Re-edited from a post originally published 3.30.2016 – AL