The $31 West Elm Hack That Creates Extra Storage Out of Thin Air (It’s Renter-Friendly, Too!)

We obviously cover a lot of storage solutions here on AT, but among the rolling carts, under-sink organizers, and drawer dividers we put on your radar, you won’t find very many wall shelves (if any) in our coverage. It’s not that we don’t like them. In fact, they’re so good at helping declutter your bathroom drawers, kitchen cabinets, and other areas where you store small to midsize items. But as I’m sure you’ve already guessed, they don’t exactly lend themselves to renter living.

Most wall shelves need to be drilled into the wall, which can easily cost you a big chunk of your security deposit. Even if you aren’t beholden to a strict landlord, maybe you just don’t trust yourself to drill a shelf above your bed levelly or sturdily, in which case, I’m right there with you. It’s rare that our staffers come across a viable drill-free alternative, but we recently did just that while browsing West Elm’s sale section. For a limited time, you can shop the retailer’s No Nail Bookshelf on sale for just $31. And yes, it’s fully adhesive!

Instead of a shelf design with a ledge, the No Nail Bookshelf has a dual-compartment cubby that can hold up to five pounds. Weighing under two pounds, the shelf is made of engineered wood and has a light finish. It arrives with hanging hardware, though you’re also free to use double-sided adhesive strips to hang it, which aren’t included. This product was technically designed for kids’ rooms, but its simple design and versatility lend themselves to any room.

Whether you want to display photos above the sofa or store mail by the front entryway, the No Nail Bookshelf is perfect for the job. You can also complete your No Nail collection with the Photo Ledge and Half-Moon Jewelry Storage, both of which are on sale now.

Although this bookshelf can’t hold a lot of weight, its size is good for storing and displaying art, stationery, vinyl record covers, and similar lightweight items. We also appreciate that it doesn’t jut out very far. The shelf is two feet long, so you get plenty of horizontal storage space, but its depth measures just two inches. As a result, you won’t feel like it’s protruding far out over your head if you hang it above your bed, for instance. You also won’t feel like you have to dodge an obstacle every time you move through the living room. 

Because of these stellar qualities, we would honestly recommend grabbing more than one shelf. You can hang them near one another to create a tiered shelf system, or you can place them throughout the home as needed. They’ll seamlessly blend in with other decor thanks to their no-frills silhouette. No one will be able to tell they were attached to the wall with adhesive strips. Now that one shelf is selling for $31, it’s the perfect time to grab a few. The sale won’t last forever, so take advantage of this drill-free solution deal while you can.

Buy: No Nail Bookshelf, $31.20 (normally $39)