It is very convenient to place wall shelves in the interior of any apartment. They do not take up much space, while being a highly functional part. Wall shelves are especially common as stands for TVs or other equipment. Such a shelf will help to install equipment without additional wall cutting and wiring to a specific place, and will provide the most convenient connection.
Features of wall structures
A wall shelf for equipment is a console-shaped structure, which, due to its appearance and mounting method, allows you to save free space in the house. Almost every shelf model of this type comes with a cable duct, which allows you to visually hide all the wires going to the devices.
A wall shelf is an excellent solution for placing various types of equipment; it allows you to place other interior details in the saved space without compromising functionality.
Now manufacturers are ready to offer a lot of different wall shelves, both in design and material. They are made from wood, glass, plastic and even metal. For example, glass shelves are produced on a chrome-plated metal frame, while the surfaces themselves are made of tempered glass. Such products look incredibly stylish in the interior.
Some products are equipped with brackets that provide remote-type consoles and clamps so that the equipment is protected from falling. You can choose a shelf of this type to hang equipment of any size on the wall.
Types of wall shelves
The designs under consideration are distinguished by their original appearance, convenience and ergonomics. They occupy a minimal amount of usable space and are very popular among buyers. Due to the variety of appearance, a wall shelf for TV and equipment becomes not only a functional piece of furniture, but also a stylish part of the interior.
The shelves are suitable for any room; they will be the best choice for those who do not want to clutter up the free space with cabinets and tables. Such shelves are made only from high-quality materials, with a thickness of at least 15 mm, which allows you to install things on top with a total weight of about 15 kg.
To install the TV, wide and narrow shelves are offered, which are equipped with brackets and specialized plugs to ensure that the TV screen is in the correct position. The shelf width in each case is selected individually in accordance with the width of the TV. So, deep shelves are suitable for older models, and products with a width of about 15 cm are suitable for modern plasma ones.
There are currently two types of wall shelves. These are: simple and rotary. The first option is performed only to support the device; such a shelf can be made with your own hands. The second type is more functional, as it not only supports the TV, but also allows you to direct the image in the required direction. Most often, such shelves are installed in the kitchen so that the housewife can watch programs from anywhere in the room.
What to consider when choosing
Since there are quite a lot of TV mounts and their prices can be different, you should choose them taking into account not only personal preferences, but also financial capabilities, because complex and stylish designs are not cheap. You also need to pay attention to the material, type of construction and other equally important factors.
Concealed shelf holder
Material of manufacture
The best material for creating shelves is wood . This is an inexpensive material that has many advantages: it is durable and harmless to others. Almost all the furniture in the house is wooden, so a wall shelf can fit perfectly. Of course, stores may sell shelves made of other materials, but if you decide to make a shelf yourself, then wood is best suited for this purpose.
Wooden TV stands
Design features
Wall shelves can be made in different designs, but a wall-mounted product is considered optimal. It is worth noting that the duration and complexity of the work process depends on the type of design.
TV stands
Dimensions
TVs come in different sizes, so be sure to take this into account when choosing a shelf design. First of all, measure the dimensions of the TV, and only then start calculating the future shelf.
TV shelf drawing
Installation location
It is also necessary to decide on the location where the structure will be installed. As a rule, a wall shelf is attached to the wall opposite the armchairs or sofa - this will make watching TV much more convenient. But if you are going to install a TV in the kitchen, then the shelf for it is mainly mounted in the corner so that it does not disturb anyone in an already cramped room.
The installation location must be decided in advance
Shelf material
Nowadays, equipment is usually made with small dimensions, so it can easily be placed on the wall using a shelf. There will be no need to strain your eyes or turn your neck; the shelf can be installed in a place convenient for viewing and using the equipment.
Manufacturers, as already mentioned, make such products from different materials. For a better understanding and ease of choice, we will consider everything.
Built-in TV
A wall niche is one of the best options for placing a TV. If you want your kitchen to look stylish and unusual, consider it.
It is important to consider that in small rooms this technique conceals the space even more. Therefore, it is still better to model a niche where the dimensions allow.
Its placement can be arbitrary. A small niche with a TV built into it above the dining table looks especially impressive. This allows you to visually separate the cooking area from the dining area. Designers are very fond of this technique, and for good reason: even a medium-sized room with proper zoning looks spacious.
When designing a niche, do not forget about the general rules for placing a television screen. You should not place it too close to those sitting at the table - this will harm your eyesight. Also consider the angle of the TV and its height.
By following these recommendations, you can easily select the optimal place to place a wall niche.
Wooden wall shelves
Nowadays, companies are increasingly moving away from the trend of creating furniture walls with niches for TV, as modern people try not to clutter up the space with unnecessary furniture, freeing it up. A large amount of furniture in the room constricts the space, which causes psychological discomfort for those living in the apartment. Therefore, a small shelf on the wall will look much more advantageous.
Wood has many advantages, thanks to which it is constantly used for furniture production. This material is easy to process, so you can create any shape, and is also affordable. In addition, to save your budget, you can try to make a shelf for a TV or other equipment yourself.
Kitchen studio
If you are the happy owner of a studio apartment, then the problem with placing the TV will be solved by itself. You don't have to worry about how to properly place the TV in the kitchen - just place or hang it in the room so that it is visible from the kitchen area.
This technique will help not only save space in the kitchen, but also visually combine the room and kitchen into one room. This will help increase the territory.
Glass shelves
Modern interiors are decorated with practical furniture pieces that include glass and metal. All wall shelves are made of tempered glass, which, due to its properties, perfectly withstands technology and is not as fragile as ordinary glass. The most popular glass shelves are wall-mounted straight or corner models.
Against the general background, such structures look airy and weightless, in some cases they can simply not be noticed. The glass surface can be transparent, tinted or colored, which allows you to choose the design to suit any interior.
Use modern technologies
Anyone who has ever flown on an international flight has noticed small flip-up TVs. Their use in the kitchen is also justified.
The back panel of the TV can be beautifully decorated, thereby making it a full-fledged element of the interior.
Perhaps the only disadvantage of this solution is the limited dimensions of folding TVs. But if you are looking for the optimal model for a small kitchen, then a disadvantage can turn into a significant advantage.
The placement of such a TV can be arbitrary, but it must be taken into account that small dimensions do not imply large distances. A folding TV can fit well above the dining table or kitchen sink, depending on when you like to watch your favorite shows.
Wall shelves made of plasterboard
Such products have more advantages than conventional wooden or glass structures. The creation of a shelf depends on the wishes of the owner and the dimensions that need to be given to it. Also, during the installation process, the owner can think about ways to hide wiring and other communications.
Important! Shelves made of plasterboard look especially decorative in combination with LED lighting.
It is also convenient that such a shelf can be given any shade so that it fits perfectly into the room or can be completely hidden by simulating the same external finish as in the main interior. The cost of such shelves is low, if, of course, only the price of materials is taken into account, since any home craftsman can design and install such a shelf at home.
A plasterboard shelf will become a reliable place to place the TV. Shelves for accessories and related equipment can be placed around the main surface. Thus, you can get an original, custom-made product that will delight you with its functionality.
Places in the house for mounting shelves
The shelf can be mounted anywhere in the house where there is a TV or other equipment. For example, to place it in the bedroom, you can use designer shelves, which with their appearance will attract attention to the wall with the TV. To maintain and create greater aesthetics, they can be supplemented with small shelves with various little things. You can also go the other way and use wall shelves as a wall frame, and hang the TV itself on a bracket. In this case, you get the feeling that a separate niche has been allocated for the technology.
TV under the ceiling
Are you lucky enough to have a separate dining area? Or, due to the small size of the kitchen, do you prefer to dine in the living room? In this case, the optimal solution may be to install the TV at a fairly high level.
Of course, for those whose family spends a lot of time at the kitchen table, this technique is not suitable - due to constant viewing of TV above eye level, vision can be seriously deteriorated.
But if you only cook in the kitchen, this method is optimal. The TV will not take up space, and you can enjoy your favorite TV shows. Try hanging the TV above the niche of the refrigerator or placing it on the wall - in any case, it will look stylish and unusual.
The nuances of placing a wall shelf
The correct placement of a wall shelf should take into account the physiological characteristics of a person so that watching TV is as comfortable as possible. So, the distance to the screen should be equal to 4 diagonals of the screen. This is the only way to achieve the absence of tension in the eyes. If a plasma is installed in the apartment, then this nuance becomes extremely important.
A person should be positioned at an angle of 30 degrees from the TV, so it is worth maintaining this figure when placing a shelf. The height of the TV is also important. The correct value would be a height of 1 m from the floor or equal to the height of a person. All of the listed placement features are calculated taking into account the height and location of the seating areas from which a person will watch TV shows.
Important! Only a TV that is used in rare cases can be placed too high and the style of the interior implies this.
In order to correctly determine the level of placement of a shelf on the wall, you should perform a few simple steps:
- Sit on the sofa, keeping your eyes closed.
- When you open your eyes, immediately look at the intended location of the TV.
- Mark the area where your gaze first fell. This will be the top point of the screen location.
In the case of planning the location of the TV in the bedroom, all the same actions are repeated only in a lying position.
Maybe put the TV on the kitchen shelf?
If you don't want to bother with mounting a bracket or for some reason you can't hang your TV on the wall, try mounting it on a kitchen shelf.
A good solution could be a kitchen set with space for a TV. It will have to be made to order, but in this case the TV screen will become not just entertainment, but an element of interior design.
If you plan to place the TV in a ready-made headset, think carefully about the place for it.
First of all, you need to measure the size of the TV. It should stand firmly on the designated shelf. The slightest hesitation is unacceptable.
Think carefully about the placement of the shelf. As in the previous case, it is important to keep the TV away from the stove. Hot air combined with condensation can cause overheating or short circuiting. In addition, unfavorable conditions will significantly shorten the life of the TV.
Don’t assume that a TV on a kitchen shelf looks unsightly. Properly selected kitchen furniture will allow you to organically fit the screen into the interior, making it even more comfortable.
Places where it is prohibited to place a shelf under equipment
There are places in the apartment where placing a TV is strictly prohibited. This is, for example, the place above the stove in the kitchen, the area above the fireplace in the living room. It is also not recommended to place any equipment in niches in such a way that air cannot flow to the rear of them. This can ruin any device. In particular, this arrangement is prohibited for plasma panels, which tend to heat up quickly.
When planning a place to install a shelf, you should not rely only on aesthetics, especially if it contradicts safety rules. If you need to place the TV in a niche, then you should ensure that it is large and the distance between the wall and the equipment is approximately 20 cm.
You should not hang shelves, especially if heavy objects will be placed on them in the future, on walls that are not very strong. This primarily applies to drywall. If such a need exists, then the wall surface is first strengthened with plywood.
Where is the best place to install
A bad solution would be to simply attach a shelf anywhere in an apartment or house. Therefore, when choosing a suitable location, you need to consider several rules and recommendations. For example, it is strictly not recommended to install a shelf close to heating devices (for example, a stove), on a wall with a fireplace, or in a confined space. One of the most popular places with enclosed space in an apartment is a niche.
Old TV on a shelf
To ensure that the installed TV does not harm your eyesight or pose a threat to the health of family members, you need to ensure that the distance from the floor to the shelf board is at least 100 cm. Also, the TV must be at a decent distance from the eyes. We are talking about four TV diagonal sizes.
Triplex does not break, it only cracks. This is what is used to make bulletproof glass. Suitable for large TV
On a note! When installing a wall shelf, you need to take into account the location of the sofa or bed in the room, which should be at right angles to the TV. A small deviation is allowed, but no more than 30%.
Making your own wall shelf
If you have the desire and free time, then a wall shelf for equipment can be made with your own hands. You don't need any specialized tools for this. You will need: a saw, a drill, a construction level, fasteners, a ruler, a marker, a tape measure and the manufacturing material itself. Most often, shelves are made from MDF, so we will consider this option. It is very convenient to use leftover material after repairs that have no use.
To begin with, it is worth creating a drawing of the future structure on paper indicating all the joints and dimensions. In this case, the dimensions of the room and the equipment that is planned to be installed must be taken into account.
Next comes the main installation in accordance with the previously completed project. To obtain a high-quality design, the elements are connected in stages, resulting in a finished product. If there are unprocessed sections left, they can always be decorated with decorative ribbons using an iron.
