Not sure what to do with that blank wall? Living room shelves add storage and style. Read on for 10 options for you to consider.
8 Living Room Shelves to Organize Your Home
Updated on Jul. 10, 2025
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Modern Living Room Shelving Unit
A large modern shelving unit like this from @tinyterrace25 makes a big statement in any living room. When it comes to filling the shelves, anything goes, but you can never go wrong with plants. The organic shapes pop against the hard lines of the geometric shelves.
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Streamlined Built-In Living Room Shelves
Built-in shelves add a custom look to your living room, elevating the whole space. These sleek built-in shelves by @katherinecharltondesign put a fresh spin on traditional, ornate built-ins next to the fireplace.
By using white floating shelves against white vertical shiplap, the decorative accessories take center stage. Built-ins not in your budget? Substitute a white bookcase next to your fireplace for a similar effect.
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Budget-Friendly Etagere
An etagere-style bookcase has open shelving that doesn’t add a lot of visual bulk, which makes it a good choice for a small living room. Plus, because of its minimal design, you can find an etagere at an affordable price.
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Simple Floating Living Room Shelves
These simple floating shelves by Pioniere Home provide wall decor and book storage while balancing the visual weight of the TV. To achieve a similar look, stack three floating shelves and keep your styling understated. Try varying the heights of your accessories using stacks of books.
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DIY Ladder Living Room Shelves
This DIY ladder shelving unit by @hass_khalfan was made with lumber and a few pieces of hardware! A piece like this is a work of art on its own. Adding plants, personal décor and books makes it a true showpiece.
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Picture Ledge Living Room Shelf
Don’t overthink your living room wall shelves. Sometimes all you need is a single, long picture ledge, as proven here by @jackie.hoyte. The ledge displays photos and art in the same way a gallery wall can, but makes it much easier to rearrange and swap out frames when needed. This picture ledge is a generous 60 inches wide, giving you plenty of display room. Or you can make a picture ledge shelf any size you want.
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Navy Living Room Shelf Built-Ins
Get a moody, sophisticated vibe with dark living room shelves like these navy built-ins by @jointhebandd. When styling dark shelves, be sure to use light-colored books, decorative accessories and baskets so they pop against that dark backdrop.
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Wall-Mounted Ladder Shelf
We love how this ladder shelving unit combines the look of a free-standing bookcase and wall-mounted shelves. It frees up floor space underneath, but still has the visual impact of a bookcase. The simple sleek design fits well with any style living room decor.
FAQs
How do I safely install living room shelves?
“You’ll need some brackets—either a wood corbel or a metal shelf bracket. These are also at home improvement stores,” says wood and shelving expert Tony Korish. “I’d recommend screwing the brackets directly into a stud, which will require a stud finder. You could also just get some toggle bolt anchors. Considering the weight of what you’ll be holding, I wouldn’t recommend cheap plastic anchors.”
What are the best budget-friendly materials for living room shelves?
“For a budget friendly shelf, getting a pine board at a home improvement store and having them cut it to size would be a great step,” says Korish. “Then all you need are two affordable shelf brackets. If you don’t need to buy any tools, you’ll have a shelving solution for less than $10.”
About the Expert
- Tony Korish is a wood expert and owner of Forever Joint Tops, a butcher block company offering butcher blocks, shelving, kitchen islands and more. With more than two decades of experience in woodworking and a passion for American hardwoods, Tony has established a company known for its craftsmanship, reliability, and dedication to quality.
