SPACEMAKING STORAGE

Make good use of an alcove by building shelves across the gap. Floating versions supported by a concealed batten or rods within the wall have a contemporary, minimalist look

Before putting up fixed brackets, check the height of the items you’ll be storing on them. Once screwed to the wall, they’re not easily adjustable. From front to back, the shelf should only extend about 2.5cm further than the arm of the bracket

Adjustable designs sit on vertical steel uprights, long enough to take several shelves. Once mounted to the wall, brackets simply click into place and the shelves can be adjusted whenever your needs change

If fixing to partition walls, you’ll need to locate the studs behind the plasterboard, and screw into those

Shelves that bow can be reinforced by adding a batten to the front or back edge, glued, then screwed in position