The best bedroom shelving ideas effortlessly combine functionality with style, no matter the size or shape of your space. They provide the perfect spot for showcasing your most aesthetically pleasing books, the house plants you've managed to keep alive, and your ever-growing collection of prints. They can also serve multiple purposes, doubling as a mini desk or dressing table when needed.
Shelving can be a true asset to your bedroom ideas, as long as you know the materials to use, where to install them, and how to make use of them effectively — whether that means maximizing limited floor space or optimizing awkward alcoves for storage.
We've gathered a wealth of inspiring shelving ideas to transform your bedroom into a stylish and organized heaven. From built-in storage ideas that harmonize with your room's decor to adjustable solutions tailored to suit your specific requirements, there's inspiration for all.
1. Build bedroom shelving into a headboard
When you envision wrap-around, built-in headboard ideas, dismiss those images of bulky, 70s-esque designs that are made up of way too many drawers and cabinets that tower imposingly over the bed. As this show-stopping bedroom shelving idea proves, built-in bedroom shelving can work aesthetically and really maximize space. The key is to keep it simple, and rather than go for a solid block of cabinetry above the bed, incorporate shelving to break up the run of storage.
Don't be tempted to overcrowd these over-the-bed shelves; in fact, avoid cluttering any open shelves in a bedroom. As designer Sabrina Albanese says, shelves in bedrooms risk becoming a "dumping ground. A bedroom is for calm and serenity, visual clutter will take away from that. If you do have a shelf in your bedroom, everything on it should have a purpose, keep it minimal. Don’t feel the pressure to fill it up with a bunch of stuff, just because. Less is more here."
Negative space is key. Ensure you leave plenty of it between your favorite finds or collections to prevent that cluttered look, and so that your shelves always feel purposeful and curated.
2. Incorporate built-in lighting to shelves
Shelves aren't simply a practical addition to bedrooms, they also serve as striking focal points that allow you to showcase your organizational and styling skills while adding character to the space. Whether you're experimenting with creating vignettes or displaying cherished items, what better way is there to highlight this design element than by ensuring it's beautifully lit?
Spotlights, like those in the shelves pictured above, can create a layered lighting scheme, drawing attention to individual items, while strip lights can accentuate the structure of the shelves themselves and add a soft, ambient glow to the room.
For added versatility, opt for dimmable bedroom lighting ideas so you can shift between cozy, relaxing moods and brighter, more functional settings. These Maylit under cabinet lights from Amazon can be dimmed and set to night mode with a remote control, allowing you to easily adjust the ambiance.
3. Group shelves in odd numbers for aesthetic appeal
When it comes to styling awkward alcoves in modern bedrooms, our key piece of advice, whatever your style, wherever the shelving, is to group in odd numbers. The rule of odds, as it's known in interior design, is a tried-and-tested approach that actually has scientific backing. According to the theory, odd numbers take the brain longer to process as there is no obvious pattern, causing the eye to linger more. So, for displays that have intrigue and interest, always group in odd numbers.
As Jane Rockett, co-founder of interiors retailer Rockett St George says, "One of our ultimate style secrets for curating a beautiful shelf is the use of odd numbers when curating your display. Think in ones, threes, and fives when grouping together treasured objects and ornaments. While a uniformed and symmetrical display with matching numbers looks pleasing to the eye, it can make your home feel too perfect — like a showroom.
"Mix up your display ornaments in odd numbers to keep things interesting and don’t be too precious about what makes it into the final display. Sentimental pieces, well-loved books, and quirky ornaments that make you smile, all add character to your shelves and are therefore essential for creating a show-stopping display that is unique to you and your home."
4. Install a customizable, modular shelving system
Our storage needs are constantly evolving — whether we’re rotating summer clothing for bulkier winter items, setting up a bedroom office with space for files, or simply rearranging personal and decorative items. Adaptable, modular bedroom shelving makes it easy to adjust your storage seamlessly as your needs change. This is especially valuable for small bedroom storage ideas, where flexible solutions are essential.
These include adjustable brackets and shelves that can be reconfigured over time, or adjustable shelving that allows you to change the width or add extra units as needed. You can even integrate a headboard or a peg board with shelving that can be slotted in or removed, providing convenient storage for books, decor, or bedside essentials without compromising space. We love this green pegboard designed by Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia from Target.
5. Float a shelf above the bed to add a focal point
The head of the bed is often naturally the focal point of a bedroom, so embrace that and make it even more of a feature wall by adding a shelf above the bed. And don't just have it floating awkwardly in the middle surrounded by a sea of wall: take it either the whole length of the wall or at least ensure you opt for a shelf that's longer than the headboard, because it will look far more elegant and pleasing to the eye.
And in terms of what you decorate it with, this isn't about practicality; this is a shelf that's almost purely decorative since it's not like you are going to stand on the bed to reach up for your skincare every night. So be creative. Styling books is always a good option, instantly adding texture and color. And if you want to keep the texture but introduce a more neutral color scheme, why not embrace the controversial trend of displaying books page side outwards?
Houseplants also work wonderfully for adding a pop of subtle color and literally bring life into a minimalist scheme, or seamlessly blend into the room’s aesthetic, as seen in the bedroom above.
6. Make your bedroom shelving work harder
Alcove shelving ideas that are purely decorative are a bit of a luxury. Those spaces may seem awkward but you can actually transform them into really hardworking, multi-functional areas. Take this really quite small and narrow alcove: sure, you could fill it with floating shelves and create a pretty book display, but if you really want to put that space to good use, turn it into a workspace or a dressing area.
There are plenty of lovely floating desk designs out there that have drawer space, but you could equally just use a floating shelf that's deep enough to be functional. Pick a stool that can neatly tuck under when not in use, mount a wall mirror if you are planning on using it as a dressing space or add more shelves if you want to use it as a small home office. You could even add doors and turn it into a closet office so you can shut work away at the end of the day.
7. Use a shelf to add surface space to a tiny bedroom
In a tiny bedroom, shelves can be such a lifesaver. Floating shelves take up zero floor space and yet create an instant surface area that you can use for decor and storage. See how in this small bedroom there is practically no floor space for freestanding furniture, so a well-positioned shelf becomes a bedside table, a bookshelf, and an area to add some character to this compact space.
For another versatile and space-saving solution, consider a shelf that hooks directly onto your bed frame, such as this BedShelfie design from Amazon, keeping everything within easy reach without taking up floor space.
"If you do have a shelf in a bedroom, only display what is necessary, it should be more functional than anything," explains interior designer Sabrina Albanese. "A lamp, a beautiful water carafe, a space for a phone charger, a book, a little tray if you have a few smaller items, or a jewelry box to conceal things." She also suggests including some closed storage, like small baskets or boxes, to hide away the essentials that you might not want on display.
8. Add height to the room and keep shelving above eye level
Bedroom shelves that are positioned above eye level add a certain elegance to a room, perhaps because they draw the eyes upward creating the illusion of height and loftiness. This clever design trick can make a small bedroom look bigger.
This neutral bedroom is the perfect example of a room with good lines. The bottom of the shelf sits at the same level as the top of the prints, the doors of the built-in closet opposite mirror the top of the shelf space, even the lighting hangs at the perfect point. It's subtle, but once you notice it you can see why this room is so pleasing to the eye. So the takeaway: always consider the lines that a bedroom shelf will create in a space and how will that work with the other lines in the room.
9. Maximize an awkward nook
Sometimes the lines in a bedroom aren't straight, often there are awkward nooks, dead corners, and tricky angles to work with, but there's always a shelf shape and style that will help you maximize that space. The best way to really make the most of that space is to go bespoke, and built-in: have a bedroom shelving unit designed to fit perfectly into your space.
"Wall-mounted storage units and made-to-measure shelving units can create a built-in feel that seamlessly blends in with the room's features achieving a cohesive overview." says designers Jen and Marr, founders of Interior Fox. "And remember to furnish your room both vertically and horizontally. This is especially important in small areas of the home when we need to optically enlarge the space."
In this attic conversion, the sloping ceiling has been used as an asset, with the shelving at the tallest point of the space alluding to more height, and those awkward low spaces, where shelving just wouldn't be functional, having built-in storage added. Clever.
10. Create a mini dressing room with shelving
This is an ingenious bedroom shelving idea and a great way to make use of an awkward spot. Rather than just fill your alcoves with bedroom storage, build-out slightly and use the space in between as a hidden home office or a dressing space. The doors just fold back over for a totally seamless look that doesn't intrude into the bedroom.
11. Make your shelves a feature with contrasting colors
Make your bedroom shelving more of a feature in your space by painting it a color that's going to contrast with your walls. So often we see rooms where the shelving just blends into the background, and while this can work if you are after a more minimalist look — or adding shelving to a room that already might have a lot going on, such as a living room or kitchen — in a bedroom, we are of the opinion that you can be a bit braver.
You want a bedroom to feel cozy and cocooning, so opting for a dark color for your built-in shelving will instantly give you that enveloping effect — especially if it spans a whole wall, as in this bedroom.
Plus, darker hues are perfect for bedroom shelving, as you'll find colors pop so much more against a deep background, so your displays will stand out more than if you were to stick with a light, neutral palette.
Take home tip: books don't all need to be stacked the same way. It may feel unnatural to mix horizontal with vertical but it adds so much for shape and character to shelving.
12. Free up floor space with a floating bedside table
Bedside tables, for all they offer in terms of storage, sometimes just aren't a practical choice if space is tight or you don't want to add extra bulk to a bedroom. A simple floating shelf, wall-mounted at the right height next to the bed can be just as practical as a table, and yet light can still flow underneath and you can keep the floor space free.
In this primary bedroom, the simple shelf allows for the wooden accent wall to go uninterrupted. Also, note the ceiling-mounted lighting: space is precious on a shelf so save yourself having to squeeze on a lamp by choosing a wall light instead.
FAQs
How can you style a bedroom shelf?
"When it comes to styling bedroom shelves, start by placing larger items first, such as large artwork, a big bunch of blooms, or a propped-up mirror, as these anchoring pieces will set the tone and also elevate any shelf. If everything is small and bijou it can read as too itty-bitty," explains British interior designer Abigail Ahern. "Books always make shelves feel homey so stack vertically and horizontally for visual interest and always put something on top of the horizontal stack. Decorative objects like sculptures take shelves to another level and to add life and vitality, botanicals are a must."
It's also a great idea to make use of bedroom organizers on your shelves to help keep your things neat and tidy — and out of sight.
Where should shelves be hung in a bedroom?
Where shelving should be hung in a bedroom will depend on the size of your space and the layout. If you have alcoves, these are prime real estate for shelving as they can fit in neatly without protruding into the room. A long single shelf above a bed always works and switching a bedside table for a shelf or two can work wonders in a small bedroom or when you want to keep things minimal.
While open shelves can be a stylish and practical addition to your bedroom, it's important to remember that visual clutter can affect sleep hygiene. To maintain a restful environment, be mindful of how you style and position them, keeping the space organized and serene.
