In case you didn’t know: An étagère or shelf is a French set of hanging or standing open shelves for the display of collections of objects or ornaments. The étagère became a popular form of furniture in the nineteenth century.
There are dozens of different types of home accessories available on today’s market, but there is something uniquely charming about wicker etageres.
They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, styles, patterns and colors. Here are some tips to help you choose a stylish piece that is also practical.
Measure Your Space
One of your first tasks when deciding how much storage space an etagere would provide is measuring your space. Etageres can be freestanding or attached to walls, so it’s important to measure your wall(s) and know what you have room for before starting shopping around. You don’t want to end up with something too big or too small.
Be sure to include measurements from door frames as well; sometimes there just isn’t enough room between two doors for furniture like etageres! How Many Shelves? Of course you want one with as many shelves as possible; even if you do have plenty of storage elsewhere in your house, having a lot of shelving gives you options!
The problem is that larger items tend to take up more shelf space than smaller ones, which means a bunch of little shelves aren’t likely to provide as much storage capacity as fewer larger ones.
A good rule of thumb is three rows per shelf (one large rack or basket on top row, one large and one small item in each subsequent row). If you have children who will be using them for storing toys, opt for four rows per shelf instead – toddlers love climbing! Also keep in mind whether or not you might need to move your home accessory around often; it makes sense to skip heavy solid wood pieces if they won’t stay where you put them.
Folding Options Are Key
Every homeowner knows that few things are worse than trying to maneuver a bulky, unwieldy piece of furniture through a tiny doorway – especially when those pieces are usually very lightweight!
Check out folding options like collapsible legs or fold-out racks. These features may add a bit to your price tag, but they will make moving and storing your etagere much easier and save you both time and hassle in years to come.
Size Matters
Do you live alone? Or are kids going to be using it for their toys? Are you planning on keeping it outdoors most of the time, perhaps under a porch roof or patio umbrella?
It all matters, because the size of your etagere should match the frequency of use and the amount of storage you really need.
Smaller = More Efficient
Just because a site sells a huge 100+ shelf beauty doesn’t mean you actually need to buy it. Remember, you don’t want to end up with something too large either. When you’re buying anything of decent quality, you’ll get a ton of bang for your buck. And, despite popular belief, size is directly proportional to durability: the bigger it is, typically, the sturdier it is as well.
That being said, that doesn’t mean you should go overboard and purchase a 400+ shelf behemoth! Keep your space in mind and think about how frequently you will be able to store and retrieve various sized items. You’re much better off with a small, sleek etagere than a massive unit that sits in your living room unused.
Color and Pattern
Given the natural materials used to construct these home accessories, there are countless combinations of color and pattern you can choose from. While they generally come in brown, they can be found in just about any color you can imagine. This is a bonus to those of us on a budget, as etageres are relatively inexpensive when compared to other home accessories.
Some homeowners find it fun to mix and match etageres with existing furniture; another option is matching them with artwork or accessories. Preassembled or DIY? There are advantages and disadvantages to both. On one hand, choosing preassembled will save you time and energy.
But, unless you already have a specific style in mind, it can be hard to choose from among dozens of designs that look similar but offer different options. Don’t worry about making a bad choice if you choose to DIY – etageres are fairly easy to assemble on your own.
Measure! Measure! Measure!
Not only does it come in handy when you’re ready to assemble, but it’s critical when you’re ready to decorate. You wouldn’t want your etagere to end up 2 inches from a precious piece of art or antique, would you?
Make sure to measure everything twice, and have your etagere professionally installed if you are worried about making an error. Try these tips and tricks, and you will be well on your way to designing your dream home!