Choosing shelves or a room divider

Decide whether the piece will stand against a wall or out in the room. As a divider between a living and dining area, a low or medium height marks off the zone without blocking the view, while a high divider gives more privacy and more shelf space. Most of these are about 30 cm deep, which takes books, files and decor without eating into a walkway.

Load heavy items such as books on the lower shelves and lighter decor higher up, so a freestanding divider stays steady. Tiered shelves with three or five levels let you start with one unit and add another later. Keep laminated board and MDF away from damp walls and wipe them dry, while the Optimus Plastic Shelving 5 Tier Rack Black and the metal shelving cope better in a store room, laundry area or kitchen.