How can I make these wire shelf units more attractive and useful?

Question

I am hanging these in my craft room but they aren't that great looking and I don't think the wire shelves will hold things all that well. I need some ideas other than cardboard and contact paper to make the shelves more useful and the whole thing just more attractive.  I have two both will be going up.

Lan8422260 · Answer

Spray paint might be a good starting point. Have you thought about lining the shelves with plexi-glass?

Gail Salminen · Answer

It might depend on how you are going to use them. I know you said a craft room, but will you be storing in them - if something colourful perhaps that is enough to give it character. Consider spray paint either colourful or  black or gold or silver - depends on the overall look you want for your room. What colours you are looking for - perhaps pics of the room and what you are creating storage for.

Ali Kay · Answer

What about weaving some ribbon through the shelves for a little color? It might also help hold smaller items from falling through.. You could also attach some painted clothespins to hold craft items between the shelves. That would  fill in the space- unless you are storing something tall on the shelves. To keep tall items upright, maybe you could tie a colorful cord  to each side  as a 'tension support' to keep the items straight?  Another idea - maybe some little hanging baskets, either made with the wire like your shelves, or spray paint some other type of hanging baskets for your smaller  items.

Sirkku · Answer

What about putting some craft decorations

Geri Ann · Answer

I would spray paint it and then use foam core to put a back drop on it and paint it with some wide black and white stripes or decoupage, and then distress, etc.

Jit4828103 · Answer

Cover with wood boards.

Jeanne Martin · Answer

I'm not real imaginative so for decorating it look at the great ideas others have shared with you.  But, I used similar wire shelves (but much smaller versions) to hang on my bathroom wall to hold smaller beauty items (jars of cotton swabs, cotton balls, makeup brushes, etc.) and had a problem with small items standing straight on the wire shelves.  I purchased some hobby type thin boards at Home Depot and cut some strips to place on the wire shelves.  (My Home Depot has a great selection of different sized hobby boards as well as different wood types.  Oak is most expensive and looks beautiful.  I chose the cheapest since it didn't need to look good, just provide a smooth surface.  I didn't even paint them!).  Now I have nice smooth shelves and nothing tips over anymore.  They sell plexiglass sheets that could be used also but I don't know how to cut it.  In a craft room you could use good quality cardboard also. I couldn't because of moisture issues in a bathroom.  Trust me, you'll appreciate anything to set things on other than those wire shelves!

Eleanor · Answer

I have similar shelves that were meant to be hung over a door for paper back books.  I use them on two windows in my laundry room for small plants that I start from cuttings from my houseplants.  I  am  able to have 30 - 40 plants  on the racks and window sills.  As they grow larger, I repot them and donate them to the library where they sell  and the money goes to the  library gift fund.  Over time other people have donated pretty pots and baskets which  make for attractive gift items at reasonable prices.    They now add over $200 a year  to the gift fund.
My shelves came with plastic over the door hangers which fit between the  upper and lower windows.

Tor8127659 · Answer

I'd spray paint them a neutral color to make  them less stark.  Choose a neutral color thaat will help them to blend more into the wall behind them.  Personally I'd avoid doing anything that makes them take up any more space than necessary (I have a small home and need to make every inch 'both useful and beautiful') unless you would actually be adding to their funtionality in a significant way.  What else I would do with them depends on what you plan to store on them.  Variations range from adding contrasting (single- or multi-color water-resistant liners (so small items won't fall through the cracks) to selectively modgepodging parts of shelves to match the various supplies you plan to store, to using permanent color markers to trace specific tems on liners or trying a weave of ribbons, lace and trims for looks from romantic to antique or bright moderns.  Sounds like a lot of fun possibilities!

Rsh409000 · Answer

Take small pieces of different fabrics and tie, on the wires like you do  for a wreath

Deborah · Answer

Maybe you could cover a piece of styrofoam or thin plywood (the exact size of the shelf)  with fabric.  Next glue it to the back of shelf. Then you could weave the same or coordinating fabric through the slots and add bows or whatever you like sides. Another idea is to hot glue seashells to the shelf.

Necole · Answer

Hi, since there is such a large gap in between your shelves what I would do is 1) spray paint the wire shelves in a bright color you love. 2) get a piece of peg board and paint in a coordinating color 3) attach shelves to the peg board and paint the heads of your screws so they match the peg board 4) attach the peg board to the wall 5) get plastic placemats (you can find them at dollar tree for $1) and cut to size for the bottom of each shelf, so things don't fall through. If what you are storing on shelves isn't that pretty you could easily weave some ribbon through the wires so the items would be minimally visible. The benefit of the peg board is you can utilize the additional space between each shelf for hanging other craft supplies. That's what I would do. I hope this helps.

Jit4828103 · Answer

They sell coverings that look like wood at home depot and other stores, not sure it fits your shelf in particular Otherwise I would use thin wood boards drill tiny holes and tie to rack with Fishing wire. They are thin strong and see through.  You can even go a step further and modge podge pretty fabric to the boards.  Help this helps.

B. Enne · Answer

Choose a patterned ribbon or fabric, pick a colour from it and spray paint the wire. Weave the ribbon through the front of the shelves.

Holly Lengner - Lost Mom · Answer

I think it would be great for storage, but you'll want to make sure it's screwed to the wall several places down the shelf. You can spray paint it a color that you like or even wrap the wire in twine.

Kim |Exquisitely Unremarkable · Answer

I would put it up on a wall that had color or pattern, using a peel and stick wallpaper for example on the wall or closet door you're mounting it to. Then I'd spray paint it in a coordinating color for pop.

Deb K · Answer

Hello, you could spray paint the wire a nice color, and check this out, hope it helps!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7gE4eK-jMc

Redcatcec · Answer

Some pretty elastic cords woven between the wires would give extra storage space and more flexibility to hold craft supplies.

How can I make these wire shelf units more attractive and useful?

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How can I make these wire shelf units more attractive and useful?

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