Top Shelf

As appealing as an earthbound armoire or burnished-teak credenza can be, few storage solutions offer the hovering grace of the hanging wall shelf. Whether loaded with a cherished first edition, a lifetime of tchotchkes, or maybe just your toothbrush, a chic shelf offers function and expression in one. We rounded up this sextet of handsome hangers that ranges from today’s gems to the classics of yesteryear in hopes of inspiring you to get back on the shelf.

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  String Soft Shelf

  • Designed by: Nils Strinning
  • Price: $330.00

  Pros
  This limited-edition reissue of Nils Strinning’s stunning String shelf from 1949 has all the humble grace of the original with a trio of lovely hues on the wire supports.
  
  The three shelves that attach to the wire sides are adjustable, making this the most versatile of the lot.
  
  Cons
  To use all three shelves, nothing terribly large can go on any of them. This shelf
  is also quite heavy, making conscientious installation paramount.
  
  The String shelves look amazing in banks across a wall, but at $330 a pop they quickly add up.

• 

  Storylines Shelf

  • Designed by: Frederik Roijé
  • Price: $290.00

  Pros
  Though it’s dubbed Storylines, when this shelf is loaded up with books you’re as apt to get a skyline hovering on your wall. The shelf’s hefty steel makes it the bruiser of our group, and its geometric form lets it double as a very useful piece of wall art.
  
  Cons
  The Storylines is deceptively heavy, so you’ll want to get all three required screws into studs, if possible. Woe unto those who use this shelf for cookbooks.
  
  The widest slot is just two and a quarter inches, making this the most prescriptive shelf we’ve reviewed, and bad news for those with the Harry Potter box set.

• 

  Wall Shelf 112B

  • Designed by: Alvar Aalto
  • Made by: Artek
  • Price: $425.00

  Pros
  
  The classic of the bunch, Alvar Aalto’s 1936 design is the quintessence of Scandinavian modernism. Better still, the 112B is deep and wide enough to handle a potted plant and your Finnish–English dictionary without losing its functional elegance. It looks great hung alone or with a small squadron of other 112Bs.
  
  Cons
  If the devil is in the details, then we’d be even more enamored of Aalto’s design if the screws that affix the hanging brackets to the shelf weren’t exposed.
  
  The understated simplicity of the design and its $425 price tag may chafe when your friends ask (understandably) if you got the shelf at Ikea.

• 

  Piegato One Shelf

  • Designed by: Matthias Ries
  • Price: $128.00

  Pros
  Colorful, flat-packed, and not terribly expensive, the Piegato One by Matthias Ries is a poppy shelf that folds into place for easy installation. It even has its own bookends that bend out to keep things neat.
  
  Though it’s shown here in black, you might fare better with a splash of color in a home office or child’s room.
  
  Cons
  The Piegato One’s engineering and structural supports take the aesthetic lead, so those looking for an elegant design to subtly peek out behind the objects placed on it will be disappointed.
  
  You can take the shelf down and fold it flat again, but it doesn’t take much for the powder coating to flake at the joints.
   

• 

  El Shelf

  • Designed by: Mark Daniel
  • Made by: CB2
  • Price: $20.00

  Pros
  At just $20, the El is our favorite inexpensive shelf on the market. The willow wood veneer is sturdy, the four screw holes assure that you can mount it snugly to the wall, and the bright red offers a cheap and cheerful vibe that no other in this group can match.
  
  Cons
  At just five inches deep, this is no place for your Micheners; many paperbacks will find themselves too big for the El too. This shelf might be a good bet in the bathroom, or for your favorite knick-knacks, but leave the serious storage to the big boys.

• 

  Bookworm Shelf

  • Designed by: Ron Arad
  • Made by: Kartell
  • Price: $425.00-1,115.00

  Pros
  The Bookworm offers an expressionistic swoop that none of the other shelves even come close to touching. In fact, Ron Arad’s undulating bit of storage benefits from its dangerous curves—–the tension created by coiling back on itself strengthens the shelf. For a vast expanse of wall in need of a signature design, this is our pick.
  
  Cons
  Some shelves need little more than a spare ten minutes to install, the stiff PVC of the Bookworm requires an especially long screwdriver, a free afternoon, and a pair of very patient friends.
  
  The Bookworm is hardy enough to handle your favorite tomes, but good luck getting them to stand up straight.