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13 of Our Favourite Modern Shelving and Storage Ideas

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Featuring fresh takes on coat racks, bookcases, small-space storage and everything in between

We’re firm believers in committing to a well-edited collection of objects, which means – as best we can – we declutter when necessary. But everyone, ourselves included, can’t pare our things down to nothing. The next best option, then, is finding elegant modern shelving and storage solutions for the things we inevitably accrue. Below, take a look at some of our favourite modern shelving and storage ideas.

313 design market

Commuter’s Delight

Umbra’s Subway Multihook is a clever and artful alternative to traditional entryway storage. Equally functional and fashionable, this unique wall hanging solution makes for an interesting addition to interiors of all styles. The hooks are wide-set, providing a clear view of what’s hung and giving each stored item ample space. $39, at 313 Design Market.

circular shelf

Outside the Box

Rethink the classic box frame of standard wall shelving with a circular replacement that sparks joy. This Iron-framed wall shelf from CB2 is the perfect marriage of form and function thanks to its unique round shape and antique brass finish. $299, at CB2.

art deco-inspired modern bookcase

Stealth

Who ever said your wood bookcase had to be dull? Mobilia reinvented the staid idea of the classic bookshelf by giving it a lacquered band throughout that results in an unexpected brightness, while the shelving is divided into uneven boxes that pull from art deco design but with a modern edge. $1,759, at Mobilia.

Palladio shelves

Palladio Shelves

Claesson Koivisto Rune is a celebrated name in Swedish design. For good reason: The firm produces minimal, striking work, as evidenced by its Palladio Shelves. Bolstered by stainless-steel supports, these oak veneer shelves are as simple as they are sturdy. We dig ‘em in this frosty blue colourway. $2,191, at GR Shop.

Modern shelving ideas - Folded shelves

Folded Shelves

Add this wall-mounted steel shelving by Muuto to your foyer to centralize all of those on-the-go essentials. Store mail or files in the back slot and stash your wallet and gloves on the shelf. Two hooks provide a place for hanging keys. From $219, at Muuto.

Modern storage - Kabino Cabinet

Kabino Cabinet

Finished with rounded handles and ash peg legs and trim, this storage cabinet by Normann Copenhagen delivers a decidedly Scandinavian interpretation of industrial chic. One of the unit’s matte lacquered-steel doors is perforated to let RF signals from your remote controls reach the electronics stored inside, while openings at the back make cable management a cinch. From $1,750, at Normann Copenhagen.

calligaris case

Division Bookcase

Stack reference books on this free-standing MDF wooden shelving unit by Calligaris. Optional aluminum containers in primary colours act as shelf dividers and brighten up your office. Pricing by request, at Calligaris.

Modern shelving ideas - 505 shelving system

505 Shelving System

This sophisticated modern shelving system by Molteni & C has room for both books and high-tech home entertainment systems. Sliding doors conceal your television when not in use to let visitors focus their attention on your collection of impressive art tomes. Pricing by request, at Studio B Home.

Modern shelving ideas - Browser by Blu Dot

Browser

The Browser system is holistic  modern shelving at its finest; comprises four well-edited elements – two tall shelves and two short. Just install a main unit, then append add-ons as your library expands. $1,195, at Blu Dot.

Montana Storage System

Montana

As your life grows, so too will Montana’s storage system, with different bases, shelves and hardware available to swap in as needed. Plus, it’s built out of durable MDF and available in 42 shades. Pricing by request, at Montana Furniture.

Paravan Mood By Arper

Paravan Mood

Anchored by sound- baffling desk panels in a rainbow of fabrics and three widths, Paravan Mood, by Arper, includes mix-and-match accessories that can help you sort out your office with hooks, a partially enclosed shelf, a whiteboard, or a magazine holder (hint hint). Pricing by request, at Arper.

Modern shelving ideas - B&B Italia

Jack Storage System

Slim, modular and available in multiple finishes, including Canaletto walnut and four shades of oak, B&B Italia’s Jack shelving system can fit – both technically and aesthetically – just about any space you want it to. Pricing by request, at B&B Italia.

Ikea shelving

Stacked

Desktop storage? Check. Bookcase? Check. An artful arrangement of shelving? Check. With lacquered MDF cubbies and metal clips, IKEA’s EKET system adapts to whatever type of storage you need. From $175, at IKEA.

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Okay, but it clearly is

For the first 16 years of my life, the bat cave at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)—a reconstruction of an actual cave in Jamaica—was among my favourite places in the city. The cave was decorated with cast stalactites and wax bat models, which hung from the ceiling and threw jagged shadows on the walls. A few other features imbued it with spooky verisimilitude: the drip-drip-drip sound effects, the mirrors arranged to create the illusion of infinite depth, the strobe lights strategically placed to make the shadows flutter. When I visited as a five-year-old, the bat cave scared me. When I visited as a stoned fifteen-year-old, it scared me even more. Then came the renovation.

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