Your cart
There are no more items in your cart
- Sebastian Żmijewski
- Material Insights
- 0 likes
- 31 views
- 0 comments
The question we hear most often is: "which depth and length should I choose?". A shelf that is too shallow won't hold books or plates; one that is too deep can overwhelm a small room. Below are the simple rules we use when advising customers, plus a table of the sizes available at Viperys.
Shelf depth – start with what will sit on it
Depth is the distance from the wall to the front edge. Match it to the largest item you want to place on the shelf and add 1–2 cm to spare.
| Depth | Works for | Typical place |
|---|---|---|
| 14.5–15 cm | spices, framed photos, small plants, toiletries, paperbacks | kitchen, bathroom, hallway, above a desk |
| 17–20 cm | books, jars, mugs, decor | living room, bedroom, kitchen |
| 22–25 cm | larger books and albums, plates, crockery | kitchen, living room, home library |
| 30 cm | large albums, vinyl records, equipment, large plates | living room, music room, workshop |
Viperys oak shelves come 15, 20, 25 or 30 cm deep (4 cm thick), and our rustic pine shelves from 14.5 to 30 cm.
Shelf length – proportions to the wall and furniture
Choose the length to suit the wall space and the furniture below. A few rules that work well:
- Above a sofa or bed – a shelf looks best at about 2/3 of the width of the furniture below it.
- Above a kitchen worktop – leave about 5–10 cm free from cabinets or side walls so the shelf doesn't look squeezed in.
- Above a desk – a shelf roughly the same length as the desktop keeps the composition tidy.
- Several shelves stacked – 30–40 cm between them fits books and most decor.
Our shelves come in lengths from 40 to 180 cm in 10 cm steps. If you need a size in between, email info@viperys.com – most shelves are made to order.
Depth, load and wall type
The deeper the shelf, the more leverage on the fixing. That makes the wall type especially important for deep shelves:
- Floating shelves (concealed fixing included) – solid walls only: brick, concrete, timber studs. Holds up to around 35 kg when fitted correctly.
- Shelves on metal brackets – also suitable for plasterboard (with plasterboard plugs), up to around 50 kg. See shelves on brackets.
Read more in How much weight can a floating shelf hold and Can floating shelves go on plasterboard?
Thickness – not just about looks
Thickness affects rigidity and how the shelf reads visually. Viperys oak shelves are 4 cm thick, pine shelves 4–4.5 cm. A chunky board looks solid even at 150–180 cm and doesn't sag under a typical load of books or crockery.
Quick cheat sheet
- Spices and photos: 15 cm, 60–100 cm long.
- Books in the living room: 20 cm, 100–150 cm long.
- Plates and crockery in the kitchen: 25 cm, length to match the worktop.
- Vinyl records and large albums: 30 cm.
FAQ
What depth shelf for books?
20 cm suits most books. For albums and large editions choose 25–30 cm; paperbacks fit on 15 cm.
What depth shelf for a kitchen?
15–20 cm for spices and jars, 25–30 cm for plates and crockery.
Can I order a custom size?
Yes. As standard you choose the length in 10 cm steps (40–180 cm); other sizes are made to order – email info@viperys.com.
Comments (0)