Shelves like no other element of the interior help to optimize space and maximally compactly fit all items. However, not all shelves are equally good. Glass, for example, in addition to their obvious functionality, have another quality - they instantly "unload" the interior gives it ease and style. Catalogs of furniture stores are bursting from abundance of models, but why not save and do not try to make glass shelves with their own hands, especially since it is not so difficult. We offer you to make sure of this on your own experience.
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Glass Shelves
Despite the prevalence, many are not solved to install glass shelves on the wall, because they think that those are not enough durable and safe. However, it is worth remembering that almost all the shop windows are made of this material and sometimes hold very heavy and large-sized items. The fact is that it is not at all the glass to create the shelves, which is installed in ordinary windows, but high strength. Moreover, there is tempered glass, stable even to strong shocks and insured from scratching. This makes countertops, cabinets and even outdoor coverage.
Glass furniture always looks very stylish, compact and modern. It will easily fit into any interior, be it High-tech, minimalism or popular Loft recently.
Glass shelves are beneficial from similar structures from other materials:
- they are completely not afraid of moisture, so they can and even need to be installed in the bathrooms;
- glass is resistant to aggressive chemical impact, so it can be cleaned with any domestic products;
- the material is absolutely hygienic, does not absorb dirt and does not delay dust;
- such shelves are easy and quick to clean;
- glass shelves have an unlimited shelf life and can be literally forever if no one breaks them;
- a tree or plastic under the influence of direct sunlight burns apart, and the glass does not change the original appearance, even constantly under the sun;
- an indisputable advantage is also the aesthetic attractiveness of glass furniture.
You can also add that if you are going to make a glass shelf with your own hands, it will cost you much cheaper than the finished purchase option.
As we have already spoken, glass shelves are able to withstand a serious load, but it is mostly depends on the thickness of the selected glass. Therefore, if you need a shelf under books or TV, it is better to give preference to the most durable products. And even if you build a whole glass cabinet to the entire wall, it will still seem compact and weightless - no wood or metal on such. This solution is particularly profitable for small rooms and studio rooms.
Glass shelves look very beautifully with LED backlight. This is not only attractive, but also conveniently - an additional light source will never hurt. In addition, LED tapes consume much less electricity than ordinary lamps, and serve much longer. In more detail how to make the shelf of glass with your hands with backlit, we will tell you slightly below.
Another interesting point - glass adds gloss and radiance to the interior. It has a reflective ability, visually increasing the space. Often, for this purpose, large mirrors hang on the walls, and if you add weightless transparent shelves to them, the smallest room will seem spacious and cozy.
But so that everything has been such a favorable way, it should be competently pick up the glass for the manufacture of shelves. Theoretically, this is suitable for this, the most ordinary window glass will suit, but such a design will endure unless small figurines and funny baubles adorning the interior. Only objects made from high-strength and tempered glass have a functional load. You can safely bundle flower pots, tape recorders, televisions, books and other useful things in the farm.
There are no shortcomings in glass shelves, there are only features of operation. The most obvious such feature is the transparency of the material. Everything will be visible through it, which is contained on the shelf, and therefore will have to teach yourself to support the perfect order, including daily wipe dust and fingerprints. But here there is a small trick - you can make a shelf of non-ferrous glass, however, it will not free you from cleaning.
Types of shelves
Glass shelves are very different. For a long time, there were already those times when their form was limited to a rectangle. The glass is actually quite a fatty material that can take completely any forms, recall at least the profession of glass fuses. At the end of the article, you will find a photographic method, which presents the shelves of various shapes and sizes.
Depending on the position in space and the fastening method, wall, suspended and angular shelves are distinguished. The first is characterized by high aesthetics and often represent more stylish interior decoration than a strict functional element. For the attachment, you can use the cables supplied to the ceiling, or special counted holders that create the feeling that the shelf as if he wrapped in the air.
The angular shelves allow the maximum to use the useful space. They are very helpful to unload the situation in small bathrooms and kitchens, where a lot of small items are constantly present, and it is rather difficult to contain them. In fact, you can fill all the corners in the apartment with such sheal, freeing the mass of free space. In the hallway there can be treated, keys and other trifles, in the bathroom - shampoos, shower gels, deodorants, in the kitchen - spices, in the living room - books.
The only place where it is not recommended to install glass shelves - a children's room. A child can break a strong material with a lacaround or hit him a lot.
In many modern apartments, very narrow window sills, so the glass shelf for colors will be a great way to organize a green corner at minimal spatial costs. Inside, you can mount the lamps of daylight and place pots at different levels.
How to make a glass shelf: instruction
If you figure it out, there are only two ways to manufacture glass shelves: buy in the store or order all the necessary components, after which it remains only to collect them together and fasten into place. But the cost of such a venture is almost equivalent to the finished shopping design, so we will tell how to make the shelf "from scratch".
You will need a good glass cutter for work, as well as a ribbon grinding machine with abrasive sandpaper grain grain 120. These tools are best leased if you are certainly not going to regularly make the glass shelves with all families or for sale.
To begin with, we suggest familiarizing yourself with the brief briefing on the use of glass cutter. This is a pretty primitive, but very effective tool with which even newcomers saves after 15 minutes of practice. The most important thing when working with it is to do confident and clear movements. In addition to glass cutter (it is better to get the oil) you will need a long line. At first it is better to practice on the usual glass, and then already start cleaning.
Important: The main rule when cutting glass is to do one confident and quite strong movement. Repeated by the same trajectory is unacceptable because it does not help, and the blade only scratches the glass once again.
To cut the glass, you need to designate the cut line with a marker, install a ruler along it (it serves as an emphasis and guide for glass cutter), press it with hand, and a second hand with a glass cutter to spend along markup with confident but smooth pressure. It is necessary to do this by the perfectly smooth surface, covered with a rag. When you made an incision glass cutter, let me out the material in this place. Be sure to follow security measures and work in thick plated gloves, so as not to cut down. Unfortunately, the described instructions are not suitable for tempered glass, because due to its extraordinary strength it can be cut only by a special machine in the workshop.
When you got the workpiece of the desired size, it is necessary to process its sharp edges, otherwise such a shelf will have to go around the side so as not to get injured. Grinding is the most important stage of work requiring maximum attention. To do this, you need a belt grinder. Of course, if it was not possible to get it, you can handle the edges manually, but such a lesson takes much more time and strength. Carefully go through the edges of the glass so that they become if not absolutely round, then at least stupid.
Important: during grinding regularly wet the glass with cold water. It is necessary that the petty glass dust does not spread through the air. If you breathe it, it will fall in the lungs and will remain there forever. For this reason, it will be easier to dress up in a good respirator. In addition, the water makes the edge completely transparent. Of course, if you like a matte surface, water can be used a little less.
Grinding should also be carried out on a flat surface, covered with a rag, placing the glass so that the edge being processed is only slightly overlapped by the edge.
Methods of fastening
For fastening glass shelves, two elements are used: aluminum profile and special holders. Both are not inferior to each other in reliability and functionality, the difference consists only in the features of the installation. We will look at each of the types of fasteners so that you can choose the most suitable in your case.
By the way, the holders are absolutely versatile, which means that they can install the glass of any thickness. In this, perhaps, their only advantage is compared with aluminum profiles, which should be selected according to the size of the shelf. However, if you want to make a glass shelf with backlight, you should choose exactly a profile, because it is easy to refuel the LED tape so that it remains imperceptible and highlighted the glass as if from the inside.
Install holders are quite simple. They consist of only two parts: the foundation recorded to the wall and decorative stop. To disconnect them, you need to pull out the base from the upper stop. Then the wall should be designated on the wall, screw the dowel (should go bundled with the holder) and fasten the bases on them.
Important: For one shelf, even if there will be light things on it, you will need at least 2 holders. At the same time, they must be installed so that the edge remains at least 5 cm. The number of holders directly depends on the load on the shelf. Sometimes there may be insufficiently durable dowels in the kit, in this case they will not interfere with the fasteners of suitable sizes.
Shelf with backlit
It is time to finally tell about how to make a glass shelf with LED backlight. We already know that for its attachment you need to choose an aluminum profile. This is suitable such a shelf in the bathroom, bedroom or kitchen.
How to make a shelf:
- The profile selected according to the glass thickness must be cut to the desired length, then cut the burrs and slightly stick the edges. Otherwise, it will not be possible to insert the LED tape.
- Drill in the profile of the hole and screw it to a predetermined place on the wall. Use for this tapping screw and plastic plugs. First screw the screws on one end, then put the profile according to the markup, but do not fix it, but check it with a horizontal water level. Only after that you can screw the remaining screws.
- Install the LED tape. Usually in all profiles there is a thin plastic insert, which serves as a protective barrier between ribbon and aluminum and prevents closure. To refuel the ribbon to the profile, you need to be patient, especially if its ends are closed.
- When the ribbon is finished, it remains only to install the glass itself. Make it in the profile as close as possible. To do this, it can be seen on its own or slightly sweep the rubber Cyans.
We hope you made sure that you make a stylish glass shelf completely simple. For interest, curl as much as such beauty is backlit in the store. If you are still frightened by the prospect breathe dust glass and cut himself while cutting out the shelves, you can trust all master glassmaker at low cost. And with the fastening will cope with anyone, the benefit for this does not need any specific skills.
Glass shelves do it yourself: photo
