The Affordable IKEA Solution To Replace Bulky Shelves

Shelves offer vertical storage, thereby eliminating cluttered surfaces in your home; sometimes, however, shelves themselves can be bulky, making for a less-than-streamlined aesthetic. If you'd like to benefit from the functional efficiency of shelves without the bulk, however, there's an IKEA product that can help. The NORDHÄGG Picture ledge offers simplicity to your shelving without jutting out too much.

Available in two sizes — 3 ⅞ inches deep by 39 ⅜ inches long for $9.99 and 3 ⅞ inches deep by 17 ¾ inches long for $4.99 — the NORDHÄGG Picture ledge has a slight lip on the edge to ensure that items don't accidentally slip off. Their design allows for seamless installation when using the appropriate mounting equipment (like other IKEA items, you'll have to track down the right screws for your application). Made from plain, untreated pine, the shelves bring a natural appeal to homes that value biophilic interior decor or minimalist decor aesthetics. While the smaller size of the ledge states that the maximum load is just over 6 ½ pounds, there is no weight limit listed for the longer model; the best course of action is not to overload the unit with heavy items.

At the time of writing, customers had given the NORDHÄGG a 4.8-star average from 100 reviews. Its high praise comes down to its success in a number of categories, including its appearance, quality, and value for the price. One five-star review on IKEA's website states, "Sturdy, looks nice, affordable and versatile [to] use."

Because the NORDHÄGG comes plain, it's ready to be personalized to suit your own preferences. Since it is made from untreated pine, it is able to be stained or painted however you see fit. If you're hoping for a perfect coat of stain, pine is one of the trickier woods to work with since it absorbs stain unevenly. Fortunately, by using a pre-stain wood conditioner, you can avoid the frustration of a splotchy-looking shelf. Those who are opting to paint their shelves can keep things understated with a white, gray, or black paint, or go a little bolder or more playful with a bright shade of their favorite accent color.

The exact thing that makes the NORDHÄGG attractive as a streamlined shelf — its narrow picture ledge depth — also means that it will be more challenging to use for storage. In order to make the most of its minimal depth, users can consider storing tall and skinny items, like pencils, vertically in jars. Orienting the contents in this way will allow for more items to fit. 

Personal care items — like nail polish collections and face creams — or crafting supplies — think small bottles or jars of beads — will be straightforward to store on the shelves as is. A less conventional approach is to flip the shelf upside down; this could be helpful for individuals who are finding the front lip difficult to accommodate, since it gives you access to the entire depth of the shelf to work with. Finally, if you're planning on storing essentials on the NORDHÄGG, it's imperative to prevent your shelves from looking cluttered with the best tips from an interior designer.