Shelving Bracket Around the Home and Garage - Balancing Safety and Decoration

Have you ever put up a shelf at home only to find that when you put something on it, the whole lot promptly fell down? At least, as soon as you turned your back, the shelf and its contents came crashing to the floor? It does happen…frequently, and most likely it is the choice of bracket, and the precise place where the shelf has been put, that are to blame.

Choosing the right shelving brackets is as important as choosing the shelves themselves. If the shelf comes with brackets, they should be adequate, but only if you do not overload the shelf or fix it to a wall that cannot bear any weight. Even then, the cheapest of shelving units may come with brackets that are no good for man or beast. Of course, you get what you pay for.

A poorly installed shelf usually does only cosmetic damage if it slips or falls down, although your ego may have suffered more damage, especially if you consider yourself a DIY expert. However, there are times when a strong bracket is imperative. When you start to mount heavier things on the wall, and expensive items too, then you are in a whole new ball game. Large expensive wall mounted speakers come to mind. Or just about anything that is heavy. Make absolutely sure the brackets can carry the load you intend to place on the shelf.

It is not only heavy items, though, which you need to be careful about. If you are putting up display shelves for light, fragile, but expensive ornaments then take extra care that your shelves are going to stay up once put up. Do not get complacent just because the items to be displayed are light.

Shelving brackets are not the most exciting part of home décor, being mostly functional in nature. We tend to think of a display cabinet rather than the bracket that holds it up. However, there is an opportunity, when installing say corner shelves or wooden shelves in the home, to use decorative brackets that will enhance the appearance, as well as performing their support function. Wrought iron brackets spring to mind, and The John Wright Company Shelf brackets range includes some attractive but sturdy cast iron brackets for around the home.

For garage shelving and garage organizers, the brackets used to hold them in place may be even more critical, as we tend to have heavier items stored on the wall of a shed or garage. A poorly mounted piece of garden machinery or a bike, for example, falling off the wall is a different prospect to a few ornaments falling down in the home; especially if you have children around. So, please take care.