How to Choose Floating Shelves for a UK Period Property

Adding floating shelves to a period property calls for a gentle touch, so the storage you gain never comes at the expense of the features that give the house its charm. In this guide we look at how to read the character of a Victorian, Georgian or Edwardian room, and how chimney breasts, alcoves, picture rails and cornicing shape where shelving belongs. We cover choosing materials that suit the age of the home, from warm solid timber to soft heritage painted finishes, and explain how scale and proportion change when a room has generous height. There is honest advice on fixing shelves into older brick, stone and lath and plaster walls, along with cautions around chimney flues and listed building restrictions. We finish with styling ideas that keep the display timeless and in keeping with the property. Read on to introduce shelving that feels as though it has always been part of your period home....