Klaffi Shelf is an ideal shelving device for small apartment. Designed by Finnish Eeva Lithovius, the shelf takes up space only when open; when not in use, you can simply fold it up and lay it flat against the wall.

Designer: Eeva Lithovius

Shelf House for bookworms is located in Osaka, Japan. Once stepping into the house, you’ll see big and small shelves here and there, such as on the walls, on the stairs, or even integrated with the window. So do you have enough books to fill all these shelves? I don’t, honestly.

Designer: Kazuya Morita Architecture Studio

Need to face your books everyday? If so, why not store them on this Face Shelving system? As you place your books onto different locations of the shelf, you can create different faces that would make you smile. Just have a try.

Designer: Alexi Mccarthy

Today we’re loving this Weed Shelving, Sergey Saava’s creative work that is shaped like weed and brings into one’s living room with the nature’s fresh air. Moreover, the Weed Shelving features a unique construction that allows the users to expand the shelving to any length they may need.

Designer: Sergey Saava

Yaps these shelves look very ordinary when you view them from the front, but they’re indeed creative as you may find them sections of human face when viewing them from sides.

Finished in 10mm with Poplar plywood.

Designer: Samal Design

Aptly dubbed “Catalyst”, Jiyoung Seo’s shelf triggers user to feel, touch and react with the unit so as to build a closer relationship between people and furniture.

It is mainly made of silicon while still built with a wooden structure so that it can hang onto a wall. With its flexible silicon layer, the Catalyst shelf would hold anything you insert into it – no matter it is a pen, a book, a watch or jewelry.

Designer: Jiyoung Seo

Well, well, obviously you’ve got some mails… not from I New Idea or any of your buddies but from yourselves. Showcased on IFFS /AFS Singapore furniture fair 2011, this “you’ve got mail!” is an innovative shelf designed Nur Sabeela Binte Adbul Karim. With such a design, this young graduate from Lasalle College of the Arts aims to change the way we arrange our items by offering a cleverer alternative of these steel envelops. So do you love them too?

Designer: Nur Sabeela Binte Adbul Karim for IFFS/AFS 2011

The Chess Bookshelf is in the Chinese traditional style, featuring magnets to hold the chess pieces as unique decorations. These chess pieces could move too, just as normal Chinese Chess does, can therefore to create various visual display of the bookshelf whenever you rearrange them.

Designer: Kittichai Reawsanguanwong (Naa)

IVY is designed to grow inside your rooms, just like trees grow outside your apartment. More exactly, it is a shelving system that consists of three branch-like modular pieces, changing its shape to live in various environments.

Designer: Paris Lowitz

Well, the Accordion Shelf designed by Eisa Srozyk just makes me think of the Fruit Memo Pads ever introduced here. Similarly, the new shelf can freely close and open, but more importantly gives your room a refreshing look. So cool.

Designer: Eisa Srozyk

Balanced Shelf from Christian Kim is a shelf unit that can move to form different shapes. According to your different needs you can arrange them in a horizontal row or set them on the diagonal. But whatever you choose, the new shelf would always achieve equilibrium within the furniture itself and in the room “through an imbalance of the shelf”.

Designer: Christian Kim

Apparently the new bookcase from designer Pietro Travaglini seems not that unique or attractive on the first sight, but when you step backwards with each modular having a new position, and then you’ll find the Schiena Bookcase makes your books look really wonderful.

It is  made of different materials and colors and built with low-energy LED lights, so as to meet your various needs.

Designer: Pietro Travaglini

It is always difficult for you to find out the needed books among various ones on the shelf? Then try the AAKKOSET Bookcase designed by Kayiwa. It comes with a series of shelves that are shaped like alphabet A, B, C and others so as to guide you to the books quickly. If you don’t have that much books to exhibit, you can also use AAKKOSET as a room divider and it performs just as good as other decorative dividers.

Designer: Kayiwa

The bookshelf here, the Equilibrium is designed to surprise your guests with a unique shape seeking for briefness, contrast and exaggeration as well. Though seems to defy the gravity, the Equilibrium Bookcase is in reality quite solid and it can sustain over 50 kilograms at one time. So it is really a nice alternative for your stylish living room.

Designer: Malagana Design

Slicker and interesting to look at, these jet sets wouldn’t take anything away from you but will always fly on the walls of your living rooms. If only the jet shelves would be sold at a lower price then I may get more to build an airport on my wall!

Designer: Latorre Cruz

Selling Price: £170 (Set of Three)

Of course the bookshelf holds your books, but more importantly, it also grows to accommodate more books.

Designer: Chih-Cheng Chien

Many people love clouds because they’re white, clean and they change constantly to show us new beauty. The designers also love cloud, so they’ve created Cloud Chair, Cloud Umbrella, Cloud Meeting Room and the cute Cloud Shelves. Prefect for blue walls!

Designer: Carl Hagerling

There is an element of surprise in the “Levita” shelf, an interesting piece of decor and furniture created by Alessandro Loschiavo. But do not let the images or the designer fool your eyes, because these A4 paper sheets are actually a series of hammered sheet metal planes. So the shelf is really durable though people may take it as a fragile one. It indeed looks like an art piece, but the shelf is also practical for frequent use.

Designer: Alessandro Loschiavo

“Plus One” is a unique shelving addition designed by Matthias Ries. It merely consists of two simple parts—a five-sided case and a U-shaped metal hook, but can be used in various ways depending on the items you want to store in it. Made out of walnut or maple, the sleek addition will surely give your dull bookcase a refreshing look.

Designer: Matthias Ries

The exceptional round shape and bright white/red colors give Kim Ji-hye’s bookshelf a refreshing look, making it quite outstanding among all the bookshelves we’ve ever seen. But what actually makes the bookshelf special and unique is its “Need Not Arrange Anymore” concept—no longer need to keep the books well-organized, just enjoy the chaotic status of putting books freely. I love the idea.

Designer: Kim Ji-hye

Here at I New Idea we find that people always have a vivid imagination and boundless creative power. During the days gone by, we’ve introduced you various types of shelves. And today, we’d like to show you a new one, the Ladder Shelf. It features three movable boxes, each of which could be easily pulled out to form a ladder. As a result, you’ll find reaching for the items on high shelves no longer a hassle. Do you like it?

Good design helps with better life! Take Lab Istanbul’s Turning Boxes for example. The creative bookshelf is made up of a series of boxes that can be conveniently rotated to serve as either a shelf or a container. So it is actually a multifunctional storage system for studio apartments and other small living areas where full-size furniture isn’t welcomed.

A world map is printed on its front, giving the furniture a distinctive looking.

Designer: Lab Istanbul

You’re the one to decide what the furniture should be like. The Transformable Furniture designed by Martin Sämmer, just as its name implies, can be rearranged into a variety of shapes, meeting your different needs.

Designer: Martin Sämmer

The bookshelf from Sturlesidesign fits in perfect to any home or office environment and especially suits those who love exhibiting their books. It would hold the books in a unique way, that is, to ‘hug’ them using its ’soft arms’ made out of foamed polythelene. As a result, you can insert the books into the shelf and arrange them in a desired shape, rather than placing them one after another.

The CD rack takes a good advantage of dinosaurs’ skeleton, enabling the users to place more pieces of CD on it. Those who love dinosaurs now have a new option.

Nothing would suit you better to exhibit your favorite books than the Slim Book Case. These transparent book cases are available in two versions: the Slim Version (8 slots) could hold 10-12books and the Demi Slim (4 slots) enables you to place 4-6 books. So next time decorating your office or living room, you can have a try with these Slim Book Cases and books. I bet you’ll find great pleasure with them.

Designer: Marianne van Ooij

Selling Price: $129

Buy it here

Creative Factor: The ergonomics of the furniture and the stability.

You know those movable chairs, tables and stools that are lying about on the floor make your living room look messy? Well, no more, if you’re to use the ‘Shelf Made’ designed by Lies Van Kerckhove. It is a modular rack that hides 2 chairs, 2 stools and a table, which could be easily taken out of the shelf without affecting its stability.

Made from block hdf leicht stab plate, ‘Shelf Made’ is only available in black color and measures 1890 mm X 2110 mm X 400 mm (H x W x D).

Designer: Lies Van Kerckhove

Creative Factor: A simple but multifunctional gadget.

How do you like those pieces of furniture we’ve introduced these days? Most of them were showcased at imm Cologne 2010 and apparently they benefit a lot to the promotion of household products. If you love them, you’ll also be interested in the ‘Saucer’ designed by Eric Degenhardt for German manufacturer Schönbuch. Also launched at the imm Cologne 2010, the gadget is a coat hook that integrates a tray on its top for smaller items. Coated with matte powder, the metal hook is available in various colors.

Designer: Eric Degenhardt

Now this would look good in any office or living rooms. Made from fabric and stainless steel, the Bookwave Hanging Storage is a modular unit that could be adjusted to any sizes to meet your different needs. Apart from the function of a bookcase you’ve seen from the pictures, the gadget could also be used as a curtain or a room divider.

Selling Price: £1,006

Buy it here

It is a wall-mounted bookcase, not only a stylish shelf for your favorite books, but an attractive decoration on the wall. It looks just like a bird nest! Apart from that, because of the flat surface on its top, the innovative design also allows you a continuous reading without using the bookmarks.

We have to admit, that the designer Alexandra DiCairano has successfully helped us to notice the artistic quality of the ‘ugly’ circuits with the elegant Short Circuit Shelf. It seems these shelves have become natural parts of the wall without trying to remind you of their existence. And obviously it’s the best choice for those who work as computer engineers.

Designer: Alexandra DiCairano

Want to build your own shelving unit? Right here is a new kind of modular shelf unit that could be freely assembled. Compared to usual modular shelves, this unit ensures you to arrange it into different shapes due to the holes on its sides and the fence form design.

Some people love to arrange their books by the first letters of their names, while someone prefer to classify books into different categories. As for me, I’d love to put those books to the matching states they belong to. So I need a shelving system like this, which is shaped like an American map with every state acts as an individual shelf. Therefore, if you’re looking for certain books, you could quickly find them out if you know clearly which states they’re from.

Wall storage shelves haven’t change much for years, except for their different shapes and patterns. But the ‘Imeüble’ by Bjørn Jørund Blikstad will blow all those away, thanks to its bright colors and the stereoscopic pattern. Yes, it looks quite attractive on the wall.

KFC has a children’s playground for fitness and amusement, but what does our library have? Rows of books and desks, and that’s all. Couldn’t we have an official playground, for adults only? We really want one. So get the library an Official Playground now. Constructed of several levels, each one comes as a book shelf, and in the same time separates the interior from the outer space. If you’d like more exercises, you may also climb up the playground and do some reading on the top table.

More Information Here

Build these colorful wooden modules as you like! For both kids and adults.

Designer: Joachim Jirou-Najou

Inspired by the classical game Dominoes, Knot Design has come up with the ‘Dominus’ Shelf, presenting a flowing composition.

Designer: Knot Design

A good design always makes for a good life, just like the Rotary Commodity Shelf that is based on a rotary plate. As a result, the new shelf makes it convenient for us get those articles perched on a high shelf, and takes a full advantage of the upper space as well.

Designer: Amos Wagon, Naomi Lewin & Millie Fichman

I really appreciate the awesome idea as it highlights my favorite book. Made from powder-coated steel, the peeling back on the side not only creates an attractive shape, but also makes it easier for you to put in a book. Each measures 7″x 6″x 6″.

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At the first glance, maybe it’s a bit difficult for you to deem the item as a shelf, because it seems too dangerous to put goods on it. However, in fact, there is a built-in transparent, elastic membrane, which makes it safe to hold your various articles.

Due to the limited living space nowadays, people are looking for compact products that make the most use of small apartments. And the “Light and Armchair” is a just new member of the multifunctional products. Apart from serving as a LED light, the functional object also doubles an armchair when it’s unfolded. Still, the Light and Armchair integrates a shelf on its back to store your books, magazines and other items.

Designer: Ufulie

Presenting here is an amazing collection of shelving units from Lago, which were invented, claimed by the designer, to “offer everyone the greatest freedom of expression”. From these showcases, we could find neither gorgeous material nor delicate decorations, but only color and creativity. Weird ones, classy ones, all these showcases are ready to change your dull room personalized, then which is your favorite?

The simple kind of rear carrier is configured with LEDs, making it more convenient for hosts to check their items easily in dark. And the dent and crochet at its top is used to hang your keys. In a word, it brings great convenience to our daily life.

Designer: David Salamanca

The world won’t be so fabulous if we haven’t come up with numerous creative ideas, and we do need plenty of imagination to explore the essential part of every product. On seeing the ‘altavoz modular shelf system’ from Spain, we may imagine it an expanding box that extends continually to an end. Angled interior sides, slight shadow and the classical blue, all these have come to create a stereoscopic visual effect.

Designer: Carlos Tiscar

With much more emphasis laid on a combination of practicality and aesthetics, furniture designers have been facing some difficulty. But recently, a Chicagoan designer Mark Kinsley has come up with an exciting work, named as “Fold Out”. As shown in the graph, it’s an innovative mounted shelf that makes a full use of the mural painting and turns to be more attracting. Clever idea!

Designer: Mark Kinsley

What have you seen in the pictures, books? Not necessarily. Shaped like an assortment of colored books, the cute article is actually called “BooxStore” that is designed to hide your stuff in a clever way.

More Information Here

Good news for paraplegic people! To ensure you an easy reach to anything you want on the shelf, Dana Yichye Shwachman has created the adjustable shelf that comprises a remote control. With this shelf, you could not only make full use of your wall, but also avoid sudden hurts by too many items on the floor.

Designer: Dana Yichye Shwachman

Named as Bookworm Shelf, the new style is an interesting and attracting bookshelf that can be constructed in different shapes. No matter you put it in your drawing room or study room, it is always the most eye-catching gadget.

Price: $382.50
Buy it here

Possibly Olivia Bradateanu has been deeply influenced by the classical book “Gone with the Wind”, he brings out the new design called “Shelf in the Wind”, a hardwood shelf that seems to be blowing away in the air. It really can stimulate our imagination in daily life.

Designer: Olivia Bradateanu

Inspired from Swiss Army Knife, this shelf can also offer efficient storage space. Every shelf has its own function and can be integrated into one cabinet.

Designer: Ludens