A little help, right here
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Let’s find the right shelf for your space.
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Find the right shelf
Start with the space you want to fill. An open wall, an alcove and a shelving system with visible supports need different solutions.
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Floating shelves conceal their supports inside the shelf. Alcove shelves fit between side walls, so their measurements and support arrangement need particular care.
The product page shows the sizes, thicknesses and fixing choices available for that shelf. If your project falls outside those options, send the team a sketch rather than choosing the nearest size.
Floating shelves
For a clean, floating look with the supports hidden inside the shelf. Choose the material and size, then check the fixing option against your wall and intended use.
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A floating shelf transfers its load back into the wall through concealed supports. The wall construction and secure fixing matter as much as the shelf itself.
Tell the team if you want to store heavy objects or fit to a stud wall. Do not rely on plasterboard alone as the support.
Wall and adjustable shelving
Browse wall shelves for your chosen support arrangement, or adjustable shelving when you want to change shelf heights later. Check each product’s specification for the brackets or fixings needed.
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Visible supports can form part of the design. Think about the contents, the reach of the shelf and where the wall can accept fixings before choosing the dimensions.
Help with measurements
Enter measurements in millimetres. Length runs from left to right; depth runs from the back of the shelf to its front edge. Thickness is the distance between the top and bottom faces.
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Measure at the actual height where the shelf will go. Check nearby sockets, trim, doors and anything that needs room to open.
Use the minimum and maximum shown beside each field: they vary between products. If your size is outside the range, contact us with a sketch.
For an alcove, measure both the front and back of the opening and allow fitting clearance. The alcove guidance below explains the confirmed allowance.
Measuring an alcove shelf
We recommend 1–2 mm fitting clearance on each side: 2–4 mm in total across the width. Measure the opening at the front and back, at the height of each shelf. Enter the finished shelf sizes after deducting that clearance yourself; we do not deduct it again.
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Alcove walls may not be parallel. Keep the front and back measurements clearly labelled, and send a sketch if the opening is uneven or you are unsure which dimensions to enter.
The fitting clearance is the small amount of space that helps the shelf fit between the walls. It is not an allowance to add to the shelf size.
The shelf slides in from the front over concealed side battens. This means the front opening must allow the whole shelf to pass through; an opening that is narrower at the front cannot accept a shelf cut wider at the back.
Choosing the depth
Depth is how far the shelf projects from its back edge to the front. Measure the items you want to store and check the space they need.
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A deeper floating shelf places more leverage on its supports. The right fixing depends on the depth, load and wall construction.
Available depths differ between materials and products. Use the range shown on this product rather than assuming every shelf can be made to the same maximum.
Choosing the thickness
Thickness is the top-to-bottom size of the shelf. Choose from the options shown on the product page.
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Thickness changes the appearance of the shelf and can affect how its supports fit inside. Available thicknesses depend on the material and construction.
A thicker shelf does not by itself guarantee a higher load capacity. The wall and fixings still need to suit the intended use.
Colours, materials and finishes
Choose the look first, then compare the material and finish. Solid wood, real-wood veneer, decorative surfaces and ready-to-paint shelves each have different characteristics.
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Real wood and veneer have natural variation in grain and colour. A screen image is useful for inspiration, but a sample is better for comparing a finish with the room.
If the décor or wood species you need is not listed, ask the team about sourcing it. Availability and price need to be confirmed for that request.
Solid wood or real-wood veneer?
Solid wood is timber through the body of the shelf. Veneer is a layer of real wood over a manufactured core; the product specification tells you the construction.
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Both solid timber and real-wood veneer can show natural grain and colour variation. Veneer is not the same as a printed wood-effect surface.
Our solid wood range uses selected, kiln-dried timber. Drying prepares the wood for manufacture, but natural timber can still respond to changes in humidity and temperature.
Ready to paint
Choose a ready-to-paint product if you want to apply your own colour. It is supplied for finishing by you, rather than already painted in your chosen shade.
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Follow the preparation, primer and topcoat instructions for the particular surface and paint system. Allow the finish to cure before using the shelf.
Ask the team if you need help confirming a suitable finish for your intended location.
Choosing the finish
Select the finish offered for this product. For example, unfinished sanded and clear satin lacquered are different options: one leaves the finishing work to you, while the other supplies the selected clear finish.
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A clear finish can change the appearance of the wood grain and tone. Compare samples when you need a close match with furniture you already own.
Top Shelf offers a stain-matching service for solid wood and veneer using a physical sample. Ask the team to review the sample, specification and quotation before ordering.
Matching or contrasting edges
Matching edging keeps the edge in the same décor as the main surface. A contrasting edge makes the edge part of the design.
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The available edge choices depend on the product. Check the selected edge colour as well as the main shelf finish before adding it to your basket.
Our edging is 1 mm thick wherever edging is used. Real-wood grain can vary even where the species matches. Samples help you compare the overall appearance.
Alcove wall ends are deliberately unedged on veneer and laminate shelves because they fit between walls. Ready-to-paint shelves retain paintable edging, while solid timber shows end grain. An exposed half-alcove end stays finished.
Can I see a sample first?
Yes. Use the samples page to see the current choices and prices. A physical sample helps you compare colour and texture with your room.
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Look at the sample in daylight and under your room lighting. Screen brightness and lighting in photographs can change how a colour appears.
Natural wood varies, so use a sample as a guide to the material rather than a promise of identical grain on every shelf.
Which fixings do I need?
Start with the wall construction and what the shelf will hold. Choose from the fixing options offered on the product and follow the relevant installation guide.
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Concealed brackets fit inside the shelf for a floating appearance. Re-bar is a different installation method intended for suitable solid walls and needs an experienced installer.
For a stud wall, the supports need suitable structural fixing points. Ask the team about bracket positions before ordering if they must line up with particular studs.
Do not choose “No fixings required” unless you have confirmed how the shelf will be supported.
How many brackets are supplied?
The number depends on shelf length, depth and the fixing option. For example, a floating shelf 1200 × 120 mm uses three supports, while 1200 × 400 mm uses four when ordered with concealed brackets or re-bar.
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For floating shelves with concealed brackets or re-bar, maximum centre spacing is 600 mm at depths of 80–300 mm, and 350 mm at depths of 301–600 mm, within the product’s available dimensions.
The outer support centres are 60 mm from each end for lengths of 200–250 mm; 80 mm for 251–350 mm; 100 mm for 351–600 mm; and 150 mm from 601 mm upward. Additional supports are evenly spaced between them.
Full alcove shelves have two side battens. Rear concealed brackets are added where the back-wall length exceeds 600 mm, with no more than 600 mm between supports at any depth. This is a different arrangement from a floating shelf.
Concealed bracket length follows shelf depth: 60 mm brackets for 80–120 mm depths; 110 mm for 121–250 mm; and 200 mm from 251 mm upward within the permitted range. Wall shelves do not include brackets or fixings. A floating shelf ordered with No fixings required excludes them.
Tell us before ordering if supports must align with particular studs. A support count does not by itself establish a safe load for your wall.
How alcove shelves fit onto their battens
Each solid-timber side batten is 17 × 17 mm and fits into a centred groove 17.5 mm high and 20 mm deep. The groove stops around 5 mm from the shelf front, keeping the support hidden. This detail applies across our alcove sizes, thicknesses and finishes.
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A 150 mm diameter spindle block forms the groove and its curved end. The front end of the batten is mitred to fit closely into that curve.
Veneer and laminate alcove wall ends expose the MDF core rather than matching edging. Ready-to-paint ends retain 1 mm paintable edging; solid wood ends show end grain. These hidden end details allow the shelf to fit against the wall.
There is 0.5 mm total clearance in the groove height. The 20 mm groove depth against the 17 mm batten leaves 3 mm at the shelf end for careful planing or sanding to suit wall irregularities.
That 3 mm scribing allowance is separate from the recommended 1–2 mm fitting clearance per side. Do not subtract both automatically from your measurements.
Each batten has 3–5 countersunk 4 mm holes for wall screws. Use fixings suitable for your wall, and follow the installation guide. Rear concealed brackets are added where required by the back-wall length.
What if my alcove is not square?
Measure the opening at the front and back, at each shelf height. The shelf slides in from the front: if that opening is narrower than the back, a shelf made to the wider back measurement will not pass through.
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Where the front opening is wider than the back, angled ends can be considered. Identify whether the left side, the right side, or neither side is square; left and right mean as you face the alcove.
Lay a large square, such as a 600 mm roofing square, flat at shelf height with one edge against the back wall. Measure the sideways gap at the front between its perpendicular edge and the side wall. Repeat on the other side. If you do not have a large square, use something genuinely square, such as paper or card, provided it reaches the measuring point and stays flat.
If neither side is square, measure both side gaps in millimetres; do not guess an angle or assume the gaps are equal. Send a clearly labelled sketch if unsure. Angled ends cost the same as square ends.
Where the front is narrower than the back, the shelf needs to be square and sized to pass through the front opening, with fitting clearance. Remaining gaps need a suitable filler or sealant.
Uneven or bowed walls can create another restriction between front and back. Check the full insertion path and ask the team to review unusual openings.
What is a half-alcove shelf?
A half-alcove shelf meets a side wall at one end and is open at the other. Choose the wall side as you face the shelf. A concealed timber batten supports that end; concealed rear brackets support the remaining span.
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The side batten replaces the wall-side outer bracket in our floating-shelf layout. The other bracket positions retain the length- and depth-dependent spacing, and bracket length follows shelf depth.
A half-alcove shelf costs £5 less per shelf including VAT than the equivalent full alcove configuration. Choose your finish in our Half Alcove Shelves range, then select the wall side and enter your finished shelf dimensions. The live price updates as you configure it.
Shelves longer than 2400 mm
We can make shelves up to 3000 mm in one piece. Shelves over 2400 mm carry an additional delivery charge of £80 plus VAT. Contact the team to confirm your specification and delivery arrangements.
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For longer runs, we offer free biscuit jointing between shelf sections. Tell us the full length and the proposed location so the team can confirm the section sizes and supports.
A biscuit joint aligns adjoining sections; the shelf still needs the correct wall supports. Check access into the property as well as the wall measurements before ordering a long piece.
How much weight can it hold?
There is no single safe weight for every shelf. It depends on the size, material, wall, supports and installation.
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Tell us the shelf dimensions, wall construction and what you plan to put on it. For a TV, include the TV’s weight and stand dimensions.
Heavy items near the front of a deep shelf put greater demand on its supports. Follow the fixing instructions and ask for advice on your specific arrangement.
Adjustable tilt helps set a concealed bracket level; it does not make the load capacity unlimited.
Delivery dates
Use the delivery-date calendar in your basket or at checkout to see the dates currently offered and choose your preferred date. Standard selectable delivery days are Monday to Friday.
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The calendar includes the preparation time and unavailable dates. Its earliest selectable date is more useful than a general lead-time estimate.
Need a date that is not offered? Contact the team before ordering so they can check what is possible. Bespoke furniture delivery is confirmed with the quotation.
Check the delivery charge for your address at checkout. Contact the team about destinations outside mainland UK or special delivery arrangements.
Changing an order
Contact the team promptly with your order number and the change you need. There is no fixed cutoff: what can be changed depends on whether your order has entered production.
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Orders are cut in batches, so cutting might begin soon after ordering or several days later, depending on workflow and material availability.
Once a shelf has been made, we can make it smaller, but cannot make it larger or change its colour. Reducing it can affect fixing-hole positions; let the team check the new size.
For address or date changes, contact the team to check the order status. Ask them to confirm any charge and effect on delivery before arranging an alteration.
Does the price include VAT?
Yes. Top Shelf website prices include VAT. A VAT receipt is available on request.
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Use the calculated price for the configuration you have selected. Check the basket and delivery details before ordering.
For a specification outside the online options, ask for a quotation so the team can confirm the price and delivery arrangements.
A bespoke project
Send the team a sketch with dimensions, quantities, material or colour, edge choice, finish and delivery location. Add photos where they help explain the space.
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Include anything that changes the fit or installation: uneven walls, sockets, pipes, sloping ceilings or supports that must line up with studs.
If you want to match existing furniture, explain what you want to match and ask about a suitable physical sample. Availability, final specification and price are confirmed with your quotation.
Looking after your shelves
Care depends on the material and finish. Use a soft cloth for routine dusting and follow the care instructions for your chosen finish.
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Do not assume one furniture polish suits every surface, particularly unfinished or ready-to-paint shelves. Ask the team before applying a product if you are unsure.
For kitchens and other demanding locations, mention nearby heat, steam or water when choosing the material and finish.
