Although not a replacement for ordinary shelves, cube shelves are a good alternative if you’re looking for something compact and visually striking to store books or other miscellaneous items. Cube-based shelves benefit from additional divisions to make organization easier, come in many different designs from the relatively plain to the fantastical, and in general enjoy all the benefits of ordinary shelves with these extra advantages in place as well. In fact, the different kinds of cube shelving can be its own kind of obstacle for people who haven’t bothered to look outside of the realm of standard shelving before.

For some, wire cube shelving is the preferred choice. Wire-based shelves will allow air to pass through freely, preventing dust from getting trapped. They’re also very light in weight and therefore simple to move even one-handed. Some people dislike the aesthetic look of wire cube shelving, though, considering it cheap… which, in fact, it is, being one of the most affordably priced kinds of shelving on the market. A bookcase that could cost you over fifty dollars in wood can be less than thirty in wire frames. Wire frames are also less stable than solid wood and can be knocked over somewhat more easily than ordinary shelves, although the final impact is less likely to damage the shelving in turn. Finally, since the wires obviously lack a solid bottom, there are some items that just won’t sit on them comfortably. So there are obviously both good and bad traits associated with this particular kind of cube-shaped shelf that may or may not matter to you.

Buying a cube shelving unit can also be a means of artistic expression and not just storage. The simple geometric shape of the cube is very versatile. The additional support allows for different kinds of shapes to be made than you’d see in an ordinary shelf. Have you considered a diagonal cube shelf for your cd collection? A staircase-esque series of shelves with a steadily upwards prgressing grid pattern? Even cubes that can be separated, reattached, and rearranged to your liking? All these and quite a bit more are available, giving more room for personal expression of tastes. It allows you to make your storage part of your interior decorating, rather than just something cold and utilitarian you have to have.

But impractical designs scarcely rule the market of cube-based shelving. Whether you’re looking for white cube shelves or black ones, metal or plastic, mobile or immobile, there are many conservative, down to earth models that just get the job done efficiently and with minimal space required. Both vertical towers and horizontal lane shelves are available in cube form, the latter often wheeled for added simplicity in mobility. Bereft of artistic touches, most cube wall shelves and other kinds of cube-structured shelves are predictable in prices, with expenses only increasing significantly with increased shelf size. There’s no reason to be suckered in for a triple digit priced model if the fifty dollar one will do the same job, after all. And if you give the oh so humble cube a try, you’ll most likely find that the added organization, structural stability, and protection to possessions that the additional cube walls provide will do a good job to make the investment one you won’t look back on with regret.