Lundia Open Shelving Unit — Before & After Ideas and Inspiration

Lundia Open Shelving Unit — Before & After Ideas and Inspiration

It is one thing to see a piece of furniture in a showroom or a catalogue, but it is quite another to see it living and breathing in a real home. Seeing how others use space, style their shelves, and solve storage dilemmas is often the most powerful form of inspiration. It transforms a theoretical product into a tangible solution for your own life.

At Lundia, we are privileged to see our shelving become part of so many diverse households. From bustling family kitchens to serene home offices, our Open Shelving Unit systems adapt to reflect the personalities of the people who own them. In this post, we are sharing real-life examples and ideas to spark your creativity. Whether you are planning a renovation or simply looking to organise a chaotic corner, let these stories show you the transformative potential of modular solid wood shelving.

Case Study 1: The Curated Home Library

For many of our customers, the dream is simple: a wall of books. One customer, Sarah from Bristol, transformed a blank, uninspiring living room wall into a stunning focal point using Lundia Shelving.

The Challenge: Sarah had books piled on the floor and overflowing from small, mismatched bookcases. She wanted a cohesive look that didn't make the room feel smaller.

The Solution: She installed a floor-to-ceiling Lundia Open Shelving Unit spanning the entire width of the room. By choosing a shallow 30 cm depth, she maximised storage without encroaching on the living space.

The Look:

  • Books: Arranged by colour for visual impact, interspersed with horizontal stacks to break up the lines.
  • Décor: Personal items like framed family photos and ceramic vases were given "breathing room" on shelves dedicated to display rather than storage.
  • Plants: Trailing ivy placed on high shelves draws the eye up, softening the wood and adding life to the structure.

Customer Verdict: "It feels like the room has doubled in size because the clutter is gone. It's not just storage; it's the main feature of our home now."

Case Study 2: The Open Pantry Kitchen

Kitchen trends are moving away from heavy wall cabinets towards lighter, more accessible options. James and David in Manchester used Lundia to create an open pantry feel in their galley kitchen.

The Challenge: A narrow kitchen felt claustrophobic with standard cupboards. They struggled to find ingredients hidden at the back of deep cabinets.

The Solution: They removed upper wall cabinets and replaced them with sturdy, open pine shelves. They used a freestanding Lundia unit on a spare wall to hold dry goods and crockery.

The Look:

  • Tableware: Everyday plates and bowls are stacked neatly on eye-level shelves, making plating up dinner effortless.
  • Jars: Glass jars filled with pasta, rice, and lentils create a uniform, "zero-waste shop" aesthetic that is practical and beautiful.
  • Cookware: Heavier cast iron pots sit safely on the reinforced lower shelves, showcasing the strength of solid Scandinavian pine.

Customer Verdict: "We cook so much more now because we can actually see our ingredients. It forces us to be tidy, but the warmth of the wood makes the kitchen feel so much more welcoming."

Case Study 3: The Productive Home Office

With the rise of hybrid working, the "cloffice" (closet office) or corner desk isn't always enough. Eleanor, a graphic designer, needed a space that was highly functional but inspiring enough for creative work.

The Challenge: Eleanor needed to store heavy reference books, large art files, and printer equipment, all within a small spare room that also acted as a guest bedroom.

The Solution: A modular Lundia system that combined deep shelves for equipment with standard shelves for files. She incorporated a desk surface directly into the shelving structure to save floor space.

The Look:

  • Files: Magazine files keep paperwork organised and hide the visual noise of loose papers.
  • Supplies: Drawer inserts were added to store pens, hard drives, and stationery, keeping the desk surface clear.
  • Inspiration: The upper shelves are used for mood boards and design books, turning the storage unit into a source of creativity.

Customer Verdict: "I love that I can reach everything from my chair. And when I have guests stay, the shelves look like nice furniture, not boring metal office racking."

Case Study 4: The Boutique Bedroom Wardrobe

Traditional wardrobes can often be bulky beasts that dominate a bedroom. The "open wardrobe" trend offers a lighter, boutique-hotel feel. We have seen incredible transformations where customers swap doors for open rails and shelves.

The Challenge: A lack of built-in storage in a period property meant clothes were crammed into a small chest of drawers.

The Solution: A tall Lundia Open Shelving Unit configured with hanging rails and deep shelves for folded items.

The Look:

  • Folded Clothes: Knitwear and denim are stacked neatly on open shelves, making it easy to see options in the morning.
  • Storage Boxes: Canvas boxes on the bottom shelves hold socks, underwear, and accessories, keeping the look tidy.
  • Personal Items: A dedicated shelf for perfume bottles and jewellery trays adds a touch of luxury to the morning routine.

Customer Verdict: "It forces me to curate my wardrobe and keep only what I love. Getting dressed feels like shopping in a favourite store every morning."

Why Customers Choose Lundia: In Their Own Words

Across all these stories, a few common themes emerge when customers explain why they chose Lundia over other options:

  1. "It grows with us."
    One customer noted, "We bought our first bay when we lived in a flat. Ten years and two houses later, we've added three more bays and it's now our main library. I love that we never had to throw it away."
  2. "Real wood matters."
    "I was tired of cheap veneer peeling off. The smell and feel of solid pine just brings a quality to the room that MDF can't match. It feels permanent."
  3. "The customisation is key."
    "Being able to mix deep shelves for my printer with shallow shelves for my paperbacks in the same unit was a game-changer. No other system offered that flexibility."

Share Your Story

The beauty of a Lundia Open Shelving Unit is that it is never truly "finished." It evolves as your life changes, moving from room to room and role to role.

We are constantly inspired by the creativity of our community. Have you transformed a space with Lundia Shelving? We would love to see it. Sharing your "before and after" photos not only celebrates your hard work but helps others visualise what is possible in their own homes.

Tag us on social media or send us your photos to be featured in our next community spotlight. Let’s continue to inspire each other to create spaces that are organised, beautiful, and built to last.

Please note: These case studies are fictional scenarios created to inspire you and showcase the potential uses of Lundia Shelving. They do not represent actual customers or their specific applications.

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Got Questions?

If you have any questions about our ergonomic chairs and accessories or would like to request a personalised quote, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Contact Info

Tel. 01904 471095

Company Info

Lundia (UK) Ltd
Unit 6 – Ground Floor
Clifton Moor Business Village
James Nicolson Link
Clifton Moor
York
YO30 4XG