Sometimes the interior structure of houses and apartments just doesn't make sense. Awkwardly placed heating/cooling units, electrical outlets and protruding walls often make it impossible to arrange furniture.

One of the more vexing problems is where to put shelves. Sometimes you end up blocking an important electrical outlet just because your shelves won't go anywhere else. But now there's a solution to that problem. It's the individual shelf, and it comes from small and big shelf-makers.

Constructed to be nailed into the wall at any height, these singular shelves come in many styles and shapes. From a delicate wire wagon adorned with heart-shaped leaves to a bulky Colonial-style model painted with stars and stripes, the single shelf is not only a pragmatic option for maximizing your space, but a decorative one as well.

Plain, one-color shelves, along with more stylish ones, can be found at large chain stores such as IKEA and Home Depot. Hand-painted, one-of-a-kind designs are available at area crafts stores such as Milk House and House on the Hill.

Pub Date: 8/16/98