The 6 Best Shelf Liners in 2020
It has so many practical applications and can be used in so many creative ways that it is almost impossible to list down the number of ways you can use it. However, some of the most common ways it can be used are to act as a layer on your kitchen cabinet, to line your drawers, as a protective and decorative covering on your shelves, to cover the top of your coffee table, as a part of your next DIY home renovation project, etc.
They usually come in rolls, with or without an adhesive side, and also with a decorative side which can have different properties such as anti-slip or waterproof surface. Although looking for a shelf liner can be as much fun as choosing the right shade of color to paint your room with, it is also important to be well aware of the fact that all shelf liners are not of a high quality and they might have properties that are not suitable for your need.
That is why we have selected the best shelf liners that you can find on the market and have put together their strengths and weaknesses so that you can choose the one that is a perfect fit for your specific taste and requirements.
Best Pick
This sturdy, non-adhesive yet non-slip shelf liner comes in elegant color options and is the best pick shelf liner on our list due to its superior quality and its convenience. If you are looking for a non-printed and repositionable shelf liner then this would be the best choice for you.
Budget Pick
This shelf liner comes in different prints and has an adhesive backing with grids which makes it very easy to use since you simply have to cut and paste on any surface that you want to protect or decorate.
1. Duck Brand Select Grip Easy Liner Shelf
If you have been facing the annoying situation where the items on your shelf keep slipping from its position making your cabinets and drawers disorganized no matter how many times you tidy them up, then you would find this liner wonderfully effective once you line your shelf using it.
This shelf liner comes in a 20 feet long roll which has a width of 12 inches. The roll also comes in various soothing and classy colors such as taupe, brownstone, light grey, etc. so they would easily fit into any type of ambiance and room décor without looking tacky or out of place.
This liner is a special model called “Select grip” which means it will hold onto the surface firmly without any adhesive properties, which means once you lay it down on your shelf, it will stay in its place but will not become stuck to the shelf surface permanently so you can easily reposition it or take it out for cleaning or replacement without damaging your shelf’s surface.
The liner has this select grip property on both sides, so the items on your shelf will also stay in its place without becoming displaced or slipping off. This is a very useful feature to have on places such as bathrooms, RVs, and kitchens, where objects are more prone to slipping from your shelf. Another additional advantage of this liner is its cushioning ability which protects your objects and surface from impact damage.
If you accidentally spill something on the liner or if it becomes dirty after a long period of time, you can simply take the liner out, wash it, and reuse it without having to buy a new one.
2. The Macbeth Collection Self Adhesive Shelf Liner
This is a great shelf liner for anyone who is looking for a quick and easy way to make their shelves look more stylish and also to keep them well protected from weather and contact damage. The shelf liner from the Macbeth collection comes as a set of two rolls that measure 18 x 10 inches each.
What makes this shelf liner so easy to apply is that it comes with an adhesive side which is protected by a backing layer that has grid lines on it. This means that you have clear grid lines that will guide you when you are measuring and cutting the liner which makes the whole process a lot easier and simpler.
Once you have cut the liner into your desired shape and size, you can take off the backing and the sticky surface will be ready to be pasted onto anything you want to apply it to, whether it be your walls, shelves or your tabletop. This is also great for covering vertical surfaces since it has an adhesive side.
The shelf liner is made of vinyl and is very easy to clean with soap and water. We also love the fact that this liner comes in different patterns and colors that are great for decorative purposes and home or school art projects, making sure that it is never boring to work with them.
3. Duck Brand Smooth Top Easy Liner Shelf Liner
If your cabinet shelves are not lined by the appropriate shelf liner, taking your dishes and cutleries out of the cabinets can leave permanent scratches to both your cabinet and to your dishes.
Also, if your cabinet is made of metallic or smooth wooden material, then objects might accidentally slip out, fall and break. To prevent this kind of situations from happening, you can use this shelf liner from Duck Brand, which is called the “Smooth Top Easy liner”, which has been specifically designed for lining kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
The liner has a top surface that is smooth so it would not scratch your dishes, and also will prevent them from sliding and slipping especially when you are trying to take them out of the cabinet. The bottom surface of the liner is non-adhesive so it can be easily removed and repositioned, but at the same time provides a secure grip so it would not be easily displaced.
4. Sterling Shelf Liners for Wire Shelf
If you have troubles with small and slim objects slipping through the slits in your wire racks and shelves, this Shelf liner from Sterling is a great choice for you. This liner has been specifically designed for wire racks and comes in attractive transparent colors that would add style and beauty to any plain looking wire shelf.
We also love the fact that the liner is waterproof which means any kind of liquid spills can be easily wiped away and cleaned. Due to the smooth texture of the liner, it is very easy to dust in case any food crumbs or dirt fall on it.
To make sure that it can stand up to heavy-duty usage it has been made of 30 gauge thick polypropylene which makes it a durable liner that would last for a long time without breaking or tearing.
5. DII Non-Adhesive Cut to Fit Machine Washable Shelf Liner Paper
This Liner from DII is a must-have for anyone who is looking for a liner that is soft, durable, versatile and convenient. The liner comes in many different colors and patterns including dahlia, lattice, polka dots, etc. which will give you a plenty of options when it comes to decorating your home interiors.
The set includes two rolls of 12-inch and 10 feet which is easy to cut and fit onto any surface that you want to decorate and protect. Another great advantage of this liner is that it is reversible which means you are getting two different designs in one sheet of a liner which is very useful if you want to add versatility to your cabinet and shelf drawer decorations.
The liner combines two popular fabric materials 60% viscose, and 40 % polyester which gives it great properties to make it an ideal choice for lining your shelves. Viscose has a soft feel to it and has a silk-like luster that cannot be found in cotton or polyester. Due to the presence of viscose in this liner, it provides cushioning on your shelves and it can also absorb moisture and liquid spills, and hence can even be used to line the shelves and drawers inside your refrigerator.
The polyester in the liner makes it durable and crease-resistant, which means it will come back to its original size and form without wrinkles after it has been washed and dried so you can use it again and again. Due to its useful properties, the liner can be used in many different areas around your home such as laundry shelves, kitchen cabinets, wardrobe drawers, refrigerator compartments, inside the pantry, etc.
If the liner becomes dirty, you do not have to worry about hand cleaning it, since this liner is machine-washable.
6. Warp'S Plast O Mat Shelf Liner
At the first glance, this liner might look to be a simple, transparent liner but it is more than what it appears to be. This liner made of durable plastic that is waterproof and can give a strong protection to your shelves, especially on your wire racks.
It has also been equipped with a ribbed pattern which allows good ventilation and provides cushioning for the objects you put on the shelf. If you are worried that it is white and can become dirty quickly, you can set your worries aside since it is stain resistant and can be easily cleaned by simply wiping it with a wet cloth.
Since the liner is non-adhesive, it can be removed without leaving marks on your metallic racks and can be repositioned to fit the racks perfectly. If you are looking for a simple yet reliable.
Before you start making plans for your next home renovation project with the shelf liner of your choice, it is important to know some important facts about them that would help you to decide which liner to use for which purpose and area of your home. But you would not have to look for the information elsewhere since we have it all prepared in the next section of our article.
Things you need to know before buying a shelf liner
The first thing to decide before buying a shelf liner is whether you want it to have an adhesive backing or not. The shelf liners that come with a self-adhesive layer at its back works like a sticker and you can peel the backing off and paste it on the surface you want to use it on. Although this type of liners are easy to use and you can be sure that it will not be displaced, it can be tricky to reposition it or paste it so that there are no air bubbles inside.
Also, the surface you are going to use it on should not be prone to damage by the adhesive material. If you do not want the hassle involved in adhesives and want your liner to be breathable and easily removable, then it is best to go with the non-adhesive liners.
The texture of the liner
When it comes to shelf liners the texture can be hard or soft depending on what type of material was used to make the liner. It is important to decide what purpose you are going to use the liner for in order to choose the right type of texture.
For example, if you want to line your kitchen cabinets where you want to place vulnerable dishes and glasses that are prone to scratching, it is best to choose a liner that has a soft texture, usually made of synthetic fabrics. But if you want something that would give you a hard surface then you can go for the plastic ones that are transparent and waterproof.
The type of shelf you want to line
Shelves and racks can come in different designs and it is best to select your shelf liner according to the surface you want to line. For example, the wire racks require polyester and hard shelf liners since cloth liners can slip out of the slits in the wire racks. If you want to line a shelf inside your refrigerator, it is best to choose a liner that would be able to absorb moisture and is easy to clean thoroughly so that you can maintain proper food hygiene.
Design
At this point, you would be familiar with the fact that shelf liners not only fulfill a protective purpose but also is a great way to decorate your shelves and home interiors. That is why many shelf liners come with various pattern and color options so that you can choose one that would add beauty to your home décor.
However, if you do not want any patterns and are looking for a plain and simple shelf liner, which is also available. The important thing is to observe your rooms and shelves and plan ahead of what kind of colors or patterns would suit them the best before you go out to buy your shelf liner.
Cleaning your shelf liner
Since shelf liners stay in places such as your pantry or kitchen cabinets and bathroom drawers, it is important to make sure that they are not accumulating dirt or microbes. The cleaning of the liner depends on the type of the liner you are using.
The plastic ones that are waterproof can be wiped with a wet cloth to be cleaned, whereas many fabric liners can be cleaned by washing them in a washing machine. Especially for the fabric liners, the key is to make sure that they are crease resistant, will not shrink, and that it is able to come back to its original shape and size after they have been washed and dried.