Cover The vinyl storage cabinet by Symbol and USM Modular Furniture (Photo: Courtesy of Symbol)
The vinyl storage cabinet by Symbol and USM Modular Furniture (Photo: Courtesy of Symbol)
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Shelving units that safeguard your vinyl records and look great in your home on Record Store Day
In the digitised age, where music is often just a click away, vinyl records made an unexpected and triumphant comeback in the early 2000s, striking a chord with nostalgic older generations and curious millennials alike.
The resurgence has steadily grown since then and hit a significant milestone in 2007, with the inauguration of Record Store Day on April 20, an annual event celebrating independent record stores and vinyl culture.
By 2020, vinyl sales outstripped CD sales in revenue for the first time since the 1980s, marking a pivotal shift in music consumption and, with that, amplified demands for practical yet visually appealing storage solutions as collectors seek ways to both display and protect their valuable records.
Considering factors such as material durability, accessibility, adjustability, aesthetic appeal and proper ventilation, here are eight innovative shelving systems designed for vinyl enthusiasts, blending form with function to showcase and safeguard your valuable collection in style.
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1. Judd bar by Michael Hilal
Judd bar by San Francisco-based designer Michael Hilal (Photo: Courtesy of 1st Dibs)
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Handcrafted by San Francisco-based designer Michael Hilal, the minimalist Judd bar pays homage to American artist Donald Judd, mirroring the stark, autonomous essence of his large-scale, unadorned sculptures.
Constructed from brushed aluminium and acrylic, its geometric design floats within the space, offering an unobtrusive sensory contrast and a nostalgic touch, as the shelf surface casts a rectangular colour projection along the wall when illuminated from above, enhancing the bar’s subtle presence.
Available at 1stdibs.com
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2. Sound-Rack storage unit by Kartell
The stackable Sound-Rack storage unit (Photo: Courtesy of Kartell)
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Italian design powerhouse Kartell has elevated plastic from humble, everyday household material to luxurious design staples since the 1960s, and this multi-shaped and multi-purpose Sound-Rack storage unit is no different.
Its versatile, stackable and modular design crafted from resin provides a vintage aesthetic for storing and playing vinyl records. On top of that, its expandable structure also allows for stacking or side-by-side placement, enabling a variety of geometric and chromatic compositions to evolve alongside an aspiring audiophile’s growing vinyl collection.
Available at Space Furniture in Malaysia and Singapore, and 1stdibs.com
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3. NMLB vinyl record cabinet by NM3
The NMLB vinyl record cabinet by Milan-based design studio NM3 (Photo: Courtesy of 1stDibs)
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Designed by Nicolò Ornaghi, Delfino Sisto Legnani, and Francesco Zorzi of Milan-based design studio NM3, the NMLB vinyl record cabinet embodies environmental and economic sustainability.
Made entirely from 1.5mm thick high-polished stainless steel, the choice of a single material minimises energy consumption during production while maximising durability and potentially extending its lifespan indefinitely.
This cabinet also features strategically placed prominent screws that enhance the minimalist design and is available either without or with wheels for ease of movement.
Available at 1stdibs.com
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4. Hifive storage system by Northern
The Hifive storage system by Northern (Photo: Northern)
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The Hifive storage system displays Northern’s creative vision that extends beyond Norwegian heritage to meet the demand for laid-back luxury and cutting-edge cool.
Its streamlined modular components feature a scrolling door to discreetly house audio equipment, while its open unit is perfectly sized to accommodate vinyl records.
Available in two sizes and finished in black painted oak, light oiled oak, or smoked oak, the Hifive offers flexible mounting options: it can be wall-mounted or set on sleek black steel legs.
Available at Danish Design Co in Singapore and northern.no
5. USM x Symbol Audio collection
The vinyl storage cabinet by Symbol and USM Modular Furniture (Photo: Courtesy of Symbol)
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Whether you’re a newcomer to vinyl, or a seasoned collector with over 400 records; if you need space for a vinyl player or a full DJ setup, audio brand Symbol has partnered with Swiss furniture label USM Modular Furniture to meet your needs.
USM has been creating sustainable units suitable for audio and vinyl storage for decades, and for this special collection, Symbol departs from its usual use of solid wood to USM’s modular system of steel tubes and perforated panels.
The dedicated range of vinyl shelving systems includes vinyl storage and display cabinets, as well as record stands and carts with castor wheels.
Available at symbolaudio.com
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6. Rail shelf by Keiji Ashizawa
Rail shelf by Keiji Ashizawa for Audo (Photo: Audo)
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Influenced by Japanese designer Keiji Ashizawa’s philosophy of “honest design,” the Rail shelf he designed for Danish furniture brand Audo is a perfect fit for any space, offering a subtle backdrop for your vinyl collection.
Drawing inspiration from the world of architecture and everyday spatial utilisation, the elegant and minimalist shelving unit combines a lightweight steel bracket reminiscent of metalwork handrails with a tactile wooden shelf crafted from medium-density fibreboard (MDF), available in either natural or dark stained oak veneer.
Available at Smuk Living in Malaysia, Xtra Design and Made & Make in Singapore, and audocph.com
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7. Elysée by Pierre Paulin
The Elysée shelving unit by Pierre Paulin (Photo: Magis)
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Dating back to 1971, Elysée began as a unique creation by French designer Pierre Paulin, who was commissioned to design the private apartments of President Pompidou at the Elysée Palace.
Starting as a smoked methacrylate shelving, Elysée is in the present day a modular shelving system available in materials such as natural maple plywood, American walnut plywood, or painted oak plywood in black or red.
The flexible system can expand with your vinyl collection, as the distinctive “T” joints in white or black ABS allow for countless configurations, making it ideal for use against a wall or as a room partition.
Available at magisdesign.com
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8. Nuage à Plots by Charlotte Perriand
Charlotte Perriand’s Nuage à Plots is a rhythmic shelving system (Photo: Cassina)
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Like the original Nuage that was inspired by the ethereal floating shelves mounted on the walls of Kyoto’s Imperial Palace, Charlotte Perriand’s Nuage à Plots is a rhythmic shelving system that plays with negative and positive spaces to create a modular furniture piece that reinterprets spatial concepts.
Simplifying the original design by omitting the sliding doors, this version features vertical matte black or white plots made from natural anodised aluminium, which divide the shelves crafted from solid block boards.
These shelves are available in natural veneer or stained black oak with a subtle low gloss finish, enhancing the elegant and functional design.
Available at cassina.com
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Celeste Goh is a senior writer covering architecture and design. Based in Malaysia, she reports on emerging architectural and home design trends, as well as insights by local and international architects and interior designers.
Previously, she covered men’s lifestyle, fashion, music and entertainment.
