If you live in an area where dust is not much of a problem, then neither should open shelves for storage. Open shelves have the advantage of exposing your stored items to air circulation thus avoiding the possible build up of any unwanted smell, or the accumulation of toxic and hazardous gases in confined spaces. They also keep your items in open view. This means that if you need an item in the storage, you will immediately know where to look.
A fine example of an open shelf storage system is the Seville Classics SHE18370B Shelving System. This shelving unit is constructed in steel with a chrome finish. It consists of five tiers of shelves supported by four rounded upright poles. Each shelf incorporates four openings in its corners through which the poles are inserted. With the help of cone-shaped plastic sleeves biting into the grooves on the poles and fitting into the shelf’s holes, the shelf is held firmly in place. Because of the design of the cone, the more weight placed on the shelf, at least up to its rated limit, the tighter its grip on the sleeves and the poles.
Since the grooves on the poles are spaced only one inch apart, each shelf can be adjusted in one inch increments allowing you to group bulky items in one layer and smaller ones on the next. The shelves are constructed with a railing surrounding its entire length and width. You have, however, the option of installing the shelves with the rail up to keep your things from falling, or with the rail down to help support the surface of the shelf.
The five tiers of the Seville Classics SHE18370B Shelving System can support a total weight of 500 lbs. It stands 76 inches high, and has a width of 35.5 inches and depth of 18. It comes with a set of wheels for mobility but, at your option, you can replace them with fixed posts.