Love the dowel trick—never thought of splitting them like that, but it totally makes sense for hiding those ugly brackets. I’ve tried contact paper on wire shelves before, but it always peels at the corners. The canvas weaving sounds way sturdier, even if it’s a bit “art school project.” One thing I did: used leftover peel-and-stick tiles to line the back wall of a closet. It made the whole thing feel way less like a rental, and you can pull them off later if you move.
Peel-and-stick tiles in a closet—now that's clever. I did something similar in a laundry nook once, just to make it feel less like a utility cave. Those tiles really do make a difference, even if they're not the fanciest. I hear you on contact paper... mine always ends up with weird bubbles or peeling edges too. One hack that worked for me: I used wood-look vinyl planks as shelf liners. They’re thicker, so they stay put better, and you can trim them to fit. Not the cheapest, but they hold up way longer than contact paper ever did.
