If you're not a fan of the wooden rustic look, you can paint your shelf in whatever color you want ... For example, these stainless steel handles from Home Depot are for $6.93, or an antique option ...
I wanted to use 1×10 wood for the shelves and 2×10 wood for the desk ... I ended up spacing them so there would be equal distance for my area and my husband’s area, and I put them about 18 inches ...