5 Tips for Styling Shelves

Styling shelves is one of the things I am asked most often to help with.  And I get it- they can be daunting.  What do I put on them?  Do I have too much?  Too little?  Big open shelves can be hard to style.  Often times we get stuck or in a rut.  So I decided to give a few basic tips on styling shelves that will hopefully help.

1. Start with the Big Stuff

First, gather and group everything that you think you want to put on the shelves. Then,  an easy place to start styling, is with the biggest pieces that take up the most shelf space.  Start by placing these on the shelves, that way you have a better idea of the space you have left.

2. Create Balance

Look at your shelves as an entire unit, not just shelf by shelf.  If you have a large picture frame at the top shelf, you don't want another large object right underneath it.  It will start to feel heavy and lopsided.  Instead, you want to create balance on the shelves.  For example, if you have a stack of books on the first shelf on the right, maybe on the third shelf stack some additional books on the left.  Or, place an object of similar size on the left as you did on the diagonal above.  Creating balance on your shelves is pleasing to the eye and helps to make them feel like each shelf is related to the others, which helps make the shelves on a whole seem cohesive.

3. Layer

Consider the depth of your shelves and use it to your advantage.  Place some items at the back of the shelves and some more near the front.  Don't be afraid to overlap.  You don't need to see every single inch of every single piece to get the visual benefit.  This creates a really nice layering effect that gives a lot of interest and feels very thought out.

4. Add Unexpected Pieces

Adding an unexpected surprise to the shelving, is a little added bonus.  It helps make the shelves personal and uniquely your own.  Mixing up the textures, and the materials that you place on the shelves makes them feel collected over time.  Despite their name, bookshelves are for more than just books.

5. Edit

Stand back and look at the finished product.  Take things off that feel too heavy or that aren't working in the space.  Move things around to try them in different spots on the shelves. You also don't have to have every inch of the shelf filled.  Open space helps make the shelves feel less crowded and more like a collection than just a place for stuff.   Try not to have the "but that goes in the dining room" mentality.  Being flexible and creative in the ways the items are presented is key.  Sometimes something that has lived in another room for years, even, is just the perfect thing to finish off your shelves.  Plus, the next time someone accuses you of being inflexible you can say, "I'm TOTALLY flexible! Just last week I moved that vase from its place in the family room, to the living room!"

I hope that you benefit from these basic shelf styling tips.  Remember, you can always change them, add to them, take something away,  or redo them all together.  Be creative, and have fun displaying your favorite things.

Thanks for reading, friends!  I hope you're having a great week!