Shelf Styling 101

We absolutely love when we get the chance to style shelves! Shelf styling is a great opportunity to bring visual interest to your space and tell who you are through the items you have collected over time.

How you arrange them can seem daunting but it is easier than you might think. Here are a few of our tips for getting your shelves just right!

Gather items

Gather a mix of items that you want to display. These might include books, vessels or vases, decorative boxes, pictures, artwork, sculptural objects, and things from nature. Clear your shelves and make a pile of all your options.

Pick a color pallet

Pick a color pallet. Take a look at what you have gathered and asses what colors are working well together. We recommend choosing a base color and metallic accent color to start. Don’t be afraid to add a third complementary color in if you are feeling bold! Here we have chosen a base color of cream with gold metallic accents and green to compliment. Additionally, a few black pieces help ground the pallet.

Build a base

Start building a base by placing big pieces first. We like to arrange these from shelf to shelf in a sort of zig zag pattern so that the eye can “read” the shelves in a pleasing way.

Place books

Next, place your books. Large coffee table books with beautiful spines can be laid horizontally, while smaller books can be placed vertically between bookends. Large books look best in stacks of 2s or 3s. If the spines of smaller books are throwing off the pallet, flip them around to expose the papers or simply remove the dust jackets.

Pictures and artwork

Pictures and artwork come next. Place framed pictures on or beside large books. Artwork looks great leaning against the back of the shelf and provides interesting depth.

Add natural materials

Add in natural materials to warm up the shelves. Our favorites often include plants, driftwood, shells or coral.

A bit of quirk

Throw in A bit of quirk. Sculptural/geometric objects and smaller items give your eye a nice break. Story filled pieces from your travels personalize your shelves and can serve as great conversation starters.

Step back and assess

Now it’s time to step back and assess. Be sure you are seeing a good balance of color, texture and visual weight. Don’t be afraid to move things around if needed!

Add layers

Layer, layer, layer! Your goal should be to create interest and dimension. This is best done in clusters, or small groupings. Be sure to also leave pockets of white space for your eye to rest.