Bookshelf Styling
Open shelving can be your best friend when it comes to styling your home, but for many, it's their worst enemy. Finding the right objects and figuring out how to place them can seem like a daunting task! Our quick list of tips will help you muster up some confidence to style and decorate your own shelves. We even linked some styling accessories for you to shop so keep reading!
First up, what to choose: use your best decorative items. Mixing and matching different types of items is a must but try to find some cohesiveness. A color scheme will make the entire shelving unit feel unified. We tend to keep the color scheme neutral with small pops of color! For example, for a client's contemporary office space, we chose black picture frames with white and gold decorative objects, separated by greenery in white vases and assorted books (vintage looking ones are the best!).
Here's a general list of items to showcase on your shelves:
1. Your favorite books.
2. Picture frames.
3. Greenery.
4. Accent objects.
5. Boxes and baskets.
Secondly, get rid of the clutter. Your shelves are a great place to show off all of your favorite memories and family items, but it’s not a place to show off everything. A cluttered shelving unit can be unappealing to look at—all your guests will focus on the clutter and get distracted from what you're actually trying to show. Be intentional about what you’re putting on your shelves; try not to just put out odds and ends to fill the space! Your shelves are not a place to display random college memorabilia, your shot glass collection, your husband’s golf trophies, all the Hobby Lobby word signs (you know what we mean, “Bless This Mess” “Love Lives Here” “Family Forever”) or knick knacks you’ve accumulated over the years.
Third, keep it simple and balanced. The fewer items the better, you don't want to crowd a shelf. For example, a group of 5-6 books and a decorative box is about the max amount of items your want to place on a shelf. Our rule of thumb for balance is to alternate between a centered decorated shelf, a symmetrically decorated and an asymmetrical decorated shelf (meaning either left or right side oriented). Don’t forget to use objects of all different sizes, widths, heights, textures and shapes!
When you've got all your items in place, just stand back and look at it as a whole. If something doesn't look right, switch it up or if you find yourself getting frustrated, take a break and come back with fresh eyes!
You've got a eye for style, so trust your design gut! Shop some styling essentials below.
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