I love styling my shelves. Is that weird? It’s just that I find it’s a great way to use a little creative energy and make my home look nicer at the same time. On any given day you can find me surrounded by a big pile of books and accessories, an empty bookshelf in front of me.
Shelf styling is something that took me a little while to get the hang of. The first time I was at a magazine shoot when a whole bookcase needed to be styled I was a bit overwhelmed at the complexity. I had no idea how much thought went into it, and how many items were really needed (whether you’re using books like in the beautiful example above, accessories, or a combination of both). But over time I became an expert shelf stylist (if I do say so myself) and it’s one of my favourite decorating tasks. So here are a few tips from my years of obsessively styling every shelf in the house.
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How to Style Shelves
The first thing you need to do is consider the style of your house. A modern and/or clean-lined home needs items on open shelves to be organized and neat. A more relaxed style can have more relaxed displays. It’s all about creating balance and symmetry in your home.
Fill Empty Space
When it comes to open shelving it’s better to have too many items than not enough. Small items placed here and there will look bitsy and they won’t connect with one another. Full shelves, with items of varying size, look ample and create a nice, solid focal point. If you don’t have enough items to fill your shelves, use things like baskets and boxes to fill empty areas. Large picture frames can also do the trick.
Repeat Items
Repetition is very important in decorating, and shelf styling is no different. I suggest trying to repeat colours, shapes and themes a few times within the unit. Repetition creates a connection between all the items so that your shelves read as one unit.
Mix Things Up
Don’t put a bunch of small items in one area and a bunch of large items in another. Spread them out in a thoughtful way. Remember, balance is key. Place a curvy item next to a boxy one, and place a small item on top of a large one.
Don’t Use Too Many Colours
Even though it’s important to mix things up, when you’re styling open shelves you don’t want to incorporate too many colours. Try to keep things in the same colour tones and try not to use more than three different colours. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, but keep in mind that throwing together a whole bunch of colours can look visually cluttered.
Open shelves are always works in progress, and I suggest that you never take the task too seriously. Play around with your stuff until you’re satisfied, and when you get bored of the look, start again! The idea is to have fun with your home and create a look that makes you happy.
Feature photo courtesy of Cory Connor Designs. Check out her website and don’t forget to follow on Instagram!
