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No one really pays attention to their shelves, whether it comes to kitchen shelves, those on the hallway or perhaps in the bedroom. Most people use shelves for storage and decorations. Fair enough, but styling them is more than just placing some pictures of your loved ones.
The good news is styling your shelves doesn’t always need a professional approach. In fact, adding a few things here and there, removing the wrong decorations, and changing the display order will usually do. Curious how the experts do it? Here’s everything you need to know.
In This Post:
Overcrowding With Zigzag Lines
Having lines around items isn’t necessarily about style but mainly about making overcrowded shelves look better. No one will notice this line pattern between items, not even you. However, it can and will make you feel better when you see it.
The idea is to come up with an imaginary line between the top part of each item on the shelf. Get a tall one, then a short one, and so on. Avoid ascending or descending lines, they feel weird and visually uncomfortable. Instead, the zigzag line will maintain visual interest.
Color Distribution Is a Must
Color isn’t all about adding some style to your shelves, but also about unifying everything around it. It could be any color and, in any environment, being it minimalist or traditional. A color that stands out can be easily implemented in different places, at an equal distance between items.
This approach will make your shelves look more cohesive. For example, if it’s something green, you can have a couple of decorations implementing nuances or accents of green, as well as some fake hanging plants around a different shelf.
You’ll have to decorate, step back, look, find balance, adjust and do it all over again until it looks perfect.
Repetitive Decorations
Unifying a décor is also about repetition. Some decorations look even better if you repeat the same pattern, color, or style. For example, if you like to display a bit of wood in a traditional or modern home, you could use a few different wooden pieces, rather than just one.
The idea behind repetition is to spread these decorations all over your shelves in an even manner. Having all these pieces in one place on one shelf would look terrible. It may look organized, but it’s visually uncomfortable to see it. Spreading them evenly changes everything.
If you have a bunch of ceramic vases, try spreading them out on various shelves to keep things looking balanced. Just remember, the trick to making repetition work well is to place these items carefully and evenly to make your shelves look even better.
Create a Balanced Look
When setting up your shelves, aim for a balanced and even look. Use a variety of heights, sizes, shapes, colors, and textures to keep things interesting and prevent similar items from being too close together.
For instance, on the shelving, mix dark and light pieces throughout to make each section visually appealing. Even in the kitchen area, where you may have multiples of the same item on display, try organizing tall glasses near shorter ones and switching between ceramics and glassware for a more dynamic look.
Remember, it’s usually better to place taller and larger items towards the edges of shelves rather than in the middle. This can help create a more pleasing visual balance to your display.
Stacking Adds Character
When you think about stacking, you inevitably think about all those plates stacked one on top of the other in a cabinet. Stacking doesn’t really count among the things you want to display on a shelf. But that’s only a misconception.
Stacking items makes a shelf or a display more interesting and appealing. Obviously, it has to be done with style. For example, you can have a stack of a few plates with a vase on top of it. You could also have a couple of bowls stacked on top of a tea towel. How about a bowl inside a larger bowl?
Living Elements
Last, but not least, living elements can add style. If you’re not the type to look after plants, go for artificial greenery. It’s easy to look after and will always look great.
Moreover, the options for adding a botanical touch to your space are endless in terms of style. Whether you prefer the simplicity of succulents, the charm of hanging baskets, the uniqueness of cacti, or the lushness of textural ferns, there’s a plant variety to suit every aesthetic preference.
Stand back and Make Changes
After you’ve completed styling your shelves, take a step back and review them. Are they well-balanced? Do they seem too crowded? Can you spot any empty spaces that need filling?
Creating a visually appealing arrangement often requires some fine-tuning rather than getting it perfect on the first try. Experiment with different placements until you’re satisfied, and if you’re finding it challenging, consider taking a break for a day or two to return with a fresh perspective.
In the end, while styling shelves may not necessarily be one of your priorities, the truth is small details can make the difference and add interest to a certain part of a room. Shelves are often overlooked, but styling them by the book will quickly turn them into focal points.
By using these tips and ideas, you can improve how you style your shelves, making them look amazing and showing off your own style to make your home more beautiful.
