Styling shelves is one of my favorite things to do whenever I’m looking for a way to change up our home. This cabinet has been one of my favorites to style ever since we got it a few months ago! I usually switch up our shelves for each season but sometimes more than that if I’m feeling inspired. One question I get is if I have any rules, tips, or tricks for styling shelves. So I thought I would take you through how I styled these shelves and give you a few helpful ideas along the way!
Start with your larger items: Whenever I am styling shelves I start with my larger items first. I test out the visual weight and balance by placing the items on each shelf and moving them around until I like the way it looks. Personally, I don’t follow the balance rule super strictly. Sometimes I might like the way something looks even if it is a little “off-balance” … that’s one of the best parts of decorating and interior design, you can follow whatever style makes you feel the coziest!
Layer in smaller pieces: Once you have your bigger items in place then I like to play around with layering in the smaller pieces. Typically I will lay everything I want to use on the shelves on the floor by me. Then I move the pieces around on the shelves until I like the look. Sometimes I will style it and then come back to it in a few hours or the next day to see if I still like it. Most of the time I change things around the next day or two because after looking at it I want something to be in a different spot.
Styling Books: I love styling books on my shelves. When I need some creativity or inspiration I love to flip through a book, I find books super inspirational so I always have a bunch around. If you use books in your shelf decor try styling them in different ways like sitting up straight, lying horizontally stacked, & layered on each shelf in different arrangements to balance each shelf. It adds a lot more interest that way & books are an easy way to add texture, height, and weight to your shelves
Add Some Greenery: Bring life into your shelves by adding in some greenery! If your shelves get good sunlight, I’m all for adding real plants into your decor. However, some shelves [like this one] get next to no sunlight. This spot is tucked under our stairs so any real plant I put in there would die. Instead, I put faux greenery into these shelves. This adds some life and greenery to this spot but helps me not to buy plants that would constantly need to be replaced here.
Extra Elements: The personal touches are the best parts of the shelf decor! I love adding my favorite finds, decor pieces, and collections into my shelf styling. This is the best way to personalize your decor and really make the space a reflection of your family. Some elements I like adding are books, plants, jars & vases, blankets, baskets, artwork, button jars, faux greenery, vintage finds, etc.
I know that styling shelves can be a little bit daunting especially a large cabinet like this! I hope that taking this one step at a time and using these tips can help you with styling shelves in your home. Do you have any helpful tips for styling shelves? Leave them in the comments so that we can help each other out! Xx Liz Marie
Nic blog, would you like to tell me what martial use on the Cabinet. Energy Consumption Blogs
Love how you styled everything! My problem is we have a small house so every shelf and cabinet needs to be used for practical items In my hutch that’s a little easier because I can display all my pretty dishes that I use, but the living room and hallway it’s much more difficult. Any tips?
In my small house, I use trunks, big baskets, stacked suitcases, wooden boxes as part of my decor. I hide things in the storage containers and use as part of my vignette. I am always moving things around and changing it up for seasons, (ok, monthly … lol) which has slowly allowed me to purge “stuff” and find better ways to store and display … have fun with it !
I also like seeing different objects at varied heights. Thrift shops are a godsend when it comes to decor. One person’s junk is another person’s treasure.
Absolutely love the white and neutrals in decorating. You gave me some great ideas
I love styling my shelves and it was nice to read, you go back the next day and sometimes the next and change things up, cause i do that too. You gave me some wonderful ideas to use, thanks Liz.
I love everything about that little nook. It’s like “eye porn” to me. Lol. Was the cabinet an antique? Where did you buy the curtains?
Your use of textures is important too. Love the baskets and foliage mixed with the ceramics and picture frames. I adjust my items for a day or two also; glad I’m not the only one!
Yes you are not alone!!
I tend to use the five elements in my styling. Paper, wood, crockery, plants, and metals.
Paper – books, photos , pictures , old bingo type papers.
Wood- boxes, bread boards and such
Crockery- vases, crocks, etc.
Plants – real or Faux
Metals – silver trays or teapots , copper, iron , old keys type things