From Cluttered to Curated: Mastering Shelf Styling
I love any opportunity to style shelves! Bookshelves, open shelving, floating shelves, you name it! However, like any designer, I did not emerge from the womb knowing exactly what to do. I am able to do what I do from much practice and studying design principles such as balance, repetition, & contrast.
Don’t worry! I am not here to dig deep into design theories (at least not today…ha!) I am sharing the parameters I use to craft thoughtful book shelf vignettes.
1. Multiple Scales Represented; What can take a styled shelf from meh to great is varied scale! If everything is the exact same height and width, where are you capturing interest? Pro Tip: I do indeed love the home decor aisles at Target, but if I am purchasing something from there, it is because it is the right scale! Many items found in those aisles are smaller scale, therefore only buying items from that section could lead to scale issues when you place the items on the shelf.
2. Proportion: Piggybacking off my previous comment, a too small vase in a taller shelf if going to look like a gnat on your rearview mirror. On the same note, a large round decorative bowl on a narrow shelf is going to look like an elephant on top of a roller-skate. Choose your decor proportions appropriately.
3. Color Continuity: This may seem like an obvious guideline, but ensure your colors flow with one another. I would not recommend a bright tangerine color if the rest of your colors are muted. On the same note, you do not want every color to be the same on your shelf. Create a palette of colors for your shelf, and mix their placement around the shelf for an elevated look! Pro Tip: Do you have a piece you love with multiple colors represented? Use that piece to drive your color palette, and only use colors that compliment it!
4. Varied Texture: Speaking of ways to elevate your shelf, varying texture on your shelves will instantly boost the sophistication level! I love to use a variety of textures (especially natural materials!) to bring a calm & cozy effect to a space. Think wood, stone, glass, metal & linen!
5. Balanced Vignettes: If you only follow on tip from this blog post, please let it be this one. Each shelf is it’s own picture moment that also works together with the other shelves above, below, and to the side of it. Avoid placing a vase directly above or next to another shelf with a vase. What if that vase is diagonal from another vase? Just fine! Follow the exact same guideline with color, size, and texture! Pro Tip: I like to place the larger, visually heavier items on the bottom shelf. This is often a basket of some sort to visually anchor the full shelf design. This is where I take an exception to the rule of not placing the same items next to each other. Two of the same basket taking up one shelf each side by side, creates a perfect base for your display!
Looking for help completing your bookshelves? Look no further! We offer two services that may be a good fit to complete your project with expert design help!
Option 1: Sign up for a Design Day! Design Days are a quick-turnaround service that provides expert design help, but allows you to be the one to execute it! Design Days consist of hopping on a call to make sure our designs are on the right track, and then within 24-28 business hours, you will have a mood board with a plan to execute the design, plus shoppable links for your to order the recommend item yourself. You will follow the design plan and place the items in their designated places yourself. We will end the service with a 30 minute video call within 5 days after your Design Day to answer any questions! This service is a flat rate fee!
Option 2: Want us to do it all for you? Utilize our full service design package! We will physically measure your shelves (or other space you have in mind), create a detailed drawing with scaled measurements, & create a design plan showing the bookshelf decor items. Once all items are approved by you, we will order the items and have them delivered to our warehouse where they will be stored until all items arrived. We will then show up to your home with the items, and style the bookshelves in-person, and remove any cardboard boxes/trash from your home! This service is an hourly-based fee.
If you have any further questions about our Design Day service, Full Service Design package, or any of the other services we offer, please reach out to me via our “Contact Us” button below!
