Tips and Principles for Shelf Styling | Monthly Challenge 6

I posted a while back on my instagram a list of some principles and tips (I don’t like to say “rules” in design, as I feel so much of design and decorating comes from a feeling, but it’s helpful to be guided by some principles!) for shelf styling, and figured I’d go into a little more depth with a blog post! It’s also this month’s challenge: style or restyle shelves in your home.

Open shelving and built-in bookcases provide such a wonderful opportunity to share your personal style and showcase items that are meaningful to you. Even if your shelves are full of mostly books, there are ways to add a personal, decorative touch. There are some principles that can help you get started with styling shelves. Read on below!

Some tips for styling shelves:

  • Group items in odd numbers- this helps move the eye around instead of seeing things in pairs

  • Play with the weight and size of your objects. Combine tall, heavy and organic/focal point.

  • Overlap your objects to create a grouping rather than a lineup.

  • Think in triangles when arranging your objects. (see graphic below)

  • Mix old and new and play with varying textures for interest

  • When styling books, play with layout- vertical, horizontal and/or laying flat with an object on top. Books are a great way to add height to an object!

  • Allow some breathing room. Not every inch needs to be filled with stuff. What’s not there is as important as what is there. Give space around some objects. If you have a bookshelf you’re styling, play with the weight from shelf to shelf. If you have a lot of items on one shelf, maybe the one next to or below it has a bit more breathing room.

  • Sometimes a single item on a shelf can make a big impact. This is a good way to highlight something that’s special to you and that you want to draw attention to.

Just a reminder, there are exceptions for all of these tips! Always do what feels right to you and your space. Hopefully these tips will help you get started it you’re feeling stuck!

Arranging in triangles example:

Ideas for objects you can style:

  • books

  • plants

  • bowls

  • decorative objects

  • flowers in vases

  • art

  • baskets

  • photographs

  • geodes, shells or rocks

design_decorBrooke Fiorillo