Do you know what you’re doing when it comes to styling shelves? I can timidly halfway raise my hand??? I struggle with this, and then I watch the pros do it so effortlessly. So after reading many styling tips and trial and error of my own, I have put together a few tips that can help with styling shelves you love to look at.
1) Only buy or thrift items that bring you joy
It’s easy to get caught up in what you think looks good or what someone else has styled with, but when you buy a piece you love, you will find a place for it that you love also. When trying to purchase items to decorate with it can be very overwhelming, especially if decorating does not come naturally to you. I am creative, but only to a certain point so I look to many of my favorite designers for inspiration and ideas first. Then I find things from my favorite shops that I love, and even though I sometimes don’t have a specific plan for that item, I know I’ll find one that works because I love that particular item.
2) Have a variety of different items to style with
Finding different objects, textiles, frames, etc. will help you create an interesting shelf or table. If I don’t know where to start with styling a shelf, I start with books. Vintage books are my favorite and the most interesting to style with in my opinion. I’ve realized you can never have too many either, because once you start styling with them you’ll use them up on one part of a shelf or table quickly. Here is a list of items you can’t go wrong with when it comes to a shelf:
-vases, vessels
-framed photos, paintings
-books
-candle holders
-greenery/dried flowers
3) Try, Try Again
The first time you throw some items on a shelf, it may not look great. The more I move things around and place items at different heights on top of books or a riser, the more interesting and put together it starts to look. Placing items at different heights and placing things in sets of three will help achieve an interesting look without looking too perfect. I like shelves to appear as though I set things on it but didn’t overdo it and also didn’t try too hard (when in fact I tried very hard). But no one has to know that, ha!
4) Change things up
Once I look at a shelf for a while it gets boring even if I love everything on it. Moving items together that were not previously placed together or changing up even one or two items on your shelf will help keep it interesting and like me, you may find you like it even better than you had it styled the first time.
Her Idea His Project 