Essential Shelf Styling Tips

One question I get asked a lot by clients is how to style shelving. Built-ins and shelving can be very daunting! With all that open space, it can seem overwhelming. To help make things a little easier, I've put together styling tips that will help bring cohesiveness to any shelf in your house!

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Supplies

To start off, you'll want to gather all of your design supplies! These are the essentials you'll be using to style your shelves. Some of my favorite go-to items for shelves include:

• Books (obviously)

• Candles

• Plants/Stems

• Vases

• Baskets

• Sculptures

• Picture Frames

• Artwork

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Color

Creating a cohesive look will make your shelves feel thoughtful. Color plays a large role in how cohesive the items look. I recommend picking neutral colors and then slowly layering in different accents. The picture below is a perfect example of how sticking with one color palette creates a sense of completion between the shelves.

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Groups

Like I mentioned, styling shelves can be a daunting task because there is so much space to cover! That's where grouping comes in. Placing items within smaller groups not only makes styling easier, but it creates visual interest within these smaller areas of space. Experiment with different textures, colors, and heights within each group.

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Layers

Once you have your color palette and groups established, start creating a sense of depth with layers! Groups on their own, like the picture above, tend to look unfinished and empty. Once the finishing layers get added, like the picture below, your shelves begin to look complete! Personal items like artwork, pictures, or sculptures make great pieces to layer and create shelves that are truly unique to you!