11 Tips That'll Elevate Your Space
We understand how intimidating shelf styling can be, whether you have a small collection of books and accessories or are the proud owner of boxes and boxes of trinkets. To make the process easier, we've compiled a list of 11 key pointers to keep in mind as you work to make your built-ins and bookcases look better than ever. We're happy to report that styling this area of your home doesn't have to be prohibitively expensive, and we've included some cost-cutting tips along the way.
1.Cut the Junk
A strong shelfie includes a lot of accessories, but the key is that they are artistic and well-curated. More is not always better—if you find yourself buying trinkets with no personal meaning solely for the sake of display, you should reconsider your strategy. Furthermore, some items may not be worthy of being stored out in the open—what that's closed cabinets are for; hide that mediocre vase behind closed doors and call it a day.
2.Buy Items Slowly But Surely
One-stop home decor stores are fantastic resources for furnishing your space, but they aren't the solution to your shelf styling problems. Rather than making a bulk purchase and calling it a day, opt to curate your accent pieces over time—you'll thank yourself later when you have more treasures to display! So, what is the best course of action? Keep an eye out for items that really speak to you while traveling or at vintage or antique stores, for example. You will not only make more thoughtful purchases (which will ultimately save you money), but you will also have a story to tell about each item that you feature. The pieces you do select don’t have to be expensive, either. Flea markets and thrift stores are full of gems of all kinds.
3.Think Outside The Box When Shopping
Built-ins look great with ceramics, candle holders, woven baskets, bust sculptures, cloches, and figurines. If you like the chinoiserie aesthetic, for example, you might look for items like Staffordshire dogs, foo dogs, or blue and white ginger jars.
4.Incorporate Some Books
You don't want your built-ins and bookcases to be solely decorative. Most of us have stacks of books that need a home, so why not put your favorite titles on display on your shelves? Books are also great conversation starters and can give visitors to your home a glimpse into your hobbies and interests. Coffee table books can be quite expensive when purchased new, so don't be afraid to look through a used bookstore or library sale for some affordable titles that appeal to you.
5.Vary Book Positioning
If you do decide to display stacks of coffee table books or novels on your shelves, make a variety of arrangements to keep things looking interesting. It can be tempting to stack books horizontally in groups of three on each shelf, as this arrangement is often visually appealing, but don't get too repetitive. If your shelf height allows, try stacks of two, four, or even five. Place some books vertically—you can always finish them with artful bookends, which add personality as well as function.
6.Spread Out Colors
On a related note, spread out accessories and books of the same color to make them more visually appealing. If you have a few blue trinket boxes, for example, put a couple on one shelf and the rest on a diagonally across shelf. The same is true for materials: distribute your metals, glasses, and porcelains. You want your shelving to look like a well-thought-out display, not like a store section where everything is sorted by color and type.
7.Have Fun With Paint
If you don't like the look of your solid white built-ins, paint them! Even if you keep the shelf trim white, you can go modern and moody by painting the back walls black. Alternatively, go for a retro look by wearing tangerine or turquoise.
8.Incorporate Art
Layering a few pieces of artwork alongside a stack of books looks great on built-ins. There's no need to limit yourself to a single theme or medium. Place a framed black and white photo on one shelf and a colorful abstract on the other. You can't go wrong whether you make your own artwork or support local artisans. You don't want to put artwork on every shelf, or your setup will look cluttered, but adding prints to about one-third of your shelves is never a bad idea.
9.Skip the Excessive Family Photos
While displaying one or two favorite snapshots is acceptable, it's best to save the family photos for another room in your home rather than allowing them to live on your bookshelves. While we're all for preserving special memories, we recommend placing your frames on a petite table in the formal living room or hanging a gallery of pictures on the staircase instead of filling your shelves with rows of framed personal photographs.
10.Consider Item Weight
Heavier items look best on the bottom shelves. So keep your thick coffee table books at the bottom of your bookcase and your dainty woven baskets higher up. Petite trinket boxes look lovely anywhere, but if you're using larger storage bins on your shelves, keep those at the bottom.
11.Rearrange as You Wish
The beauty of built-in shelves is that you can easily change their appearance whenever you want. Your style will naturally evolve over time, and you will bring new pieces home that you want to display and may need to rearrange items accordingly. Styling is an ongoing process, and if you enjoy it, you'll appreciate how simple it is to give your space a whole new look on the spur of the moment by rearranging your bookshelves.
