Shelves are easily updated for seasonal changes or a quick visual refresh.
It’s one of our favourite ways to usher in a new season.
Here, we’ve rounded up our top tips for creating beautiful shelf displays.
Enjoy!
We hope to guide you through the art of styling, offering practical tips to transform your bookcase shelf from a cluttered storage space, to a captivating focal point.
Bookcases are not just for storing books – they are also an opportunity to showcase your personality and creativity to elevate the aesthetic of your living spaces. Let it become a work of art within your home.
First of all declutter. Put away anything unnecessary or that you don’t particularly like or feel suits your home or style.
This will give you a fresh canvas to work with. Consider donating books you no longer need and keep only those that hold sentimental value or are frequently referenced (in my case, I couldn’t live without my recipe books).
Scale is important – use a mix of small and large items. Generally use larger items on the bottom shelves if a bookcase has lots of shelves, otherwise they will look too heavy on the top shelves.
Then be thoughtful in your approach to create a visually appealing and organized display that will include these 6 basic styling elements:
- A VERTICAL element – eg. books stood on end, tall candle, vase or urn, photo frames stacked at different depths
- A HORIZONTAL element eg. books laying flat, stacked on top of each other (they create perfect “risers” to fill a space, a tray, or trinket box
- An ORGANIC element – eg. pot plant, dried flowers or grasses – faux or real
- A SCULPTURAL element eg. shell, curved or shaped object, patterned or carved item
- FiLLERS eg. bits n bobs, small trinkets
- Something FAMILIAR eg. a collection of favourite pieces,– an inherited piece, small treasures from your travels or personal mementos.
Start by removing everything from the shelf and grouping similar items together.
Pieces may fall in to 1, 2 or 3 of the above categories, so don’t worry too much about that for now
Have a mix of books, decorative objects, and other items as above, but be careful to avoid overcrowding the shelves. Choosing a colour theme that complements your existing décor we keep things cohesive and visually pleasing.Play with different heights and colours to create visual interest.
Wallpaper can be added to the back of the shelves for added interest and pizazz.
Use symmetry or asymmetry to create balance. Pairs, or objects grouped in 3’s or 5’s work best.
Switch things up periodically so you don’t get bored with your décor items. You can do this based on the different seasons.
With a little creativity and attention to detail, your bookshelf can become a stylish reflection of your personality and interests.
Vary heights and sizes to add interest and to balance the displays. Mix and match tall and short objects and incorporate small decorative items such as vases, figurines or sculptures.
Utilise bookends to keep books standing upright and create structure.
Layer and stagger items to create depth. Place larger books or decorative pieces at the back and layer smaller objects in front. Staggering items at different depths adds dimension and creates a more engaging visual appeal.
Leave some “negative” space.
You don’t need to fill every inch of every shelf. Leaving some negative space helps highlight display items and prevents the shelf from being cluttered.
Stand back and ponder.
If the shelves look cluttered, take items away.
If your eye is drawn to a gap, fill it. If something isn’t quite right, just reconfigure it until it makes more sense. Balance is key.
Using some familiar items adds your personal touch. These sentimental objects will add character and spark conversation from friends and family. eg. travel momentos or family photos.
At the end of the day, the styling throughout your home should be a reflection of you and your family, so there’s no true right or wrong way.
Have fun, break the “rules” if need be.
Have in your home, only what you are passionate about and love.
