Tips for Styling Living Room Shelves

Nothing gets me quite as excited as finding out a client has a ton of shelves they need help decorating- shelf styling is one of my favorite things to do! There are endless ways to make shelves look awesome and also some ways to make them look not very great. There are different things to consider depending on where the shelves are and what their purpose is, so these tips are specifically for living room shelves.

Here are my tips for styling living room shelves.

Shelf Styling Tip 1: Decorate with items that make sense on a shelf

There are two highly popular shelf decor items that I think should be used sparingly: candles and plants. Have you ever tried to light a candle that was sitting on a shelf? I have, and the smoke made a burn mark on the bottom of the shelf above it. As for plants, I don't like seeing tons of plants all over bookshelves because it looks messy and also looks impractical- a lot of the time the plants are up high where a ladder would be needed to water them.

Candles and plants can both be used to decorate shelves, but the candle should be able to be lit without having to move, and the (single, solitary) plant should be in a spot where it can easily be watered, even if it isn't real.

Here, the top of the media cabinet gives an easy place to display florals (and a candle on the other side).

Shelf Styling Tip 2: Don't try to display too much

Something else I do not love is when shelves are crammed with so many items that it looks like a home decor store. It literally gives me a vibe that product is attempting to be sold. A couple easy ways to avoid this look are to include books in the styling to break up all the objects, and to make sure there is space between items so they don't feel too crowded. Depending on the size of the shelves, it's nice to have a few with just one large item.

Shelf Styling Tip 3: Include something interactive

On a shelf that is easy to reach, add depth and interest with objects that invite exploring. A bowl with a collection of things inside, a clear box with something displayed in it, a large book left open so the pages can be flipped through, etc. One downside to bookshelves that are used mainly to display decor items instead of books is that they can end up feeling kind of frozen because nothing on them ever moves. Adding in items that invite you to pick them up or look through them makes the whole display feel alive and interactive instead of stagnant.

Shelf Styling Tip 4: Include books

In most cases, shelf decorating looks best when books are included in the mix. Their straight lines look orderly and are a nice balance to all the different shapes of the rest of the decor items. For a shelf that is mainly used to display objects, coffee table (large size) books are best. Leave a few of the stacks of books free of any other decor items, and instead choose a book for the top that has an interesting cover.

Shelf Styling Tip 5: Add a lamp

Bookshelves and everything on them look so cool and cozy in lamplight. Tuck a small lamp into a shelf anywhere between tabletop and face height.

Shelf Styling Tip 6: Add art and photos for depth

This tip also creates a shelf display that feels interactive instead of stagnant because it invites you to get closer and see another view beyond what's on the shelves. And to combat that stagnant feeling even more, you can use art or photos that have movement- someone running, curved lines, etc.