Styling shelves and bookcases can feel a little intimidating. And I think the bookshelf styling process can feel even more daunting when you first move in to a home. All the brand newness, all the mental questions of where to put all your things that previously had a perfect display place in your last home, can leave you feeling a little stuck. Ask me how I know. 😉 Since I just went through this very thing after moving in to our new house, I thought I’d share a few of my best tips and tricks for getting out of a styling slump and back into a bookshelf styling groove!
I’ve shared my 5 step process for styling bookshelves in a video here on the blog before. But today I want to specifically focus on styling tips for using what you already have!
Choose a color palette.
Not sure where to start? Take a cue from your room. And when in doubt, go for neutrals.
Starting with a clear, somewhat concise, palette of colors makes it so much easier to sort through your accessories. Put away anything that doesn’t fit the palette you’ve selected, and then gather all the things that do. If you’re going with a really tight color palette, or opting for only neutrals, be sure to bring in some “sparklies” in the form of glass and metallic pieces.
Books (obviously), boxes, bowls, vases, basically anything and everything that could physically fit on your shelves should be gathered. You’re better off collecting more than you’ll actually need here, so you have options to play with when you start arranging things. Don’t forget to include art!
Just start somewhere & don’t overthink it.
Most of us here are women (hello to my husband and the one other anonymous male reader here). And we women tend to be overly critical of ourselves. Bookshelf styling is not the time to let out your inner critic. Wait until you’re done styling, then go ahead and get a little critical. But at the start, look at your bookshelves the way you looked at a brand new box of crayons when you were just a girl. And get excited to decorate!
This is just my first pass. As I mentioned already, I’m using only what I already have here (because I’m still in the process of unpacking and getting settled into our new home).
To be totally honest, I’m not 100% crazy about the way these shelves are styled. They do need a little tweaking. The bottom right shelf looks a little bare and boring. I definitely want to bring in more plants. I’ll also be switching out the white frames for something gold. I’m on the hunt for a vintage piece of art to display in the wood open back frame. And I will most likely replace the blue vases on top for ginger jars.
But the point is ~ starting with what I have gives me a jumping off point and allows me to tweak things along the way. This way I can see where the holes are/ the places where I want something different, and I’m not just bringing accessories home/ buying decor items without purpose.
When you start where you are you can create a much more clear path forward.
Rather than waiting until I feel like the styling here is completely spot on, I wanted to share the process. Because I want you all to know that styling takes time even for those who do it for a living. 😉
Put the best things at the top and eye level.
You can always fill in lower shelves (that are less noticeable at first glance) later on down the road.
White space isn’t bad.
The eye needs a place to rest, so don’t feel like you have to completely fill in every nook and cranny. This is also why I’m a fan of starting with what you already have. Chances are you don’t need to purchase anything else!
Use trays and even books to corral smaller accessories.
Otherwise the little things get lost in the shuffle on a shelf. I like to think of it as “little things need anchors”.
Display collections.
Living room bookshelves are a great place to display collections. Group your collected items together for one bold statement or disperse each item throughout, so every piece has their moment to shine.
Plants are always a yes!
Air plants are my personal favorite for displaying on bookshelves because they don’t need to be planted in soil and don’t need much water.
Put some life on your living room shelves.
What makes bookshelves interesting is when they tell your story. Use your shelves as an opportunity to display sentimental items. Personally, I think there’s nothing worse than seeing a living room bookshelf in someone’s home look like a display from Pottery Barn. Don’t get me wrong, I think the stylists at Pottery Barn are amazing! But your home should represent your story and your people not your favorite home store, in my humble opinion. (Unless of course you’re staging a house to sell.)
The little blue clay piece your 15 year old boy made for you when he was in 3rd grade deserves a special place in your home. 😉
And if your prized possessions are the silhouettes of your children that were made with the same hands that cut yours when you were just a little girl, those deserve to be prominently displayed on your living room bookshelves too.
Create movement with color and shape.
Bookshelf styling is a lot like playing a zigzag game of Connect 4. You basically want to make sure you’re keeping the color and variety of shapes moving throughout your entire bookcase. Creating visual triangles keeps things balanced and interesting.
Take a step back and take pictures.
As your playing with accessories, it helps to stop every now and again and take a step back to evaluate how things are looking. Taking a picture is so very helpful when you’re styling! It allows you to see the entire space as one, whereas in real life your eye can’t help but to focus in one area.
Edit. Edit. Edit.
This goes back to that whole “white space isn’t bad” notion. But when you get done styling it’s always a good idea to do a good bit of editing. I’m the queen of tchotchkes so believe me when I say I get how hard this step can be. But when you’re bookshelves are too full you can’t really appreciate everything you have on display.
Do a styling edit using these three questions:
- Is it beautiful?
- Is it functional?
- Is it sentimental?
If the accessories you have displayed don’t fall in to at least two out of the those three categories, remove them and look to replace them with something that does. So that bowl you were gifted that you’ve never really liked but feel obligated to keep doesn’t belong on your bookshelves. Because while it may be functional, you don’t find it beautiful and it’s not really sentimental. Does this make sense?
Now who has plans to restyle their bookshelves this weekend?! Be sure to tag me on social media if you do! I’d love to see #shelfiestyle!
Ha! We just had shelves and cabinets installed around the fireplace in our dining room, and I just started playing with decorating. I remembered that you had a blog post on decorating them and thought I better check it out. I came to your site, and there it was! (Looks like you’re having fun down there in Charleston. So happy for you.)