How to Decorate Shelves like a Designer: Easy Styling Tips for Any Space
How to Decorate Shelves like a Designer: Easy Styling Tips for Any Space
Well-styled shelves are one of the simplest ways to make a room feel intentional, personal, and beautifully put together. Whether you’re decorating built-ins, floating shelves, or a standalone bookcase, the key is balance—between functionality and style, between emptiness and ornamental, and between color, texture, and shape.
Here’s a simple framework you can follow to turn any shelf into a magazine-worthy moment.
1.Start with a Blank Canvas
Before you begin placing objects, clear your shelves entirely. Wipe them down and take a moment to look at their structure:
- How many shelves do you have?
- Are they evenly spaced or staggered?
- What’s the main focal height (eye level)?
This will help you plan where your heavier, taller, or most decorative items will make the strongest impact.
2.Mix Heights and Shapes for Visual Interest
Flat items alone make shelves look dull. Instead, combine pieces of varying shapes and proportions:
- Tall items: vases, pitchers, candlesticks, plants
- Medium items: framed art, baskets, decorative boxes
- Small items: candles, small ceramics, personal trinkets, faux beads
Mixing vertical and horizontal lines keeps everything feeling dynamic rather than static. A good place to find an interesting variety of vases is at H&M
3.Use the Rule of Thirds
Think of each shelf as being divided into three “zones.”
Decorating in thirds makes shelves feel balanced but not overly symmetrical.
Ideas for each zone:
- Left: a stack of books topped with a small decorative object
- Center: a tall feature item like a vase or plant
- Right: a framed photo or sculptural object
You can flip, rotate, or layer for variety as you move from shelf to shelf.
4.Incorporate Books Creatively
Books are your shelf-styling best friend. They add color, texture, and height.
Try:
- Standing books upright with a bookend
- Laying a few flat as a pedestal for something else
- Removing paper jackets for a cleaner, neutral look
- Turning spines inward if you want a softer, monochromatic palette
5.Add Personal Touches
Decor doesn’t have to be generic. Shelves are a great spot to display:
- Travel souvenirs
- Family photos
- Handmade ceramics
- Sentimental items
- Small artifacts or collections
These make your shelves feel lived-in rather than staged. A good place for unique shelving accessories is at Rockett St George
6.Layer Items for Depth
The biggest difference between amateur and designer styling is layering.
Try placing:
- Artwork or framed prints against the back of the shelf with smaller items in front
- A trailing plant behind a stack of books
- A candle beside a small bowl or decorative bead strand
Depth keeps the shelves from looking flat or one-dimensional.
7.Leave Breathing Room
Don’t fill every inch. Empty space lets the eye rest and makes the shelves feel curated rather than cluttered.
A good rule:
If your shelf looks overcrowded, remove two items.
You’ll almost always like the result better.
8.Add Texture (Your Secret Weapon!)
Texture brings warmth and contrast to any shelf.
Consider adding:
- Woven baskets
- Ceramic vases
- Wood elements
- Metal accents
- Plants for organic softness
The mix of materials makes the display feel richer and more intentional.
9.Step Back and Adjust
Shelf decorating is like sculpting—done in layers and tweaks.
Stand a few feet away and check:
- Is the shelf too heavy on one side?
- Are colors distributed evenly?
- Do you have a nice mix of tall, medium, and small items?
Make small changes until everything feels balanced.
10.Swap for the Seasons
The fun part? Shelves are easy to refresh.
For example:
- Spring: greenery, soft colors, airy ceramics
- Fall: warm tones, darker books, baskets, candles
- Winter: metallic accents, evergreen sprigs, simple neutral pieces
Rotating just a few items keeps your space feeling newer, longer.
At Emma Martin Interiors we work with residential and commercial interior design projects.
We offer a complete, personalised interior design service tailored to your individual needs, whether that’s for your home or for your business.
We create designs based on your brief that reflect your taste and personality and we cover Nottingham, West Bridgford, Derby and Leicester.
If you have a project you would like to discuss with us you can contact us here.
