Decorating
The Secrets of Styling the Perfect Shelfie
Follow these tips to help you style your shelves like a pro – then share your shelfies with us
Most of us have probably suffered from ‘shelf envy’ at some point when leafing through a beautifully styled brochure, visiting a friend’s newly dressed pad or scrolling through gorgeous homes on the internet. Much of the time, it’s not the shelf itself but what’s on it that grabs our attention. So for inspiration, here’s a roundup of shelves styled in different but successful ways. If they prompt a little rejigging of your own, be sure to share your shelfie snaps with us in the Comments below.
Energise with two contrasting accent colours
Picking two contrasting colours and mixing them with neutrals is a fail-safe way to create a top-notch shelf. Here, green and tangerine form the bursts of colour, while the neutral shades act as a backdrop to ensure the colour doesn’t overwhelm the space.
Remember to pay attention to detail: even the little pile of books in this scheme has been carefully chosen to reflect the colour scheme.
Explore 10 simple style hacks to improve the look of your home
Picking two contrasting colours and mixing them with neutrals is a fail-safe way to create a top-notch shelf. Here, green and tangerine form the bursts of colour, while the neutral shades act as a backdrop to ensure the colour doesn’t overwhelm the space.
Remember to pay attention to detail: even the little pile of books in this scheme has been carefully chosen to reflect the colour scheme.
Explore 10 simple style hacks to improve the look of your home
Get creative with books
Books are wonderful companions to shelves, and they can be used in many different ways to style your shelfie to perfection. Mix up vertical lines of books with horizontal stacks, use them as platforms for other pretty objects, or display them front cover forwards, as this homeowner has done, to show off your favourite designs.
Books are wonderful companions to shelves, and they can be used in many different ways to style your shelfie to perfection. Mix up vertical lines of books with horizontal stacks, use them as platforms for other pretty objects, or display them front cover forwards, as this homeowner has done, to show off your favourite designs.
Pick a theme
A great way to ensure your display pieces complement each other is to pick a theme for your shelf and stick with it. You might go for an earthy, natural feel, a chic and glamorous one, or even a cool and edgy vibe.
Here, the theme is nature, so natural wood, wicker-framed mirrors, ferns, flowers and bird motifs all work to bring the outdoors in.
A great way to ensure your display pieces complement each other is to pick a theme for your shelf and stick with it. You might go for an earthy, natural feel, a chic and glamorous one, or even a cool and edgy vibe.
Here, the theme is nature, so natural wood, wicker-framed mirrors, ferns, flowers and bird motifs all work to bring the outdoors in.
Reflect an interest
Your home should reflect your personality, so rather than going for just any old theme, choose something that taps into your interests and loves, whether that be music, food or, like this homeowner, art.
Keep your eyes peeled at car-boot sales, antiques shops and vintage fairs for items to add to the collection, such as old easels, beautiful paintbrushes and quirky sketches.
Your home should reflect your personality, so rather than going for just any old theme, choose something that taps into your interests and loves, whether that be music, food or, like this homeowner, art.
Keep your eyes peeled at car-boot sales, antiques shops and vintage fairs for items to add to the collection, such as old easels, beautiful paintbrushes and quirky sketches.
Make an alternative picture rail
If you love period features but don’t happen to live in a home with any picture or dado rails, try making your own. Wallpaper up to picture rail height, top with a shelf, and then paint above it. If you go for a bold shade above, your pictures and objects will really stand out.
Then simply place your favourite pieces on the shelf and rearrange as the fancy takes you, for your own contemporary take on a picture rail.
If you love period features but don’t happen to live in a home with any picture or dado rails, try making your own. Wallpaper up to picture rail height, top with a shelf, and then paint above it. If you go for a bold shade above, your pictures and objects will really stand out.
Then simply place your favourite pieces on the shelf and rearrange as the fancy takes you, for your own contemporary take on a picture rail.
Work a monochrome look
If you’re after some timeless appeal, you can’t go far wrong with a monochrome selection. Opt for frameless pictures or black frames and team with glass and silver objects for a display that’s unlikely to date.
If you’re after some timeless appeal, you can’t go far wrong with a monochrome selection. Opt for frameless pictures or black frames and team with glass and silver objects for a display that’s unlikely to date.
Tap into soothing symmetry
There’s a pleasing calmness to a symmetrically styled shelf, so if balance and elegance are your goals, this may be the way to go. Start with larger items on either end, such as lamps or candlesticks, and work inwards with smaller pieces towards a showcase centrepiece.
Check out 10 interior design rules worth breaking
There’s a pleasing calmness to a symmetrically styled shelf, so if balance and elegance are your goals, this may be the way to go. Start with larger items on either end, such as lamps or candlesticks, and work inwards with smaller pieces towards a showcase centrepiece.
Check out 10 interior design rules worth breaking
Reboot the backs of shelves
It’s not just the shelf itself or the things on it that can make a shelfie stand out – there are so many options for livening up the backdrop, too. Consider using wallpaper as a backing; have a favourite photo blown up; paint between each shelf in a different colour, or have mirrors cut to size to really make your display stand out.
It’s not just the shelf itself or the things on it that can make a shelfie stand out – there are so many options for livening up the backdrop, too. Consider using wallpaper as a backing; have a favourite photo blown up; paint between each shelf in a different colour, or have mirrors cut to size to really make your display stand out.
Keep it simple
If you have lots going on elsewhere, a simple approach may be more effective for your shelfie. These three pictures have space to breathe and, as a result, have all the more impact.
Try to pick prints in a contrasting colour to the wall for added drama. Over time, you may want to add a few more complementary objects, but remember, good things come with time, so there’s no need to rush it.
TELL US…
Do you have any shelves you’re particularly proud of? Share your shelfies with us in the Comments below.
If you have lots going on elsewhere, a simple approach may be more effective for your shelfie. These three pictures have space to breathe and, as a result, have all the more impact.
Try to pick prints in a contrasting colour to the wall for added drama. Over time, you may want to add a few more complementary objects, but remember, good things come with time, so there’s no need to rush it.
TELL US…
Do you have any shelves you’re particularly proud of? Share your shelfies with us in the Comments below.
Though styling is important, a well-chosen location will make that beautifully styled shelf stand out all the more. A shelf positioned above a sofa works particularly well. It makes a nice change from framed artwork, which so often hangs in this position, as it provides the perfect platform for a continually evolving selection of different pieces.
Here, a black shelf holds a mix of picture frames, ornaments and vases in jewel-like colours to create a rich and moody opulence that strikes the perfect tone.