Styling bookshelves can be a lot of fun. It’s a great way to show off who you and your family are. This is where some little trinkets, photos, art, favorite books, and other expressions shine.
In this post, I’m working in Lindsay’s basement with her stunning, rich built-ins. Since her shelves are dark, I’m going to play with contrasting objects and frames to add even more drama to her space. Lindsay has some great photography she wanted to showcase (not framed yet), so I purposely staged the objects on the shelves to allow for more frames.
BEFORE
When you are ready to give your shelves a refresh, start by bringing out all the stuff you think you might want to display; pottery, frames, paintings, books, plants, boxes, baskets, souvenirs, trays, antiques, etc. Gather a bunch of it and lay it all down in one place.
And if you see some gaps, hit Target, Home Goods or Wayfair.com. Don’t be afraid to buy more than you think you need. It’s nice to play and move stuff around as you style each shelf. You can always return what you don’t use.
Think large and small. Smooth and textured. Matte and shiny. Mix, Mix, Mix! You know I LOVE those layers and textures. 🙂
AFTER
Start with the largest objects and balance them on both sides of the shelves. Spread them out and avoid placing similar objects too close to each other. It will make the arrangement feel off balance.
Create levels and stack things on each other like I did. Don’t have everything on the same level. As you can see, I’ve got plants, frames, and figurines on top of stacked books. For books, if you don’t like how the spine looks, turn it around so the pages or neutral side is visible instead.
Most importantly, let the objects breath. It’s okay to have larger objects stand alone. Try to avoid a cluttered look. Notice that on Lindsay’s shelves I have larger objects that sit alone or are paired with only one other item. Lindsay loves clean and contemporary styles, so having more space around her objects helped better achieve that look and feel.
Think about the entire unit as a composition, not just what’s going on in each self. Make sure that the groupings on each shelf vary. You don’t want each shelf looking exactly the same.
What makes this dark bookshelf look good is how the light and dark are balanced. Even though the shelves themselves are very dark, because of the lighter colored objects that are showcased the space as a whole doesn’t feel quite so dark. Whether you have colored, dark or white shelves, make sure you think about contrast and balance your lights and darks.
How you style a bookshelf will always vary. It depends on your style, the lighting in the room and color of the bookshelf. It’s all about flow and balance. Most importantly, have fun and don’t be afraid to keep adjusting it until you get it just right.
I’ll be posting “shop this look” next Tuesday so you know where to find some of these gems.
What favorite objects do you showcase on your shelves?
XOXO
Melessa
Lillian
January 25, 2019 at 9:40 amThat ceramicware is beautiful!!! I love the speckled glaze. The color blends with everything else so well!
Melessa
January 25, 2019 at 5:45 pmI love that pottery too! It’s from West Elm.
Allison T
January 25, 2019 at 11:22 amMakes a huge difference when you add a pop of color!
Melessa
January 25, 2019 at 5:47 pmYes, I didn’t just want all white to take over. The green from the plants add a nice balance with the blue too.
Amy
January 28, 2019 at 8:53 amThat looks great! I just love built-ins