Shelf Styling 101: Favorite Home Decor Accessories + How To Use Them

You may or may not know that I just LOVE styling shelves... but I haven't always! Sometimes it can be daunting to get things to be both functional and stylish. That's why I decided I'd do a little tutorial on some easy ways to make your shelves look awesome. First of all, shelves are made to be functional... to store stuff that isn't always pretty, so it's all about adding little accents to make less pretty things look great too. Below is a diagram + list of my favorite shelf styling accessories...Product Links: Coral, Geometric Terrarium, Magnifying Glass, Ginger Jar, Marble Tray, Blue + Cream Herringbone Frame, Circle Capiz Frame, Geode Sculpture, Brass Orbs

• Glass/metal terrariums-- these are probably my favorite shelf styling accessory right now. They're dynamic and current. I have some that are brass and some that are gunmetal and all different geometric shapes. I love using them for seasonal decor, air plants, to set on top of books, etc.

• Books-- Most people have a lot of books, you don't have to hide them, just work them into little vignettes and they'll look awesome while not in use (see my example photos for some ideas). It is great to break them up a bit, rather than just stuffing the shelves full of them. Stack some horizontally and some vertically, and try to use different configurations of books on different shelves when working with a book shelf.

• Bookends-- I love bookends. My favorites right now are the natural stone/geode kinds because they're so unique and interesting (shown in the photo below). I just listed a few in the Design Loves Detail Etsy Shop in case you're looking for some! Bookends can be both items intended for that use as well as unconventional items. Like for fall, use small pumpkins on either end of your row of books, or brass figurines, etc. I also adore the unicorn bookends (shown above) that add a whimsical feel to a child's bedroom.

• Magnifying glasses-- another favorite of mine. I have like a gazillion. They're useful and come in lots of great styles. They add a little kitsch feel and sophistication too. Plus they go with just about anything!

• Shapes/Animals-- I have a thing for animal figurines and things like coral. They add some interesting shapes to your shelves and can also act as paperweights. Great for sitting atop those books that are stacked horizontally.

• Frames-- It's always nice to add in a few photo frames. I'm all about displaying those memories and seeing the faces of those most dear on a daily basis. There are so many varieties of frames that it's great to work in a lot of different options if you can-- round and various other shapes, color, textures.

 

• Boxes/trays-- I love boxes and trays because they can add in height where needed and also color/pattern. Trays can help add to the organized feel of a shelf since they set the items displayed on them apart from others. The boxes can be used to store items that aren't pretty to look at, but still need to be accessible sometimes. I also love using trays for table centerpieces as shown above.

• Jars/Vases/Ceramics-- Ginger jars, vases and ceramic canisters are great to add some variety. You'll see how I incorporated ceramic and glass in the simple shelf styling above. Because there are so many options with different shapes, sizes & colors, you can group them together and use multiple options in a single shelf space. The ombre ceramic jug below is another favorite of mine. When using larger pieces they can make a statement all on their own. I wanted the blue ombre jug to stand out, so I paired it with objects that were very different instead of in a like grouping. Same case with the lidded geometric urn.

• Globes-- Globes are great because they add a different shape, some color and height too. I use them a lot in different vignettes and even on my mantel. There are many varieties too which make them fun to use in multiple places in your home.