• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • New Here?
    • Meet Corey
    • Contact
  • Decorate Your Home
    • Popular Posts
    • Color In Your Home
    • How to Decorate
    • Declutter & Organize
    • DIY Projects
    • Seasonal Decor
  • My Courses
    • Style Your Way Home
    • The Declutter Method
    • Color Made Clear
    • Student Login
  • Tour My Home
  • Shop My Home
  • Hey There, Home
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
Hey There, Home

Hey There, Home

Learn to Decorate. Love Your Home.

How To Decorate Shelves: My Easy 3 Step Formula

Pin484
Share
Email
484 Shares
perfect shelf decor every time
Shelf styling secrets
How to style any shelf
how to decorate shelves and bookcases
how to decorate bookcases
easy tips to decorate shelves
3 step formula to decorate shelves

Inside: How to decorate shelves in 3 steps and ensure that you’re decorating with intention. Whether your decorating bookshelves, kitchen shelves, floating shelves, or built in shelves, these easy steps will teach you how to bring style and personality to your display spaces.

You know when you see perfectly decorated shelves? They’re never too full, but not too empty and they have a way of moving your eye from one point to another. The items on the shelves tell a story, have personality, and add a ton of interest to a space.

When styled with intention, the open shelves in your home are a perfect opportunity to showcase your style and your personality, but too often they become a bit of a dumping ground for random objects that take away from the overall feeling you want to create in your home.

Let’s change that!

how to decorate shelves

I’ve decorated many shelves and studied what makes for a perfectly styled shelf and narrowed it down to just 3 simple steps that you can repeat again and again to decorate your shelves with intention and move you toward the look and feel you want in your home.

I even made a quick video to show you the steps!

But first…

What should you put on your shelves?

The shelves in your home are the perfect opportunity to tell your story and show off your personality so the items you decide to display should have meaning and be items you love.

When decorating the shelves in your living room, you might display art, photos, books, and decorative objects that tell your story.

But when decorating shelves in your kitchen or in your office the items you display might be more functional to keep the items you use within easy reach while still adding style and interest to your space.

>>Want to learn how to find your style and create your own unique decor plan? Click here to learn about my course, Style Your Way Home.

Really, what you choose to display is totally up to you and anything can be part of your decor but in order to make sure we’re decorating with intention I have a few tips for you to keep in mind before we start decorating your shelves.

 A few shelf styling rules to keep in mind

Rule 1: Keep The Color Palette Consistent

In order to maintain a cohesive look, the items you place on your shelves will use the same patterns, shapes, and textures that you use throughout your home and be consistent with the your home’s color palette.

You’ll most likely have neutrals as well as pops of color that you’ll want to distribute with balance when you work through the shelf styling steps below.

Rule 2:  Edit, Edit, Edit!

If the whole idea is to tell your story and showcase your style, make sure the items you choose to display are the best of the best.

This means, each items should fit into at least one of three categories: beautiful, useful, or sentimental.

It’s like I said when I shared the huge mental shift that got me decluttering like crazy…

“If everything is special, then nothing is really special.”

In other words, choose your absolute favorite things. The things that really speak to you and light you up and let those be the show stoppers. Don’t be tempted to display everything because all of the extra items will only distract from the really amazing ones.

How to Decorate Shelves In 3 Easy Steps

Step 1: Place Horizontal Items

Horizontal items are items that are wider than they are tall.

A few examples of horizontal items you might use to style your shelves are baskets, trays, decorative boxes, stacked books, or decorative objects.

As you place your horizontal items you’ll want to consider balance from one shelf to another so that one shelf doesn’t appear too heavy with items. That’s not to say that every shelf has to be exactly the same, but you’ll want to keep balance in mind along with making sure your colors and textures (that we discussed earlier) are evenly distributed.

horizontal items on shelves

Step 2: Lean Flat Items

Flat items are just what they sound like, they’re flat or thin and don’t take up too much much of the shelf depth.

Items like framed art or photographs, plates, and trays are good examples of flat items.

Leaning items at the back of your shelves is a great way to layer in color and texture and add depth.

The items you choose don’t necessarily have to stand out or have much contrast to the background of your shelves either. Even items that essentially blend into the background still add interest and help anchor (or create little focal points) for the items in front of them.

lean art on shelves

Step 3: Place Vertical Items

Vertical items are those that are taller than they are wide.

Things like vases, books, plats, or decorative objects will add height to your shelves and finish off what I like to call little moments on your shelves.

Vertical items don’t necessarily have to be tall though. You can stack these items on the horizontal items already on your shelves to add interest and vary the height on each shelf.

vertical items on shelves

A few final thoughts…

Once you have everything placed don’t be afraid to play around with it to get the right balance, look, and feel you’re going for.

The best shelf displays don’t have the same number of items on each shelf so don’t be afraid to have one single item on one shelf and more on the next. You’ll know when you get it right, so have fun with it!

>>I can’t wait to see your styled shelves! Share them with me by posting them to Instagram or Facebook and tag me @heytherehome in your post so I can send you a virtual high five!

easy steps to decorate shelves

RELATED

I’ve done my share of building shelves to add a ton of character to my home too. Check out these posts to see how I did it!

DIY Built-Ins With Bench Seat

DIY Built In Bed With Shelves

How To Turn A Closet Into A Built In

Happy decorating!

Pin484
Share
Email
484 Shares

Filed Under: Decorate Your Home, How to Decorate

email signature no image

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

I break decorating down into simple and repeatable steps that anyone can follow, --even if you don't have an eye for design, so you can create a beautiful home that feels like YOU. >> Learn more.

Let’s connect!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
best decorating tips from Hey There Home

Categories

Take a free decorating class

Footer

More Freebies:

Free Video Class: Choose & Use Color In Your Home Like A Pro

Free Video Class: 3 Steps To Decorate Any Area In Your Home

Important Links:

My You Tube Channel

Contact

© Hey There Publishing, LLC

All images, text, and free downloads are the property of Hey There Publishing, LLC and can not be used in any way without written consent.

Disclosure & Cookie Policy

Let’s Connect!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Search this site

15 minutes is all it takes to… Clean out a draw 15 minutes is all it takes to…  Clean out a drawer, a cabinet, or quickly flip through your closet and grab a small bag of items you don’t need or want…  …and the impact of 15 min. rapid fire decluttering sessions adds up quickly, even after just a couple days!  Last night I cleaned out two drawers while the oven was preheating for dinner (did you see me in action on stories?) They were two drawers near our drop zone where things started to get stuffed and one of the drawers I use daily since I keep my notebook with the weeks meal plan, to-do lists, etc so it was driving me nuts that it was getting to be a chaotic mess.  So I set my timer for 15 min. to tackle it and not only did I get that one drawer done, I got the drawer next to it done and everything that didn’t belong in the drawers put away in its proper place!  The moral of the story is, you don’t have to set aside entire afternoons to clear the clutter and get organized. It can be done ones 10-15 min. session at a time.  So that’s what I’m doing. I’ve committed to a short decluttering session every day for the next week or so.  Join me! Give me a thumbs up if you’re in!  #declutter #declutteringtips #decluttering #takebackmyspace #organizedspaces #organization #organizingtips #homeorganization #clearouttheclutter #cluttercontrol
Just when I thought I couldn’t take any more of Just when I thought I couldn’t take any more of what 2020 has had to offer it’s continued to come in full force. The Rona 😷 has officially infiltrated our home (my husband has it) which put me into panic mode 🥺 trying to get everything for Christmas totally ready and all my biz stuff wrapped up for the year knowing I’ll probably get sick too.⁠
⁠
Then to top it off something broke with our sprinklers in the front yard and they wouldn’t shut off. Thankfully I noticed right away and my amazing gardeners came over to help fix it but with the sun going down and not having all the parts they needed, and a bigger problem than we thought we have been without water. —They came back first thing this morning though (did I mention they’re awesome) and fixed everything up so I get to turn the water back on in about an hour and oh man is it going to feel good to take a shower (and a deep breath).⁠
⁠
So far me and the kids don’t have any symptoms so I’m staying focused and getting all my to-do’s done so I can go into next week ready to enjoy Christmas in total quarantine and have time to get sick if that’s what’s coming my way.⁠
⁠
It’s the weirdest thing to be planning to get sick, but it’s where I’m at! Hahaha!⁠
⁠
Hope you are all staying healthy (and sane)!⁠
⁠
⁠
#carona #christmas2020 #whatayear #christmasdecor #easychristmasdecor #peepmypad #colorfulchristmas #boldhues #interiorstyling #makeyousmilestyle #stellarspaces #makehomeyours #heytherehome #interiors4all #homedecorideas #houseandhome #howihaven
The view of our tree from every room downstairs is The view of our tree from every room downstairs is my favorite!
#verymerrychristmashometour #christmastree #christmasdecorating #christmas2020 #holidaydecorating
Today I want to tell you why I started sticking to Today I want to tell you why I started sticking to a color palette in my own home.⁠
⁠
It wasn’t just because it allowed me to make quick decorating decisions, work with decor I already owned, and stay within my budget.⁠
⁠
✔️It's because color is the fastest way to create a look that flows from one room to the next and make my home feel really good.⁠
⁠
My home definitely didn’t get to where it is today overnight, but if I had to narrow it down to THE ONE THING that catapulted me in the right direction with my decor it’s when I finally figured out COLOR. ⁠
⁠
A thoughtful color scheme can create a nice flow from one room to the next, which is great, but color is also scientifically proven to affect your mood. ⁠
⁠
WHEN YOUR HOME FEELS GOOD, YOU FEEL GOOD!⁠
⁠
Let me ask you...👇🏼⁠
⁠
💭How do you currently feel in your home and how do you want to feel?⁠
⁠
Think about it for a second.⁠
⁠
💭Is the way your home feels now holding you back from the way you want to feel, things you want to do, or people you want to spend time with?⁠
⁠
I know there’s a bigger reason behind creating a beautiful home you love.⁠
⁠
And I bet it has nothing to do with impressing guests.⁠
⁠
Maybe for you it’s creating a space to really recharge, spend more time with family and friends, or to inspire more creativity.⁠
⁠
So what is it for you? Tell me in the comments.⁠
⁠
⁠
P.S. I'm hosting a free color class on Thursday! You can RSVP by clicking the link in my bio or go to colormadeclear.com/color⁠
⁠
⁠
#hygge #mytrendyroom #myokstyle #howihaven #dshome #homedecorideas #houseandhome #darlinghome #interiorstyling #ggathome ⁠
#inmydomaine #howwedwell #interior4u #interiormilk #interiors4all #lovewhereyoudwell #makehomeyours #showyourhomestyle #stellarspaces #mycollecteddecor #stylemyhomelikeaboss #styleitpretty #sharemysquare #makeyousmilestyle ⁠
#paint #paintcolor #paintcolors #colorfulhome #sherwinwilliams #behr
I read this morning that you are the culmination o I read this morning that you are the culmination of the 5 people you spend the most time with...⁠
⁠
...hmmm...does that mean I act like a 7 and 10 year old cause lord knows we've been together A LOT lately? 🤣🤣🤣⁠
⁠
But really, joking aside, are you intentional about who you surround yourself with?⁠
⁠
Do they light you up, inspire you, and teach you things?⁠
⁠
As uncomfortable as it is sometimes, I'm a huge fan of surrounding myself with those who know how to do things I want to learn. (And of course I'm a huge fan of spending time with people who I can share my know how with too.) ⁠
⁠
So now the question is, who are you becoming?⁠
⁠
Just something to marinate on today...⁠
⁠
⁠
#wednesdaywisdom #wednesdaymotivation #coastaldecor #blueandwhitedecor #finditstyleit #homestyle #homewithrue #makehomeyours #purposeinstyle #homesohard #collectedhome #cozyhome #myinteriorsquares #ourspaceourplace #colorismyjam #colormyhome #myboldhues #brightspaceswelove #interiorswithpersonality #crashbangcolor #crashbangcolor #brightboldhome #coloryourlife #printspatternstexturesohmy #mypopofcolor
Today I woke up and felt filled to the brim with g Today I woke up and felt filled to the brim with gratitude. 💖 I wanted to say thanks to you guys, my followers, my community, my loyal students and customers. Balancing everything (kids at home, life, business) this year has been challenging, but there's been so much growth and without you this little 'ol business of mine wouldn't be here. So cheers to you!⁠
⁠
⁠
#mondayfeels #mondayvibes #coursecreator #onlinebiz #homedecorblogger⁠
#inmydomaine #howwedwell #interior4u #interiormilk #interiors4all #lovewhereyoudwell #makehomeyours #showyourhomestyle #stellarspaces #mycollecteddecor #stylemyhomelikeaboss #styleitpretty #sharemysquare #makeyousmilestyle
My whys right there👆🏽 . We're evolving into My whys right there👆🏽 . We're evolving into a new phase where these two are helping out more and more around here and I'm loving that they take a certain pride in our space. ✨⁠
⁠
Of course we've got a set up that allows lots of play, messes, and "chill time" as my 7 year old calls it...⁠
⁠
...and although they may not be able to pin point it, I can tell that they too feel really good in our home and keeping it organized and feeling good, makes them feel good. ⁠
⁠
Creating a home you want to be in takes time, but with smart choices and a little patience it can happen.⁠
⁠
💖How do you want your home to feel?⁠
⁠
⁠
#decortips #decoratingtips #hometips #tips #tips4decor⁠
#finditstyleit #homestyle #homewithrue #makehomeyours #purposeinstyle #homesohard #collectedhome #cozyhome #myinteriorsquares #ourspaceourplace ⁠
#coastaldecor #coastal #coastalliving #coastalstyle #coastalinteriors #coastalhome #coastaldesign #coastalvibes #coastalhomedecor #californiastyle #californiavibes #liveboldly
Hey There, Home

Copyright Hey There Publishing, LLC © 2021 ·