1. Starting With The Small Decor Items
When styling your bookshelves, always start with your largest items first. It’s much easier to decorate around larger items and work in the smaller than the other way around.
It’s a great idea to start by grouping your items by color/ finish and then pick the largest from each group to distribute on the shelves first thing!
2. Not Using The Triangle Formula
One of the biggest tips to use when decorating is to work with odd numbers- it creates visual interest! That’s why you should use the Triangle formula when styling your bookshelves.
By creating a balanced reputation across your vertical shelves, you’ll create a look that is pleasing to the eye. Spacing out items of the same color platte like “blue” – or the same texture like “wood” and arranging them in a triangle will give your shelves a designer look!
3. Using Too Many Similar Items
As with anything in design, scale and balance is so important. That’s why if you are styling your bookshelves, you need some variation!
Make sure the items next to each other have varying heights, scales and textures to help create a cohesive look that doesn’t feel too “matchy matchy”.
4. Ignoring Nature
One of the biggest mistake people make when styling there bookshelves is to totally forget about adding natural elements!
Make sure to add touch of nature with woven baskets, wood, or plants. This really helps ground your design and brings in unique texture that compliments your other decor.
5. Not letting your personality through
I get it, the goal is to get a magazine worthy look, right? But if you’re not careful things will look manufactured – and that’s the last thing anyone wants!
When styling your bookshelves, you need some personal kick knacks, favorite trinkets etc to make your personality shine through in the space. It’s your home, so don’t ignore those little touches that will make you smile!
I hope you found these tips helpful! They really helped me when I recently added wallpaper my bookshelves, and then got to style them with decor in a brand new way!
You can check out the wallpapered bookshelf step by step guide right here!
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I’m very grateful for these tips! We are remodeling our living room/fireplace area and will have lower cabinets and floating shelves. I have been looking for information about how to properly style the shelves and I could only find photos and no real tips! I feel more equipped for the challenge now. Thank you!
Hi! So glad to hear this is helpful and thanks for reading! Enjoy your shelf styling!