How To Style Built-In Shelves?

Built-in shelves provide much more than just storage space, they also add incredible style and charm to a home.

Decorating built-in shelves is a fun and easy way to put your stamp on a room. It’s all about mixing and matching vases, boxes, frames, books, plants, and quirky accessories to create the layered shelf look that we love.

Start With Books

A good bookshelf looks like a carefully curated space, but it can be tricky to create a unified look that flows together. There are a few ways to make sure your shelves feel cohesive without getting too overwhelmed with varying books.

The first step is to get organized and take stock of your books. It’s a good idea to gather them all on the floor and get a clear vision of how you want your shelves to look. This will help you think about which types of objects are best suited for this particular space, as well as what kind of symmetry you need to achieve.

Once you have a clear picture of what you want your shelves to look like, start with the most visual pieces. These could be large baskets, sculptures, framed artwork, or stacked cocktail table books.

You can also layer in smaller items, such as a few interesting vessels and decorative accents. This will help the books stand out and add dimension to your space.

Another tip is to keep your color palette consistent throughout the shelves. This can be as simple as sticking with a base and metallic accent color, or you can experiment with a more eclectic mix.

For example, the shelf in this bedroom has an airy white base, but it’s punctuated with black and gold accessories. This works because each color has an even distribution throughout the shelf.

To create visual weight, it’s important to use a variety of shapes and sizes of objects. These can be vases, frames, plants, souvenirs, or quirky decorative accents.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can mix your book collection by color. This works better for larger collections than small ones, though.

It’s also a good idea to use a few different types of books on your shelves so that they don’t all seem too uniform. You can do this by grouping them by size and arranging them in rows or columns.

Combining horizontal and vertical books can give your shelves a more interesting, varied look than tightly bunched stacks. You can even vary the heights of the books to add an element of interest.

Mix It Up

Whether you plan to use them for books or other decorative objects, there are many ways to style built-in shelves. Using the right combination of elements is key to creating an eye-catching display that will wow guests and makes you proud to show off your space.

First, gather a good mix of items with varying heights and textures. This will help to give your shelves a layered, lived-in look rather than the flat, boxy feel that can happen when using only one material or color.

Another trick to styling a shelf is to create a vignette. You can do this by stacking books vertically and horizontally or placing decorative items like vases, pots, sculptural objects, and bookends on top of stacked items.

A great vignette uses all of the elements in the space to create a focal point or highlight. The most successful vignettes consist of an item with a high-impact feature, such as an object or design element, a piece of art, and a smaller decorative accessory.

The best vignettes also leave enough white space to allow your eye to rest without looking cluttered. This helps to create a calming environment and will keep your room feeling cohesive and pulled together.

Finally, the most important trick to styling a shelf is to get a little creative with placing objects on the shelf. This is especially true for small, decorative items like vases, trays, and picture frames that can add a lot of impacts.

In addition to the big ideas mentioned above, there are several little-known tricks and tips for making your built-in shelves the talk of the town. The best tip is to take it slow, so you can focus on the details and enjoy decorating your built-ins.

This project doesn’t require much in the way of tools or skill, but it does involve a bit of woodworking and a little patience. To build this project, purchase a few sheets of 3/4-inch thick birch plywood to use as shelves and some 1x2s and 1x3s to provide shelving support. You can even stain or paint these shelves to suit your decor tastes.

Think About White Space

Before arranging your shelves, you must consider how white space works. We all know that our eyes need a place to rest, so leaving some blank white space on your built-ins is an important step to ensure everything is balanced and looking its best.

The right amount of white space can distinguish between a cluttered, unorganized mess or a sleek, organized display. It can also create a dramatic focal point to inspire visitors to want more.

When you’re you’re styling your built-ins, consider the size and shape of each shelf. Use that as your starting point to arrange your objects and accessories. This is where you’ll see how the layout works together and if any of your pieces are too big or too small for your space.

One of the most effective ways to do this is by using various sizes and shapes of items. Try combining some taller items with shorter ones to add balance to your display.

Another way to add some visual interest to your shelves is by adding a little bit of color. Whether you’re using a single hue or a blend of colors, select a palette that fits the theme of your room.

For example, if you’re going for a rustic feel in your kitchen, choose a warm brown or tan that coordinates with your cabinets and countertops. You can then layer in a few pops of brighter colors to tie it all together.

While it’s easy to get carried away when decorating your shelves, try to keep it simple. The biggest mistake people make regarding shelving is trying to mix too many different elements into a single display.

The key to success is to think about what you’re trying to accomplish and then hone in on a few main focal points. This is the best way to ensure your shelves look as good as possible!

The best way to think about white space is by thinking of it as an opportunity. This is because it can have significant impacts on the effectiveness of your design and can help boost conversions and user experience.

Layer It Up

If your shelves have deep spaces, you can play with layers to create depth and visual weight. Layer a piece of art with two or three smaller accent pieces, or lean a large vase on the back of one of your shelves and stack a couple of small decorative plates or vases underneath.

Whether displaying books or other items, keep your shelves tidy and organized. This can be a challenge for some people, but it is possible to get it right.

Start by making sure that all the shelves are evenly spaced. You can do this by measuring the distance between two adjacent shelves and using this as a guideline when you place the shelf boards.

Once you have the spacing figured out, you can then add the shelf boards to each level. To do this, first mark a cleat that is positioned at the base of the first vertical support panel on the wall, and then measure the distance across to the other vertical support panel and mark it accordingly. Repeat for each shelf level you want to add, and then nail or screw them into place.

When you are placing the shelves, it is important to make sure that the shelf board is placed evenly and not crooked. If it is crooked, it will be difficult to align the next shelf level properly and can result in an uneven-looking shelf.

Another important factor to consider when styling shelves is color. A balanced rhythm of color spread throughout the shelf will look much more cohesive and prevent your shelf from being too busy or overcrowded.

The color palette for successful styling of built-in shelves often consists of one base color and a metallic accent color. This is generally a good idea, but you can experiment with different colors and combinations to get the desired results.

Adding greenery and life to your shelves is a great way to add visual interest, texture, and color. Cactus, succulents, dried flowers, and fake plants can all add a pop of color and life to your shelves and help create a beautiful look.

With The Following Tips, You Can Create A Beautiful And Functional Display:

Start by decluttering: Before styling your built-in shelves, clear them of any clutter and remove everything from them. This will give you a clean slate to work with.
Determine the purpose: Decide what you want to display on the shelves and their purpose. Are you looking to create a bookcase, or do you want to showcase decorative items such as photos, plants, or artwork?
Create a color scheme: Choose a color scheme for your shelves to ensure they look cohesive and pleasing to the eye. You can either stick to one color or use a mix of colors, keeping in mind to balance them in a visually appealing way.

Use different textures: Using items with different textures and finishes, such as woven baskets or ceramic vases, can add interest to the display.
Varying the heights and sizes of items: Varying the heights and sizes of items on the shelves will make the display look more visually interesting. Use books, photo frames, and decorative objects to create a mix of sizes.
Don’t forget negative space: Leave some space on your shelves. This will give the display room to breathe and create balance.

Add greenery: Plants can add life and color to your shelves, and they also have a natural ability to purify the air.
Light it up: Consider adding some lighting to highlight your display. You can use either built-in lighting or lamps to illuminate the shelves.

Overall, styling built-in shelves can be a fun and creative process, and by using these tips, you can create a functional and beautiful display that will enhance the look of your home.