Top Decorating Ideas for Shelves & Bookshelves
I’ll share with you my top decorating ideas for shelves, built-ins, and bookcases. Shelf and bookcase decor can be easy if you know a few simple techniques using size, color, and how to group items.
I also like to add stylish storage items like boxes from the Studio McGee line at Target. So if you want to know the tricks used by Pottery Barn for decorative shelves, read on for staging tips and more!
My inspiration
This time, my inspiration was Pottery Barn and how they styled their shelves using a lot of books. I have a bunch of books but they aren’t quite like the Pottery Barn look. I need them to be the same color so I’m going to wrap them in construction paper.
Shelf styling tips
If you can nail scale and symmetry, you have the basic tools you need to style your shelves. Use the largest items first and fill in with medium-sized items, then with the smaller items.
This is the best order to create harmony, organization, and symmetry. For example, I’m going to use books to style the shelves. You’ll see that I repeated the process at least once or twice.
Color theme
I’ll have one major color theme for the entire area. I’m making it neutrals here. I’ll bring in a bit of a second color and then a pop of a third color.
Some pieces I use to style
I’m using books to style, as I mentioned, and you will see them repeated in a few different places for symmetry.
The reveal
Here’s the finished product. It’s nice and balanced. It’s mostly neutrals plus blue as a secondary color and a pop of green. Here’s what it looks like in the daytime (top) and the nighttime (bottom).
Hopefully, you found these tips helpful if you struggle with styling shelves and built-ins. Remember, I used three different sizes–small, medium, and large–and then three different colors to pull the look together. Let me know if this behind-the-scenes look at bookcase decor ideas inspired you. Leave me comments below!
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