Transform your shelves with these 7 simple styling ideas that elevate your interior design.
Properly styled shelves can resemble a piece of art. You might be feeling inspired as you browse Pinterest and Instagram, but you’re not sure how to begin creating shelves that resemble the gorgeous designs you’ve seen. The three of us at The Living House have over 30 years of combined experience, so we can offer you our best advice on how to arrange your shelves. To help you create swoon-worthy shelves in your house, we’ve broken down our shelf styling advice.
You must be careful not to overstock your shelves when styling them. Negative space is crucial, but it’s easy to do because you feel like you have to give them everything. Too many accessories on the shelves could make them appear somewhat like a store display, interior decor Australia, which is not the style you want to achieve when trying to create a homely atmosphere. Never assume that less is more.
Our most crucial piece of advice is the rule of three. Use a variety of heights, shapes, and textures to group your items together. It won’t catch your attention if all the pieces are the same height and shape. When arranging your accessories according to the rule of three, picture a triangle. Two smaller pieces will be placed on either side of a tall piece, like a vase, in the centre. A well-styled look can be achieved by applying the rule of three.
When it comes to organising your shelves, books will be your best friend. First of all, they’re reasonably priced; you could find some at a thrift store. They don’t have to be brand-new; books in the vintage style will mix the old and the new and create a transitional atmosphere. If you’re low on accessories, they can be a great way to fill in some extra space. Books are great to lean up against the shelf and place an accessory up against them to act as a bookend (a trailing plant always looks good!). Books don’t just need to be leaning up against the shelf, they also work brilliantly to add height.
At The Living House, we adore plants, and we think your shelves wouldn’t be complete without them! They’ll give it a new look and some greenery. Because they will entice you to look up and down the shelves, we suggest trailing plants. If your shelves are a little empty in spots, trailing plants will fill in some of the voids. They are also a great way to fill in space. (However, keep in mind our first point and leave some negative space.) You might need to think about artificial plants before deciding to only use real ones. Check this out in advance because some plants require a sunny location.
Don’t feel that you need that trending vase you’ve seen all over Instagram; that is the biggest thing right now. Your home should be filled with memories. Use pieces that are special to you. It might be a place where you went on holiday and picked up a souvenir, an interesting postcard that you could frame, or a small vase to group with some larger pieces. Every time you look at your shelves, it will remind you of happy memories of your favourite travels or a meaningful gift you’ve received from a friend.
Use artwork as a backdrop behind your accessories. Simply prop up a framed art at the back of the shelves and add a couple of accessories either side. Spread the larger pieces of artwork out, for example a larger piece at the bottom to create balance and a smaller print on a high shelf. Before you buy any artwork, always measure the size of your shelf because you want some clear space above so it doesn’t look like it’s cramped or squeezed into the space. Another tip is to layer a couple of prints together, you can mix up the sizes and frames. Simply lean the frames up against one another.
Lighting can add a warm glow to your shelves and layer up the lighting in your room for a warm and cosy feel. If you have built-in shelves with cupboards, add a table lamp to the top of the cupboard. If you have plug sockets in the cupboards, we recommend drilling a hole into the top of the cupboard to feed the cable through and reattaching the plug to hide any messy wire to create a seamless look. LED battery lamps are a favourite of ours and are becoming more popular. Battery lamps are a great way to add a light to the middle of your shelves (within easy reach to turn on and off!).
Styling shelves is a simple yet powerful way to elevate the look and feel of any room. The key is to balance function, aesthetics, and personality. Start by combining practical items, such as books, storage baskets, or everyday objects, with decorative pieces like vases, candles, photo frames, or small sculptures. This mix ensures your shelves are not only visually appealing but also useful.
Pay attention to height, layering, and grouping. Taller items at the back, medium-sized objects in the middle, and smaller pieces at the front create depth and visual interest. Odd-numbered groupings often look more natural, and leaving some empty space, or “negative space,” allows your eye to rest and makes the overall display feel organized rather than crowded.
Incorporating plants and greenery adds life, color, and texture to shelves. Even small succulents or faux plants can make a noticeable difference, creating a fresh and inviting atmosphere. Similarly, sticking to a consistent color palette across your items helps create harmony, making the shelves look intentional and well thought out.
Finally, allow your shelves to reflect your personality and lifestyle. Adding personal touches, like travel souvenirs, meaningful objects, or seasonal decor, gives them a unique charm. You can also refresh your shelves from time to time to keep the space feeling dynamic and in tune with the seasons or your evolving style.
Norsu Interiors, your trusted interior decoration shop and go-to destination for online homewares in Australia, offers everything you need-from vases and decorative objects to baskets and prints-to style shelves that reflect your personality and elevate your home.
