Hello! If you’re new here, I’m Mindy. I hope this guide helps simplify decorating your shelf space and adds beauty to your home. If you like this post, please share it with someone that you think would find it useful 🙂 Feel free to check out my D-I-Y projects page here.
This is what our wall looked like for the first few months we lived at our house. Pretty Lame.
I bought a few vases from CB2 and popped some callas into them and called it a day. Three years later, it still looked like this. Double lame.
I guess I wasn’t the only one that noticed this sad, sad wall in my house because my in-laws bought us a ladder shelf for this very spot. So the issue of the lame wall was solved because now I had something to put there. The problem now is that I had to find stuff to fill the shelves with. I am no Chip & Joanna by any means of decoration. However, I did however feel a certain sense of accomplishment when I actually liked the way I styled my new shelves.
Here are a few guidelines that helped me along the way.
Choose a color scheme.
I peeked at my home decor pinterest board (click here for my inspiration board) to see if there was a common color palette I tend to gravitate to. Turns out I really love neutrals with a pop of refreshing green. Keeping the colors somewhat limited, you create a sense of unity in the overall look. Objects that don’t necessarily “go together” will look right if they match the color family you chose.
Layer shorter things in front of taller things.
This creates a sense of depth. Also, I just like the layered look. It adds a bit of complexity. Just like layering a tank under a belted cardigan, it tends to look more thought out and complete.
Use books to serve as pedestals for smaller objects.
Varying the height of the items on your shelves creates interest. You can find cheap books at tag sales. Group them by color, size, spine facing out or in. Work those books baby! They’re the most underused items for shelf arrangements.
Start with the largest items first.
Try to disperse them evenly. Next add in the medium sized pieces, followed by the smallest. Keep messing around with the placement of your objects until you’re satisfied.
How do you style your shelves at home? Got any good pointers? Share them here 🙂
Click here to view this before and after post on how to pair down your wardrobe and maximize closet space:
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the shelf looks so nice!!! love it!
I love the way you styled it! You are totally a pro, officially.
Thank you Kelly! Means so much coming from you 🙂
xo
Mindy
Like a Boss indeed. Thanks for the tips!! That shelf looks killer.
Thanks John! That means so much coming from you 🙂
I suck at shelf styling. You clearly do very well. I’m realizing I’m more of a big picture person and little stuff like this baffles me. Your tips are good. I’m going to remember…hopefully. 😉
Thanks Michelle!! I wish I was more of a big picture person!
Where did you get that angel wing candle holder? It’s gorgeous
Michael’s Crafts 🙂
Recently?
No last Christmas. They repeat stuff though. Keep your eyes open.
Hello Mindy,
You’ve done an amazing job with the shelf! Thank you for your tips!
Mindy, I also noticed that you’re a fan of Pinterest and used to link your projects to the Pinterest Challenge @ Bower Power. Would you be interested in linking your recent Pinterest-inspired projects on my blog OksanaPlusHobbies?
Here is the Link Party which is going on right now:
http://oksanalikesit.blogspot.com/2013/09/project-pinterestlink-party-2-giveaway.html
Thank you so very much. I’m your newest follower.
Where is the shelf from? I love it!
It’s just a simple ladder shelf. They have them everywhere! Kohls, Target, Christmas Tree Shop… Happy shopping 🙂
Lovely! You didn’t post a pic of the shelf in it’s surroundings, tho?
Love love love your shelf and great instructions. This decorating stuff keeps me guessing and I end up changing the contents of shelves 100 times and they always look cluttered. Fail. With your instructions, going to try again tomorrow! I only wonder, if you had any tips if you had three such shelves next to each other, not just one. Same basics apply or would you change or add more instructions for us decorating impaired people. Great going!
I’d say keep the recipe the same! Email me some photos! I’d love to feature a reader re-do!