16 Ideas to Decorate Shelves

Shelving is the best addition to organize and decorate any environment. They come in many shapes, sizes, colors and styles, so it is something that can be adapted to all areas of your home.

16 ideas to decorate your shelves

Check out these great ideas for decorating your spaces with shelves and decorating the shelf itself, you will definitely find many solutions for that empty wall where you are not sure what to put.

Free space value

The saying goes “less is more” and it applies very well to the decoration of shelves. Do not fill your shelves completely with any objects, give each object the space it deserves to stand out and your shelf will look very harmonious.

Apply minimalism to your library

A very easy way to create order and harmony in the environment is to place several objects in each space of the shelf. For example, in square furniture, this idea is great to frame the objects and give them more importance.

Combine objects with a color palette

Determine which colors will match the style of the space and the shelf itself. By keeping a color palette across all the objects you display, you create visual unity even if you have many different things.

By creating a color palette, you have the assurance that you can keep adding all kinds of objects and they will always look great.

Look for original ways to place items

Don’t stick to the traditional shelving distribution where books go vertically and sculptures are separated. Play with the positioning of items and the depth of the shelf to overlap objects and create a very interesting shelf.

It is also a good idea to place some books with objects on top to add different heights to the decoration.

Combine symmetrical shelves

A good way to decorate a space with shelves is to place them symmetrically on the edges of an object or area to highlight it. For example, here we see how shelves are used to take advantage of the walls on the sides of the fireplace and give it more prominence.

On the other hand, the materiality of the shelf matches the materials and colors used on the fireplace, so it integrates perfectly with the decoration.

From floor to ceiling: an interesting wall

If you want to add a lot of personality to a wall, create a floor-to-ceiling bookcase. This will take full advantage of the wall and give you more storage space for your extensive book collection, for example.

To achieve this effect, the most appropriate thing is to make a custom-made shelf that fits perfectly into your environment and you can take advantage of every inch of the wall.

Add a bookcase to spice up a corner

The ideal complement to empty walls and to add order and style to any corner. No space is too small for a shelf, you just need to find the perfect size or make it special.

Using cantilevered shelves in the same tone as the wall, as in the example, will ensure that the corner does not look overloaded and are prominent objects.

Place around a window

An idea to optimize space and add functionality to a wall that would otherwise be empty. The space around the window is ideal to create a custom shelf and give more importance and functionality to that wall.

As we see in the example, it is also a great idea for small rooms, as the shelf can also act as a bedside table and add storage space, helping you keep your bedroom organized.

Use a shelf to separate media

You can use shelves that divide the environment and add decoration to virtually separate two spaces. In addition to becoming a beautiful object, it helps you use your home better and provides privacy for different functions.

For example, if the dining room and living room are in the same environment but you want to keep them a little more separate, you can choose an open or low shelf, as in this case, to create a visual border.

Choose a color that stands out against the wall

A very easy way to add style to your bookcase is to choose a color that stands out against the tone of the walls. When choosing the tone, make sure it complements well with the color palette of the space's décor.

Decorate the bottom of the bookcase

To give your shelf more personality, you can paint or decorate the bottom of the cabinet with wallpaper. Depending on the colors of the background and the objects you place on it, they can stand out even more.

Light up your objects

Add more interest by adding lighting to your bookshelf, making it the centerpiece of the space. With this idea, you ensure that your objects are always visible and you get very interesting soft and warm lighting.

You can choose to place LED strips on shelves, add spotlights on top, or place lamps that illuminate objects on the outside. Choose the option that best suits your space and budget.

Choose designer shelves

Make your objects stand out even more with a designer shelf that complements the overall style of the room. Nowadays, glass or acrylic shelves are widely used, adding transparency and style to any space.

Organize items on the shelf

Once you have chosen the location of the shelf to decorate the space, you should start decorating it with objects to add a beautiful and functional element. There are several organizational systems that you can apply when decorating your shelves.

One of the most used systems for its ease and visual aesthetics is to organize the elements, in this case the books, by creating a very original gradient by color. In this example we can also see that the objects are organized by type: books, sculptures and baskets.

Keep everything in its place

Choose boxes, baskets, files or trays to organize visually unappealing items. This way you keep everything close at hand, but without disrupting the aesthetics of the space. Use organizers that relate to the color palette of the space.

Just one theme for your shelves

A good idea to relate the decoration to your personality is to use your shelves to display only one type of object, for example a personal collection. In this way, you not only display your valuable collection, but also decorate the space in a very personalized way.

In this example we see how several sets of antique flatware are used to decorate and to keep them on hand and use on a special occasion.

Say goodbye to boring bookshelves

After seeing all these ideas, you definitely want to reorganize and decorate your bookshelves like a pro. With these decorating tips, you can completely change the feel of your space.

In addition to decorating and organizing, shelves help you show off your personality and give your home a unique style. They are counters that showcase details, memories, collections, favorite objects, and more.

Start thinking today about how a shelf can be adapted to any setting in your home, and become the new display space you need.