How to Style a Bookshelf or Shelf: 8 Decorator Tips

Don’t write off bookshelves as purely functional items. With a few design principles and tricks, you can transform shelves into stylish decorative pieces that reflect your personal interests and match your home’s style.

Where to Start?

Your creativity is limited only by what you already own. Definitely don’t stop at books alone.

Place on your shelves anything that holds personal meaning: collections, souvenirs from travel, photo frames, trophies, awards, beautiful tableware, and vases with flowers.

Limit the number of colors used

Worried about color combinations? Stick to no more than three shades. You can also add one neutral tone (white, black, gray) when styling shelves. Match the decor colors to other elements in your interior.

Hide clutter in boxes and baskets

Beautiful boxes, small chests, and woven baskets look neat and stylish. Store small items, magazines, books, and non-display tableware inside them.

How to arrange decor and useful items? 1. Create triangles

Notice how a professionally styled bookshelf looks balanced and harmonious. How can you achieve the same effect?

Visually connect vintage jugs, white books, figurines, and aged green bottles — you’ll see triangles emerge. Each item in this composition has a clear position, following the triangle rule.

Triangles don’t have to be identical or isosceles. Different shapes add dynamic movement to the design.

You can spot these triangle patterns in each of the shelves shown — that’s why the composition feels balanced and logical.

2. Layering: use height and depth of your shelf

All items on the shelf should harmonize in height. If you want to place a small vase or figurines, set them on stacks of books to create a pedestal effect and draw attention.

If placing a low item on the shelf, place a book or photo frame behind it to balance the visual height.

3. Empty space often matters more than the decor itself

Avoid filling every centimeter of shelf with books and decor. Even well-arranged items can look chaotic if not visually separated.

4. Symmetry and matching pairs

Another foolproof option: use several identical items placed in a row or symmetrically on adjacent shelves.

5. Heavy items below, attractive ones above

This refers not only to physical weight but also visual weight. Place large encyclopedias and stacks of magazines on lower shelves. Put small books with nice covers, decorative items, and candles higher — at eye level. Lower shelves serve functional roles, upper shelves focus on aesthetics.