Your home should be a reflection of you, so the pieces you display should tell a story. Start with items that hold meaning—books you love, objects collected from your travels, or vintage finds that evoke memories.
To create cohesion, look for a theme that naturally emerges. It could be:
✔ A colour palette that repeats across objects and works with your home scheme and aesthetic
✔ A material focus—like warm woods, stone, or metallic accents.
✔ A shared style or era, such as mid-century modern, coastal, or heritage-inspired.
Curating a selection of meaningful objects with a consistent thread ensures your styled spaces feel thoughtful and visually strong.
Just like in a well-designed interior, contrast is key when styling shelves. A mix of textures will bring depth and character to your display.
✔ Combine shiny and matte finishes—think glass next to ceramics or brass next to timber.
✔ Introduce soft elements like a linen-covered book, woven basket, or fabric-wrapped box.
✔ Add something organic—a plant, dried flowers, or a piece of driftwood can soften hard surfaces.
By layering different textures, your styling will feel rich and well-balanced rather than one-dimensional.
Bookcases and shelving should be as much about styling as they are about storage. Books are a great foundation, but mix in:
✔ Sculptural objects (ceramic vases, stoneware, or decorative bowls).
✔ Personal keepsakes (travel souvenirs, heirloom pieces).
✔ Framed artwork or photographs (leaned against the back wall for depth).
For a cohesive look, consider grouping books by spine colour or turning them horizontally to break up vertical lines.
One of the most common styling mistakes? Overfilling the space.
✔ Use negative space to allow your objects to stand out.
✔ Leave room between groupings to avoid visual clutter.
✔ Follow the rule of thirds—divide your surface mentally into three sections and distribute items accordingly.
Your eye needs a place to rest, so resist the urge to fill every shelf to the edges.
Designers often use the rule of three when styling, because odd numbers are naturally more pleasing to the eye.
✔ Group objects in threes or fives, varying size and height.
✔ Place one larger statement piece in the mix to anchor the grouping.
✔ Ensure there’s a mix of shapes—pair round objects with angular ones for contrast.
Your home styling doesn’t have to be static—changing up your shelves periodically keeps things fresh.
✔ Rotate decor seasonally—light ceramics in summer, deeper hues in winter.
✔ Swap artwork, coffee table books, or textiles for a refresh without spending a cent.
✔ Don’t feel like everything needs to be on display at once—store some pieces away and bring them out when inspiration strikes.
For extra impact, use the wall behind your shelving or console table as part of the design.
✔ Lean or mount framed art or mirrors for added height.
✔ Use wallpaper or a painted feature colour to create contrast.
✔ Arrange shelves in asymmetrical layouts for a modern, curated feel.
This simple trick makes the entire display feel more intentional and anchored.
If you collect ceramics, vases, glassware, or candles, display them as a group rather than scattering them. Repetition creates impact.
✔ Keep the colour palette cohesive to make the collection feel curated.
✔ Mix heights and shapes, but keep at least one common thread (e.g., all neutral tones, all vintage pieces).
By styling similar objects together, they’ll feel more thoughtful and striking than if they were dispersed randomly.
