ONE ROOM CHALLENGE WEEK 4: Foolproof Tips for Styling Shelves via. The Pacific Standard | www.thepacificstandard.com

Suppose there’s one design challenge that seems like a constant game of adjustments its shelf styling. It takes time, and often the best look results from a lot of readjusting and tweaking. The best shelves look effortless, aren’t over-cluttered, and still are personal to the homeowners. Mastering this balance takes time and is best achieved when items are collected over time. In today’s post, I’ll share tips for creating cohesive bookshelves and where to shop for pieces for styling purposes.

The One Room Challenge is hosted twice a year in spring and again in Fall and run for 6-weeks. I’m thrilled to be participating as a guest, and I look forward to starting this challenge and connecting with fellow bloggers! I’ll be posting each week to share our dining space's on-going progress while highlighting our weekly to-do list (more on that below)!

How to style a cohesive bookshelf

Okay, so before we jump into creating your ideal shelfie situation, it’s a good idea to have a game plan. Knowing the purpose of your space helps layout what you intend to place on your shelves. I also find having inspiration images on hand to be helpful. This can help you with layout and balance while helping you gather a roadmap of needs or styling items to look for throughout your house. The beauty of styling shelves is you can (and should) shop other rooms in your house before running out to buy a bunch of stuff. At the end of the day, a more collected feeling of items will read more authentic. So what things should you be looking to add to your shelves?

What to Add When Styling Bookshelves

As previously, I find personal touches in bookshelves to be incredibly important. This could be a family photo and heirloom or a funky vintage piece you picked up in a thrift store. Most, if not all, the pieces for this project were things I already owned, either stored away or styled in another space. I find that a good mix of items relies more on old and less on new. The more the pieces on the shelf reflect you, the more natural it will blend with space. Just remember, in most cases, less is more.

Photos (a mix of personal & art)
Books (I prefer a neutral mix)
Momentos (collected & vintage)
Greenery
Textured Elements (stoneware, woven basket)

Once you have a majority of your items, place them on a large service, and begin grouping them. This is a HUGE help when you begin placing items on your shelves. Grouping items of varying heights and in groups of threes can help create dimension. Pre-styling gives an overview of all your accessories and can help your priorities, which items cut and which don’t. This step also helps with creating your ideal color story.

Where to shop for unique styling pieces

ETSY - Etsy is a great place to shop for both vintage and handmade items. Their pottery is always unique and perfect for small plants or air plants. Vintage finds like small lamps or glassware is aplenty on the site. Remember to utilize keyword searches like MCM, french, or the time period you are looking for. I would avoid purchasing second-hand books here. When in doubt, go to the thrift stores. It’ll end up costing you a fraction of the price for essentially the same thing!

eBay - eBay thrifting is a bit of a deeper dive and requires some hunting. Many sellers who sell vintage sell in bulk from an estate or garage sales, many of them looking for a quick buck. You’ll find better pricing on antiques and vintage items this way.

Thrift Stores

Homegoods TJMaxx

how to add storage to shelving

One of the biggest issues with our current space is the lack of storage. Since our home was built in the 1960s, the closets and built-ins are naturally smaller. The two bookcases that flank our fireplace presented an opportunity to add additional storage at the bottom shelves. I had these Water Hyacinth Storage Bins on hand in another room and decided to utilize them here. They fit the shelves perfectly and are a great solution for our dining room linens.