How to Arrange Shelves with Style
I think all of us who write houzz ideabooks on a regular basis can't help but write a shelf arrangement ideabook every so often. The thing is, talented members of the houzz community are constantly adding new pictures that give more great examples, so why not collect some new favorites as they start to stack up, right?
I find the number one rule for arranging shelves is to arrange and re-arrange, then step back, and arrange again until you are happy. Other than that, there really are no rules. If you are O.C.D. about color, arrange books by color. If you are a slave to the Dewey Decimal system, arrange them by subject and then in alphabetical order by author. If you're a collector, mix in your favorite objects. It's all about what is functional and what makes you happy aesthetically. Personally, I have a lot of books stacked on their sides for aesthetic purposes - the trade off is that I know I have to drag out the stepladder and remove all the books above them in order to access the big heavy ones on the bottom without tipping the shelf and breaking all the pottery I have mixed in (this was learned the hard way).
If you aren't satisfied with the look of your shelves, take everything down and start fresh. This is a great opportunity to complete a much-needed dusting job! It may be time to donate or rotate out some items, and/or to introduce some new ones. Here are some more tips we can glean from the images below. Keep in mind that these are merely suggestions, and are not hard-and-fast rules!
I find the number one rule for arranging shelves is to arrange and re-arrange, then step back, and arrange again until you are happy. Other than that, there really are no rules. If you are O.C.D. about color, arrange books by color. If you are a slave to the Dewey Decimal system, arrange them by subject and then in alphabetical order by author. If you're a collector, mix in your favorite objects. It's all about what is functional and what makes you happy aesthetically. Personally, I have a lot of books stacked on their sides for aesthetic purposes - the trade off is that I know I have to drag out the stepladder and remove all the books above them in order to access the big heavy ones on the bottom without tipping the shelf and breaking all the pottery I have mixed in (this was learned the hard way).
If you aren't satisfied with the look of your shelves, take everything down and start fresh. This is a great opportunity to complete a much-needed dusting job! It may be time to donate or rotate out some items, and/or to introduce some new ones. Here are some more tips we can glean from the images below. Keep in mind that these are merely suggestions, and are not hard-and-fast rules!
Photos & Advice
Try propping framed photos, paintings, and collages on shelves.
Treat your items like art and your built-ins like a gallery space. Here books and found objects stand proudly one cubby over from paintings and sculptures.
Break up built-ins that are mostly books with an object here or there. For example, he bowl on the top right shelf here lightens things up a bit.
Cover up unsightly electronics with cupboard doors.
Place heavier objects on the lower shelves, and get lighter and more sparse as you go up.
If you have objects you know you want to display, work with a carpenter to create custom built -ns for them.
Find a balance between different objects. This is a casual arrangement that has a good balance.
You may want to protect valuable items behind glass to avoid breakage.
Consider painting the back of the shelves a different color or using wallpaper.
Comments (11)
Donna Gelineau
When I am arranging shelves, I use my camera. Once I get the shelf looking how I think I want it, I take a photo, load it onto my computer. Seeing on the screen for some reason helps me to 'see' it better.
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ianandsinbad
I am currently styling my shelves after a kitchen/family room reno. The idea of taking a picture and then looking at it on my monitor is brilliant. I am not sure why it works but it works! Thank you for that tip.
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Judy Kibinge
For all people building their own houses, PLEASE PAY ALOT OF ATTENTION TO WHERE YOU IMAGINE YOUR SHELVES GOING AS YOU DESIGN!!! I am really sad not to have, and also that the architect didn't draw our attention to thinking about shelving. And now that we are almost done, when we now try and consider adding shelving, its out of the question in some of the smaller rooms. And indented shelves which I really LOVE (pictures 7 & 8) could have worked if we had ensured that structurally those particular walls could handle it. So... I Love this article but wish had seen similar and thought the options proffered here through a year ago :-(
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