Shelf Styling 101

Written by: Hannah Holbrook

Accessorizing shelves can be a challenge, especially when there are a lot of them. But do not fear! Although a blank canvas can be daunting, accessorizing can be a really enjoyable and fun part of interior design.

The first thing I like to do is to pick an item that will define the design and be used as the base to develop the rest of the accessories. I typically like to use something fairly large. For this article, I will be using 5 bookshelves that we placed in a bistro of our newest project, The Holbrook of Woodstock, as the example. I chose to use plants that drape down the shelves as the basis of this design.

Next, I typically place books across the shelves. For these shelving units, I used a mix of shades of white, cream, brown, grey and blue books. I like to lay some horizontal and some vertical, propped up by book ends that compliment the design.

I then follow-up with small accessories that compliment the design. Sometimes I will use a series of the same accessory, placed on different shelves in different areas to give the eye a rest in the design. Sometimes I do this in tandem as I place the books. This part gets a little wishy-washy and I really don’t follow an exact method; I just place an item, step back and assess, and either keep it or move it, then try again!

To finish up any gaps, I like to use a mix of antique and contemporary one-of-a-kind items that I find at small local shops. This adds a unique touch that you won’t see anywhere else. I also like to add some paintings that are layered to give the space extra pizzazz. As you can tell by this example, I paused on the design and went to a few shops to give my mind a rest and feel rejuvenated when coming back to finish the design.

When you have a large span of bookcases such as this project, sometimes it’s good to step back and give yourself a break. Never force design! This can be difficult when you have a deadline, so give yourself an extra day or two to brush up on finishing the project.