How To Decorate Living Room Shelves
Staring at blank shelves can feel exactly the same way as staring at a blank page. This can feel overwhelming when you’re not so accustomed to decorating.
You may not know it but there’s a certain charm to decorating living room shelves that makes most decors online look expensive and rich.
A tasteful arrangement can easily be achieved with the use of specific items and the way they are grouped and displayed on the shelves.
Small details like the shelf decor can do wonders to the appeal of your living room decor.
This is why I’m super excited to share the amazing tips and tricks you can implement immediately to upgrade and enhance your space.
I’ve also spent quite some time collecting the absolute best ideas.
So, if you’d want to learn how to decorate living room shelves to add that striking creative feature to the space, here’s everything you should know:
Table of Contents
Tips For Decorating Living Room Shelves
Ornaments
Now the real main actor is the objects, accessories, ornaments, and items that are displayed on the shelves.
The items you choose will also reflect your interests, personality, and style which is why you’ll have to pay extra attention when choosing these elements.
The good news is that there is an assortment of items that almost all shelves use.
These items are:
Baskets
Decorative, wicker, or wire baskets are great items to display on shelves. These baskets provide extra storage but it also helps to fill empty spaces. The type of basket you display can also contribute to the style and theme of the shelf display.
Candles
Scented candles, candle pillars, candle sticks, or candle holders look great on any shelf.
Candles pair well with any other item and are ideal for filling up empty spaces on the shelf.
Use candles of different heights and sizes to create variance and interest in the display.
Greenery
Pot plants or flowers are wonderful items to add to any shelf decor. This one item can instantly uplift and brighten the display. A few plants placed on the shelf will help draw attention to the display.
Signs
Small wooden signs or letters can be a great item to add in between other items.
Vases
Display a few vases on the shelves for a pop of color and texture to the space.
With this, you can pick any style or shape to complement the arrangement and place them in any suitable spot.
Pictures
Pictures and artworks can be used as the focal point on the shelf. With this, you can also incorporate some of your likes, interests, and creative side into the display with the pictures and artworks you choose to display.
Books
Line up the shelves with your favorite books or pick out pretty hardbacks in the color palette to pair with other items on your display.
Filling your shelves with a mix of these items will make your living room shelves full of character, charm, and interest.
Placement
The first big step to decorating any shelf is the placement of items. You’ll want to begin by decorating the top shelf first and work your way down.
This will give you a good idea of how many items you’ll need and the flow of the display.
Creating variety by using items with different heights and widths will ensure an interesting and eye-catching arrangement.
Your tallest plants might benefit from being placed on the right-hand or left-hand side of the top shelf.
The remaining shelves are best for smaller items like more bowls or picture frames and you can include smaller pot plants to continue the design.
One thing to note is to make sure you mix up the items or group similar items depending on the style.
The goal is to create a display that is rich with texture, styles, and items in an attractive layout.
Color Scheme
Every living room is probably different in terms of color scheme so there’s no hard and fast rule that can be recommended however ensuring that your shelf decor is cohesive with the rest of the color scheme will be incredibly helpful overall.
A consistent color scheme will ensure a pleasant and flattering display compared to having different opposing colors that jump out at you.
Neutral-tone items paired with beautiful greenery are definitely a popular choice for any living room shelf decor.
If you want to add some interest to the display, you can throw in a couple of accent ornaments to grab the viewer’s attention.
Grouping Items
Here’s the key trick that interior designers use when decorating and this is known as layering and grouping.
This means grouping specific items together for a creative and unique look. This also forms a pleasing and coherent image when certain items are paired together.
For example, placing a small pot plant on a stack of books or pairing a picture frame with candle holders is considered grouping.
Layering is the process of stacking a few picture frames of varying sizes in front of each other along with smaller ornaments.
Also, another small trick you can implement to add depth and perspective is to repeat specific items. This will boost the shelf decor and ensure a cohesive and balanced composition.
This works really well to create an interesting arrangement full of texture and unique style.
No. of Shelves
The number and type of shelves could also indicate just how many items or what kind of layout should go with.
If you have multiple floating shelves, stick with a clean and limited amount of ornaments so that they don’t look cluttered.
For built-in cubby-style shelves, consider placing one feature decoration or ornament in each cubicle or group a few items together.
Stepping Back
The last thing that is incredibly helpful when decorating any area of the living room is to step back as an artist would and take in the full view of the room.
This will give you a better idea of the entire display, making it easier to adjust certain items.
The more you step back as you place each item, the quicker it will go.
You could also try leaving the space for a while and when you return, you’ll probably be able to spot mistakes or come up with fresh new ways to decorate the shelves.
Best Places To Put Shelves In A Living Room
Above a Sofa
Mounting floating shelves above a sofa is a great way to fill up empty wall space. It also creates an attractive feature in the space, making the seating area more inviting and appealing.
Corner of the room
An empty corner of the room can look and feel lacking in many ways. Fill up this corner with shelves and display a few key ornaments to add a valuable feature to the room. There are corner shelves specifically designed for this purpose but you could mount ordinary shelves if you prefer.
On either side of the fireplace
For blank walls on either side of the fireplace, shelves filled with collectibles or ornaments can be a wonderful way to decorate and add a fancy new feature to the space. Due to the size of the space, you’ll also have the freedom to decorate as you please.
See also: How To Decorate Walls On Either Side of Fireplace
On an empty wall
The best way to decorate any empty wall is to fill them with shelves. This could be floating shelves, built-in cubbies, or a bookshelf, having a lineup of shelves displaying fun, creative or beautiful items will make this area more appealing and striking.
Wrapping Up
When decorating living room shelves, it’s best to stick with a select few items that will showcase each item in its glory.
Packing the shelves with different items can lead to a messy and cluttered display which will negatively impact your decor.
It’s a good idea to consider these shelves as a blank canvas and creating a masterful piece of art will enhance the space.
The shelf decor is just as important as any other area or piece in the living room.
It’s absolutely vital that this shelf decor complements the rest of the space and with these tips, I’m confident your decor will be a success.
