In this case, my color palette is pretty neutral with a pop of color toward the top and bottom.
Sometimes though, I’ll switch up one of the shelves to stop the pattern. So it doesn’t look like a formula.
Or just find 2-3 shelves for books and space them out.
2. Varying height and lots of textures
But I think open shelving is a great place for baskets too – whether you need the storage or not.
The ins and outs of bookshelf styling in minutes.
Bookcases and Open Shelving I’m Loving Right Now
Books are another great item that I would classify as ‘big’. But I like to fold those in once the big decorative pieces are already in.
And the BHG bookcase from Walmart is great quality as well – especially for the price. It’s sturdy, has clean lines (but not too modern), and has great height. These shelves were very easy to style. And it’s the bookcase in all of the styled photos in this post. I used it for a room makeover I did at my mom’s house recently.
I don’t think any shelf is complete without a little artwork. It could be as simple as your kids latest drawing.
Add a plant or two, when possible. It helps bring shelving to life and also brings some dimension that you can’t get with decorative objects.
For shelf styling, I almost always start by zig zagging big items all the way down, to establish a base to build off of.
Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I’ll spend hours styling a bookshelf and still feel like it’s not quite right. BUT once I started following these 3 rules, I’ve cut the time I spend on styling by more than half.
So, I can tell you that the Nathan James bookshelves are great! I especially love using these in homes that have baseboards because these shelves attach to the wall and only have front legs. SO, they can go all the way to the wall. No annoying gaps, that you typically get with furniture when you have baseboards. We have two matte white 6-shelf bookcases in our guest bedroom – used them for our closet makeover in there.
Wanna those 3 rules I’ve following? Click through for the full breakdown…
