If you’re looking for shelf decor ideas, you are in the right spot!
In this post we are going to explore gorgeous shelf displays, and pull the takeaways from each design so that you can create an expertly styled shelf in your home.
Whether you’re starting from scratch, or looking to update and rearrange items you all ready have, we will cover how the right placement can make all the difference.
But let’s be honest, decorating shelving is hard!
It’s easy to admire someone’s finished product. But how in the world did they go about creating it?
It’s common for people to start randomly placing things to then stand back and think…’that just doesn’t look right.’
But why?
We’ll cover all those things and then some as you learn to recreate a stunning shelf display that also reflects your personal style.
You don’t have to be an interior designer to learn how to do it.
We’ll cover simple arrangement designs and decorating tips that are achievable for any beginning home decorator.
Let’s get to it!
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#1) Neutral Farmhouse Shelf Decor Ideas
Liz from Love Grows Wild published an incredibly informative article on how to style shelves.
She recommends using the following ‘ingredients’ to create a lovely display.
- Artwork/Photos/Signs
- Vases/Bowls Pottery
- Books
- Plants/Flowers
- Sculptures/Figurines
- Simple Large Items (Baskets/totes, large bowls)
(Pssst. you can find a lot of these things here.)
In her article, Liz does a great job of explaining the directional movement you can create when it comes to arranging your items on the shelves.
Start with your larger items in one color family, and stagger those pieces in a zig zag pattern.
This keeps your eye moving throughout the design and creates visual interest.
Work to create angles and triangles to keep the design interesting (see arrows in drawing above)! Notice the white objects also follow this zig zag staggered pattern as well.
#2) Bedroom Floating Shelf Decor Idea
This display from Ballard Designs provides great decorating ideas for a single floating shelf in a bedroom or living room!
If you are decorating a single floating shelf, you have lots of room to play.
For a shelf display like this, most decorators follow a triangular display outline.
What is that?
Though it’s not completely apparent to the naked eye, do you notice how the two wooden legs in the center of the shelf provide the tallest point?
This center anchor piece is the peak of the design, or top of the triangle.
The coordinating anchor pieces on either side (the open frames) serve as the two lower edge points of the bottom of the triangle.
You can see the general outline in the graphic below.
Once the anchor pieces of your triangle design are in place, the next step is to add details to the design by adding fillers.
This decorator added new textures through plants, glass vases, and woods.
Don’t stress out about trying to make an exact triangular pattern.
Simply select a taller anchor piece for the middle, and lower coordinating edge pieces (they don’t have to be exact) for your design.
This triangular decorating concept is very similar to decorating an open fireplace mantle.
If you’re decorating this type of shelf and want to look more into triangular design pattern ideas, you can check out this post on farmhouse mantel decor ideas.
It would totally apply to floating shelves as well.
#3) Beautiful Built In Shelf Display
House By Hoff redesigned these built in shelves next to a fireplace and created this stunning display.
In her post, she talks about the importance of balancing smaller and larger items in your display groupings.
Notice she also follows the same directional or angular pattern of placement that we talked about above.
As a general rule, she recommends arranging smaller items it groups of three!
While I’m not sure why, it’s proven that the eye is drawn to groups of 3.
#4) Seasonal Shelf Decorating Ideas
Source: Life On Kaydeross Creek
Floating shelves or built in shelves on hutches can be the perfect place to showcase your seasonal decor.
This well styled hutch shelving is filled with lovely fall touches, pumpkins and stems.
Notice the bright orange colors work across the shelf from left to right creating angular movement.
Also, the stems follow a zig zag pattern to keep your eye moving throughout the design.
One rule of thumb for decorating shelves, don’t place like items right next to one another.
Think stagger height and variety across the shelving units from top to bottom.
#5) Living Room Shelf Decor Ideas
This staggered shelf display from The Heartland Wood Company is really appealing!
Offsetting the floating shelves helps create a an angled design line, also referred to as ‘movement’ within the display.
The ends are weighted with rectangular objects, and horizontal fillers.
Notice how the height of the large picture on the left is roughly the same as the objects on the top shelf.
This helps create a unified look between the shelves.
#6) Rustic Floating Shelf & Decor
Source: ETSY
The live edge on these floating shelves give them so much unique character and design.
Simple grouped fillers are all that is needed to keep these floating shelves looking lovely in any living room, bedroom or hallway.
You can snag yours for purchase at the source link above.
#7) Two Shelf Triangle Decor Idea
This popular shelf decor idea from The Beauty Revival!
Notice how the taller photo on the top shelf acts as an anchor piece, and the two groupings on the bottom of the shelf serve as bottom corners of the design.
You might be wondering…’what about the tall candles and plant on the edges? Doesn’t that contradict the triangle display idea?
Great question!
Not necessarily. It’s all about the object weight.
The bulky rectangular picture in the center carries the most weight of the design. Tall slender plant leaves and candles fade into the background because they lack size and structure.
So in general, it’s ok to use taller slender items as corner fillers as long as they don’t carry a lot of bulk.
It’s also worth noting that items placed next to each other are generally varied in height.
This creates visual interest in the design.
If all of the items on the top shelf were of similar height, the design would look flat.
#8) Upcycled Farmhouse Bookshelf Decor
Source: Pinterest
This shelf decor is both functional and stylish!
It has a symmetrical design pattern with books in a line and similar height fillers above and below.
Notice the zig zag pattern on the soft green plants that create movement throughout the design ~ stunning!
#9) Neutral Living Room Shelf Decor Idea
I love this appealing display from The Lady Slipper Blog’s Instagram.
When it comes to choosing colors for your display, sometimes less is more.
The bright white, soft grey, and light wood/wicker accents blend beautifully to create the farmhouse style we all know and love.
I also love how she anchored this design with a variety of texture through the wicker, glass, and wood.
Also, adding bright green plants are so essential in farmhouse style to help bring freshness to the neutral and understated colors in the display.
#10) Family Picture Shelf Decor Idea
This picture from Pinterest is another great example of the wonderful decorating ideas you can find on the this platform.
Simply arranging photo frames of varying height can create a wonderful and personalized shelf decor display.
Notice how the groupings on each shelf are slightly different. It’s not recommended to repeat the exact same layout pattern for shelves that are stacked on top of one another.
Use the similar zig zag angular design idea when arranging your photo frames.
Notice the tallest picture on each shelf grouping is slightly offset to the shelf below it. This creates a subtle back and forth movement within the design.
I think the mini potted plants help add some great texture too. 🙂
#11) Minimalist Living Room Shelf Decor Idea
Arin from Arin Solange At Home shows a great example of how you can incorporate functionality and personality to built in shelf decor.
I feel her design highlights some minimalist design elements.
There is simple items, fewer fillers, and functional storage elements.
She follows the back and forth zig zag pattern with similar colors as well as groupings of odd numbers.
Well done!
#13) Farmhouse Kitchen Shelf Decor
Source: Pinterest
This vintage hutch makes the perfect spot to showcase farmhouse shelf decor.
I love mixed vases, mixed greenery and distressed white planks.
This design uses books stacked vertically, and horizontally to allow as a base to create high and platform for other items.
#14) Farmhouse Style Built In Shelf Decor
Does this shelf decor image from Pinterest scream farmhouse style or what?
I love the angular pattern of books, and the variety of their arrangement in both laying them flat and stacking them on end.
Also, if you don’t love the color of your book bindings, consider placing them with pages out for a more neutral look.
This design also does a great job of mixing larger and smaller items, woods and greenery.
I just love it!
#15) Modern & Minimal Shelf Decor Ideas
Source: Pinterest
This modern and minimalistic shelf decor does not follow the triangular design pattern.
In this side built in shelving unit, it still works however.
The bold contrast in shapes and textures keep the eye moving from top to bottom.
While the blacks and darker colors also pull weight and dimension to the design.
#16) Seasonal Shelf Decor Ideas
Liz from Love Grows Wild offers yet another lovely shelf display we can emulate.
In her post, she talks about the ways you can change simple elements throughout in your design throughout the seasons.
For this fall inspired post, she introduced items with an antique brass finish, as well as dried fall foliage.
So pretty!
Imagine the possibilities around Christmas time.
Exchanging fall foliage with bright red berries and simple evergreens would be stunning!
#17) Simple Bathroom Floating Shelf Decor Idea
Small floating shelves can completely come to life when styled with right decor pieces!
Alissa Jacobs provided this picture as well as 5 shelf styling tips anyone can follow.
She likes to start with a larger anchor piece, and then fill in around it using the grouping of three method.
This method works really well for two small stacked shelves.
#18) Coordinating Colors Shelf Decor Idea
Source: Shelf Decor Idea
If you prefer a muted or minimalistic feel, consider selecting shelf decor fillers with a similar color and finish.
Still work to vary height and texture when you can, but you can make the most of a muted clean style by selecting complimenting items as in the photo above.
Notice how all shelf pieces has a distressed or natural finish in light or earthy colors.
#19) Angled Floating Shelf Styling Ideas
The highly talented wood working ladies over at Shanty 2 Chic assembled this eye catching farmhouse shelf decor display.
When it comes to hanging floating shelving like this. Consider a offsetting floating shelves to create a triangular pattern like the display above.
As you can see, the large middle anchor piece helps connect the the taller shelves.
The height of the anchor piece is again a similar height as decor pieces on the top shelf to help give a unified look to the display.
There is still movement within the design itself, as this display follows the same triangular design shape, just inverted.
Pretty smart!
#20) Rich & Rustic Farmhouse Shelf Decorations
Source: Pinterest
This well styled country farmhouse shelving has a rustic and relaxed feel.
I love the collection of wicker and frames on the top shelf, as well as the vintage decor pieces below.
Notice how this design alternates shapes beautifully, round clocks and frames next to square books and irregular ducks keep the design interesting.
Happy Shelf Decorating You Guys!
I really hope you guys found some design ideas and guidelines that will help you create a display that you’re proud of.
Don’t be afraid of a little trial and error. It’s common to play with pieces and placement for some time before landing on the one that you like the most.
And also, you might be interested in this post of DIY farmhouse shelves that you can build or make.
Once you start decorating them like a pro you might find yourself wanting them in more that one place. 😉
