You have beautiful built in bookshelves you want to style in your living room, but stare at blank shelves and wonder how? This is a design dilemma I have pondered before too! Below, I’ve outlined 12 things you need to help you decorate living room shelves like a pro.
As part of my design dilemma series, I have shared:
– 7 ideas to help you decorate above your kitchen sink
– 13 ways to decorate above your bed
– 9 ways to decorate above your toilet.
–7 elements to balanced dressertop design
This got me thinking- what other tricky household spaces do you have that need decorating? And just as I was planning my next DIY project (built in bookshelves) for my living room, my gears started turning.
I think shelving can be a great option not only to feature eye catching decor, but also add functionality and storage. To decorate your shelves, you could keep the decor clean and simple, or mix in pops of color with candles or greenery. Shelves make it easy to add personality to your space.
I turned to my Instagram & Pinterest communities to see how everyone has decorated their living room shelves to gather ideas and inspiration. Stay with me as I share 12 of the best items to use to decorate living room shelves.
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1. Books
Bookshelves with no books.. kind of a pet peeve of mine. I’m always here for a good decorative moment, but I don’t think you can have bookshelves without, well, books. Not all of the books I plan to style my shelves with are personal books I have read. The majority on display are thrifted or passed down from my grandparents.
I’m not saying you have to become a literary genius, or spend a lot of money to buy brand new books. You just need some kind of books on your shelves.
Coffee table books can be a great option too. A few of my favorites are linked here, including:
-A travel book of somewhere you’ve been. My personal favorites are Mykonos, Chicago and Italy.
2. Family Photos
Family photos can add personality and life to your space, which is something I’ve tried to incorporate as I have decorated our Riverdale Ranch. I urge you to do what makes YOU happy, not your guests or the internet (no matter how tempting). Your goal should be creating a space that brings you joy. Every time I walk past photos from our engagement, wedding, and travels it makes me smile and that’s what our homes should be about!
3. Decorate Your Living Room Shelves With: Art
The possibilities here are truly endless. You can bring color and personal style into your living room by leaning art against your shelves.
My personal favorite source for art is Collection Prints. You can buy the downloadable image and print it yourself at a big box store, a local print shop, or buy the print matted and framed already. They have a great selection that changes seasonally, and is such an affordable option for both on trend and classic prints. Check it out here. They are offering a 50% off sale right now.
Don’t have the budget to spend money on art at the moment? No problem! Try your hand at DIY textured art following an easy step by step tutorial, or DIY Intaglio art on a budget!
4. Pottery
I love the look of pottery as decor. Especially if you can support local artists along the way. Some great pottery options to decorate living room shelves include vases, bowls, and ginger jars.
Time for a quick lesson in the history of vases- do you know the difference between Ginger Jars and Temple Jars? I used to call any piece of pottery in an urn shape a Ginger Jar. However, that is inaccurate. Ginger jars are typically round and wide in the “shoulders” with a flat topped lid. They were used to carry and store spices in Ancient China.
Everything else is technically a Temple Jar. Temple jars are historically rounder near the top, and get narrower toward the bottom. The lid is round, with a pointed protrusion at the top. They were first used as urns, but eventually used to carry herbs and spices as well. The more you know!
5. Baskets & Boxes
Baskets and boxes can add texture and functional storage to your shelves. Whether they stay decorative, or serve as a home for unsightly items you need kept safe.
Speaking of baskets, they are something I ALWAYS look for when thrifting at my favorite antique shops or Estate sales! Here’s a list of 10 things I always buy when thrifting if you’re curious.
Never shopped an estate sale? Or wondering how to find them? I spill all my shopping tips and tricks here to help you score amazing secondhand finds.
Still need convincing that you should be shopping secondhand? I outline 5 reasons to thrift home decor here to fight the fast furniture trend. Your home, pocketbook, and the planet will thank you.
6. Decorate Living Room Shelves With: Mirrors
Mirrors are historically a great way to make a space feel larger. They are possibly the second best option behind a window to visually add square footage. They reflect light and will open up your room. Mirrors are a great idea, especially if you have a smaller living room with limited natural light.
7. Greenery
I was once told that the color every room needs is black, and I think the same could be said for a pop of green. Whether floral, faux or real, adding greenery can breathe life into any space.
And remember, there is no shame in the faux game. Know your limits. If you are busy and don’t need another thing to do or take care of, get a realistic looking faux plant and call it a day.
8. Plates
Using vintage plates can help achieve a grandmillenial style look, which is definitely trending. Take what is old, and make it new again! Blue and white is classic, but I also like clean white plates in different shapes and sizes.
Test time! Can you tell which vases are Ginger jars and which are Temple jars?
9. Decorate Living Room Shelves With: Candlesticks & Candles
One of my favorite things to thrift are unique candle sticks. There are so many options! The key is to picture vintage candlesticks cleaned up and/or painted. See past the dingy exterior to visualize their full potential.
Depending on your style you can find pretty glass candlesticks, antique brass, and larger wooden ones. For antique brass, I have had great luck cleaning them up with a rag and some BarKeepers Friend. You could always spray paint wooden ones to match your style, or sand them down for a natural raw wood look.
*Decor tip- you should always style in threes! I typically pick up candlesticks when I can find a group of three that go together.
10. Trinkets
We all have those family heirlooms, souvenirs, or decorative thrifted finds laying around just waiting to be dusted and displayed. Living room shelves are a perfect place to show them off. Trinkets can add personality and tell a story. Just be sure to keep sizing in mind- too many small items and your shelves can end up looking junky. Too many big items, and it may appear that all your objects are fighting for the spotlight.
I was once given advice that something interactive is a great touch to styling a coffee table. I think the same could be said for decorating living room shelves. Think a wooden tic-tac-toe board, chess board, hourglass timer… the sky is the limit.
11. Round things
Since shelves are typically square, it’s important to off set all the boxiness with round shapes. You can include items such as clocks, globes, and bowls to achieve contrast.
In the inspiration picture above, she has incorporated a round sculpture and a magnifying glass, along with round vases filled with greenery.
12. Little Lamp
Mini lamps are such fun accessories. Even if you don’t have access to a plug, you can use the puck light hack to bring light and warmth to the space.
I’ve linked some of my favorite little lamps for you to shop- they are so affordable! There’s no excuse not to add a homey glow to your living room shelves.
I have covered 12 perfect items to help you style and decorate living room shelves. A few other tips to help pull together an effortlessly cohesive look include mixing textures, playing with height, featuring an item or two as the “star” of the show, varying height, and including different materials.
The possibilities are endless but I’m confident you can style your way to the perfect #shelfie.
