DESIGNER TIPS FOR BEAUTIFULLY ARRANGED SHELVES

DESIGNER TRICKS FOR BEAUTIFULLY ARRANGED SHELVES-stonegableblog.com

Have you ever looked at a hutch, bookshelf or even open shelves and thought, “How did they do that so fabulously and why can’t I”? Oh, me too! I’ve spent lots of time pouring over beautifully arranged shelves and have come to the conclusion…there are some things that designers do over and over again that make their shelves look over-the-top! And there’s no reason we shouldn’t use these tricks too! So I applied a couple of these easy-to-do tricks and they worked! My shelves got better and better!  And if they can do it so can I and YOU! So, today I’m sharing designer tricks for arranging shelves!

october-2016-reader-giveaway-vertical

home-style-saturdays

Today is HOME STYLE SATURDAY. That means I’m sharing one of my most popular posts from the past that help you decorate you home! Today’s post is all about making the open shelves in our homes look magazine worthy!

There is a treasure trove of fabulous home ideas and tons of tips and tricks to make your home the best it can be. Make sure to check out the posts from my blogging buddies at the end of this post.

 

DESIGNER TRICKS FOR BEAUTIFULLY ARRANGED SHELVES- We can do this! -stonegableblog.com

 

I’m showing you how I decorated my family room farmhouse hutch for fall… and share some designer tricks for arranging shelves like a pro!

DESIGNER TRICKS FOR BEAUTIFULLY ARRANGED SHELVES- We can do this! -stonegableblog.com

Here is the first of the two big take-aways from this post…

IF YOU WANT FABULOUS SHELVES DON’T USE THEM TO STORE YOUR “STUFF”

I know this sound counter intuitive because shelves are for storing things! Here’s what I’m saying… most of the time we need to decide how we want to use our shelves, hutches, and bookshelves that are in plain sight. Yes, we can store some beautiful things on them but we if fill them with “stuff” we can’t expect them to look like they came out of a magazine! 

If your shelves are part of your decor treat them as decor spaces!

DESIGNER TRICKS FOR BEAUTIFULLY ARRANGED SHELVES- We can do this! -stonegableblog.com

TRY A LIMITED COLOR PALETTE

DESIGNER TRICKS FOR BEAUTIFULLY ARRANGED SHELVES- We can do this! -stonegableblog.com

We all love and strive for shelves that look cohesive and “put together”. One great way to do this is to use only a very few colors to decorate them.

Choose one color that will be primary in your arranging. Then choose a couple other colors that complement that color! Or choose one neutral color and a big pop of saturated color used very sparingly!

Give this a try. It makes a huge difference! 

I used a primarily white and creamy white color palette with just a tad of galvanized metal and a little pop of brilliant fall orange.

DIVIDE YOUR SHELVES INTO A VISUAL GRID

DESIGNER TRICKS FOR BEAUTIFULLY ARRANGED SHELVES- We can do this! -stonegableblog.com

The easiest way to know where to place something on a bookshelf or hutch is to divide the shelves up visually into a grid. My favorite way to divide an area like the one above is a nine box grid! Boy, does that make decorating the entire thing easier!

DESIGNER TRICKS FOR BEAUTIFULLY ARRANGED SHELVES- We can do this! -stonegableblog.com

In my space above I decorated every box in the grid. This is not always necessary. Actually, it’s very good to let a box or two rest without anything in them. But, I’m such an over embelllisher that I can’t resist filling it all in! This is a case of do what I say… not as I do!

REPEAT ELEMENTS

DESIGNER TRICKS FOR BEAUTIFULLY ARRANGED SHELVES- We can do this! -stonegableblog.com

Just like we repeat element in decorating our homes, we should do the same with our shelves. Repeat color, metals, design elements, and textured.  Repeat elements on a diagonal, as shown above. Doing this will keep your eyes bouncing around your shelves and they will be so happy!

DESIGNER TRICKS FOR BEAUTIFULLY ARRANGED SHELVES- We can do this! -stonegableblog.com

Other repeated elements on my shelves are… pumpkins, bittersweet, fall leaves, milk bottle vases, platters, cake stands, game pieces and galvanized metal and groups of three.

VARY HEIGHTS

DESIGNER TRICKS FOR BEAUTIFULLY ARRANGED SHELVES- We can do this! -stonegableblog.com

This is a must for an interesting arrangement! Go tall and short and in between. Varying the heights of objects is pleasing to our eyes and keep them bouncing from one thing to another taking in everything on the shelves! 

Here’s the second big take-away from this post…

LAYER DECOR

DESIGNER TRICKS FOR BEAUTIFULLY ARRANGED SHELVES- We can do this! -stonegableblog.com

Learning to layer decor will really make a hutch or bookshelf look like it was done by a pro! Stand up plates in the back of shelves, add books as risers, tuck in seasonal decor. Stack, stack, stack!

DESIGNER TRICKS FOR BEAUTIFULLY ARRANGED SHELVES- We can do this! -stonegableblog.com

Layering decor adds depth and tons of charm!!!

It could be something as simple and easy and the pumpkins above. Instead of letting the trio stand alone, I put them in a galvanized metal container and put that on a small white platter. And to embellish this mimi vignette even more I added another repeated element to it… bittersweet! 

EDIT EDIT EDIT

DESIGNER TRICKS FOR BEAUTIFULLY ARRANGED SHELVES- We can do this! -stonegableblog.com

Before you call your decorated shelves “done” stand back and give the whole thing a good look. Then edit! And edit some more! I had lots of leaves in this arrangement and took most of them out. I like the edited, cleaner touch-of-fall look!

I am not a less-is-best kind of a girl, so this trick is always a little difficult for me! I am certainly not a minimalist! But I’m learning to be more discriminating!

DESIGNER TRICKS FOR BEAUTIFULLY ARRANGED SHELVES- We can do this! -stonegableblog.com

Print

Shabbyfufu | Styling A Mantel With Fresh Greenery

elegant-french-country-living-room-shabbyfufu

So Much Better With Age | Classic Black Halloween Mantel Decor

halloween-mantel-decor-5890

Stone Gable | Fall Styling

designer-tricks-for-beautifully-arranged-shelves-limited-color-palette-white-farmhouse-hutch-stonegableblog-com

Cedar Hill Farmhouse | My 25 Top Decorating Tips

study-tray-soft-surroundings

Designthusiasm | 12 Tips for Adding Fall Color to the Living Room

12 Tips for Adding Fall Color to the Living Room | Designthusiasm.com

Maison de Pax | Outdoor Fall Tablescape

maison-de-pax

This is the first fall for me to decorate the farmhouse hutch! What fun!!!!

You might like to follow me on Pinterest and see what I’m finding to pin evey day HERE!

pin-it-and-save-the-inspiration

 

DESIGNER TRICKS FOR BEAUTIFULLY ARRANGED SHELVES-stonegableblog.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

79 Comments

  1. Mary Kaiser says:

    Very Pretty. It looks like fall but still elegant. Lovely

    1. genie steger says:

      Oh I love your plan for decorating a hutch! I miss mine had to send it to my son’s!!! But my daughter in law does a great job! but I have a lovely old little hanging shelf with 3 shelves that I have had for 50 years and I treat it as my little hutch!!!!!!! You give me so many ideas with working what I have in my little cottage!!!!

  2. I find it so interesting that you can take ordinary items ( game pieces, golf balls, etc) and turn them into beautiful displays. I have a habit of throwing things away that I no longer use. I need to start looking at items with a different eye. I love your white cake stands. Since I started following your blog, I have been on the search for white cake stands. I have bought two, but they are both the same size. I need to look for different sizes. The funny part- my husband really thought I was going to put a cake on them. ?

  3. Lynn Dunkin says:

    Love the science behind this!! Love how you broke this down!! Thanks!
    Lynn

  4. Carol Thompson says:

    Your shelves are so beautiful and fun! I’m beginning to put my mind around these concepts and happily apply them. My eyes land on something simple and joyful in my home and I often say to myself, “thank you Yvonne.” You feel like a close friend.

  5. Love the use of different shades of white and the mixture of dufferent textures. Bittersweet gives the perfect pop of color.

  6. Nanci Kryzak says:

    Following your blog has given me the courage to create vignettes and to finally display some of the beautiful things I’ve collected for a lifetime. Thank you so much for your creative and supportive inspiration.

  7. I love the look of your shelves. I used to have built-in shelves at my previous house and loved to decorate them. Your ideas would have helped me so much. Now, in my current house, I have no shelves or open hutches. This post makes me want to go out and buy a shelf to decorate!

  8. Sarah Giammarino says:

    Beautiful and helpful!

  9. The idea of dividing the shelves into sections is brilliant! Thanks for the practical advice!

    1. Cathy, you can do this for almost any type of decorating! Break it down!

  10. Karen VanLoo says:

    Excellent tips! Decorating shelving can be very challenging, I love how you break it down and section it out, and then how you mix and match the elements. I truly needed to read this today! Thank you, have a lovely weekend!

  11. I have no open shelves, however I find i treat the inside as if they are open, so when they are opened they look put together. Thank you for posting.

  12. I am adding two shelves (small) in a reading corner and can use this advice. I know I will put some books on them, but need some other things to make it interesting. Thanks for this post.

  13. I remember this from last year when I was moving and it helped me design my pie safe.

    Amazing how simple, yet complicated, it seems to accomplish that ” designer look”- until we follow this method!!!

    Yours is gorgeous!!!!

  14. Good morning, Yvonne! Loved the clear explanation and “chart” to help readers who find decorating shelves difficult. I have been painting (canvases!) now for about six years and we are taught to section a canvas into “thirds” as well. It’s very true that if you want shelves to look attractive, you can’t really use them much for real storage unless lidded baskets are introduced. Have a great weekend!

    1. You are right! My bookshelves on either side of the family room fireplace is for storing books. I put them in baskets because I am not a fan of looking at tons of books in my shelves.

  15. Thank you for solving the shelf decor mystery!
    You broke it down perfectly now I get it 🙂

  16. Great tips, now I need to get busy!

  17. Your shelves are gorgeous! I love everything you did!! Thanks for the tip about the 9 square grido. Such a wonderful idea!

    One trick I like to use, is my cell phone!! Take a picture of what you’ve done then go back and look at the picture…..edit, edit, edit!!

  18. I had seen this from a previous post. I used your ideas to style my glass front kitchen cabinets. Thank you for all the wonderful ideas. Love your home.

  19. Cynthia Whitenght says:

    Love the help you always offer. I have a question with regard to cupboards. My pine corner cupboard in the kitchen has double glass doors. It feels boring and need some color to draw your eyes to it.

  20. Yvonne, You not only have the gift of design but the gift of teaching. This post was very helpful.

  21. Nancy Morris says:

    Just love your decorating, always helpful hints and tricks to make your home and now our home beautiful too. Thank You.

  22. I always love your shelves! I always study them to replicate the look. One thing I found is an interesting background helps too! I have a very old China cabinet and a barrister bookcase from my hubbys family that I would never paint but felt they were so dark inside. It just made it hard to see the items well. I love your bead board wall behind your shelves and felt it really helped brighten and add texture to your display. I bought beadboard wallpaper and hung it on the back of my cabinets and what a difference! I used double sided tape so I can always remove it without damage. It adds a brighter cleaner textured look to my displays! Wrapping paper can work too for a different look.

    1. You are brilliant Amy and so so right! Lighter colored background do show off the content of a hutch or shelf much better!

  23. Valerie Tingley says:

    I am off to rework my bookcase!

  24. Dawne Marie says:

    Love the post! I always have trouble with built n shelves. You are a great inspiration. Thank you.

  25. Although I tackle shelf styling more organically I guess you would say, I love your explanation and also the display! Those dominos really caught my eye…love them! Hugs Yvonne

  26. Love the simplicity yet classy look in your shelves. The idea of layering décor is quite helpful. I love your cream white look. I have several built in glass shelves. We have filled them with antiques and collectibles from our European trips. There’s color galore on some shelves, but I love it. They tell a story and memories of our trips and fun we had at bidding on usually cut glass items.

    1. Bev, I wouldn’t change a thing! You are telling a real story of your life in those shelves!

  27. Thanks Yvonne, another amazing post to learn from! I too have spent many hours in decorating books especially “Pottery Barn” trying to copy their shelf techniques for an eye catching display.Thanks again for breaking it down in sections, I also always do the odd number in objects so that it is an appealing design but I must say sometimes, buying three can get costly.

    1. Did you notice what my three groupings were? Pumpkins, white milk bottles and galvanized canisters. All very very inexpensive!

  28. Yvonne, I love your specific suggestions. Easy to follow to create a lovely to look at design. I love white and have been adding more to my home decor and arrangements. Thank you for the inspiration.

  29. Your shelves are beautifully decorated. I love the pop of orange. I tend to under decorate my shelves because I am a lazy duster.

  30. Comment from my friend Pinky: I have a shelf unit (my pagoda shelves) here in my office. And I just can NOT get them looking right. I need you to come here and HELP me!!!! I will try this method but…..Have a BEAUTIFUL weekend!!! XO

  31. Perfect timing with great inspiration! I’m struggling to decorate a bookcase in our LR. Thank you!

  32. I follow your blog religiously and love every post! The current trend towards creamy, greige rooms and decor is sophisticated and peacefully refreshing! However, I can’t help but see us in a few years saying, “Aughhh, what was I thinking! I have to have some COLOR!!” ?

    1. I know just how you are feeling Deb! However with neutral colors there is always an option to add color. AND neutral is a classic!

  33. Carol Elkins says:

    Thank you for explaining this in easy to understand directions! I can’t wait to put this to use in decorating my built-ins!

  34. Patti Kander says:

    Love the looks of your shelves, I will have to try a little less on my shelves. I get cared away sometimes.

  35. Great advice Yvonne. I need to remember to layer from front to back not just top to bottom (like stacking on top of books, etc).

  36. Yvonne, the overlay drawings along with your directions are most helpful. Thanks for the insight. I am off to look at my open shelves to see if they could benefit from this lesson.

  37. thanks so much for the shelf tips…yours are so pretty….

  38. Nan, Odessa, De says:

    Lovely. You gave such a good lesson on sectioning and editing the shelves!

  39. Nan, Odessa, De says:

    PS Did you buy your bead board already painted white or did you buy just the bead board and paint yourself?
    What color paint did you use, if you painted? I am debating the pre painted white bead board compared to just wood painting yourself WHEN I want white bead board. Your experience or opinion? Thanks for sharing.

  40. Good Morning Yvonne…I love your styling of this farmhouse hutch…white is such a beautiful serene color…following your blog helps me enjoy the day through mind,body and soul ! Thank you….Smiles…Anne

  41. You are certainly inspiring me to get rid of all of my mismatched books and make our shelves in our living room say something beautiful!! I am pinning so I don’t lose this post. Have a wonderful weekend.

  42. Beachpea3 says:

    Yvonne, Thank you for the grid and the arrows. Very helpful! Your exercise reminds me of Japanese flower arranging: “Heaven, Man and Earth” in threes.

    Happy Fall!

  43. I have an open hutch in my dining room that I
    used some antique books for height,dishes,metal
    and a wire basket.I like to do the traditional with
    a twist.Your hutch is very pretty with the white
    color palet.

  44. Thank you for the great post! I can’t wait to rearrange my shelves. 🙂

  45. Great tips. You make it sound so simple that I think I just might manage to do it.

  46. You are such an inspiration Yvonne … I have a tendency to get in a “rut” and stop thinking outside of the “box” or “room” as it were. Your pictures and comments are a tremendous help. Thanks for being “you”. Happy upcoming holidays if I don’t get back later to tell you.

  47. debkaplun@rochester.rr.com says:

    Yvonne, this is one of your best lessons ever! Thank-you for the grid and the arrows! It all makes sense and I struggle with shelves! Have a most beautiful day and thank-you for making my day!??????????

  48. Thank you for the grid advice! I always struggle with how to balance shelves!

  49. Love everything you mentioned !!!! What great information. So helpful.

  50. beautiful…would love tips on arranging bookshelves.

  51. I treasure your grid and use it all the time! My shelves now have never looked better! Thanks for all the tips. I have been using the grid since last time you posted it.Makes all the difference in the world!!!

  52. I love your design. I see a lot of white in designs around the web, what about us girls who like it more rustic and darker pallet. I have cherry wood cabinets and dark wood furniture. It’s a whole different look. Thanks for sharing tips.

  53. Mary Kay Swindlehurst says:

    Love these hints on how to arrange things on shelves! I’ve tried doing it on my own and it never looks “right”. Thanks!

  54. Connie Dees says:

    Good information. Beautiful arrangement!

  55. The domino’s are such an unexpected surprise! Makes me look through an entirely different filter when I look around my existing inventory of accessories. My options just quadrupled! Thanks, Yvonne.

  56. Lorraine Hitchcock says:

    This is one of the most informative and useful posts ever! We have beautiful shelves in the dining room and they never look “quite” right. The visual grid idea is perfect. Thank you, thank you!

  57. Thank you for this fabulous post. It was so helpful!

  58. Perfect timing for me to find this post. I just cleared books from my French oak bookshelf so that I can incorporate your design tips using unique pottery, baskets and other treasures from my travels in Europe.

  59. The grid is brilliant. If you have more tricks up your sleeve, please share!

  60. Thank you so much for the blog on open shelves. I have over the weekend gotten rid of at least a hundred plus books. I want to decorate it nicely and like it came out of a magazine. I want it easy on the eyes and to fit in with the decor I do have. I have some ideas already. So once again thank you for the very timely blog.

  61. Love this post! Thank you for the great info and breaking it down so simply like that!