How to decorate shelves in the living room? Ideas for a successful project

Living room shelves should be designed so that they are both functional and improve the overall appearance of the space. See our ideas for shelving decorations that will help you turn an empty place into a carefully selected element of the arrangement.

How to make the shelves look good?

Always start decorating the shelves with the highest one! This is where the most add-ons will be located. All you need to do is leave some space on the sides and complete the rest with your favorite decorations. In order for everything to match well, it is worth using elements of different heights - do not leave everything on one line - let it be different!

After decorating the top shelf, go to the one underneath it. Here we try to divide its decor into two equal parts. Let the space between them be empty - thus we will emphasize their separateness in a way. Here you can go crazy and use many decorative elements on different levels (e.g. put a holiday souvenir on books, put a small succulent on a box with small items). The most important thing is not to make unnecessary mess - it has to be clean and visually attractive.

And what's next? If you have more than one rack, just repeat the process! One shelf full length and the other one divided into two parts until they are all decorated. Works every time!

How to put things on the shelf?

1. A bit of asymmetry is not bad - arrangements in perfect symmetry will be more suitable for formal spaces, if you want the living room to look more cozy, put items on shelves in slightly different sizes.
2. Use the depth of the shelf - if your bookcase is deep, it is worth placing a few items closer to the wall, and other smaller items in front of them. Thanks to this treatment, your shelf will look much more interesting visually. However, remember not to overdo it with accessories - we avoid chaos!
3. Pay attention to the scale of the items - The space between the shelves is dedicated to the height and width of the decorations. If we have shelves with a lot of space between them, put on higher and wider decorations - smaller objects will get lost in such an arrangement. Smaller space between the shelves will look great with more subtle ornaments.
4. Always use odd numbers to group items - The most popular grouping is in threes and fives - e.g. 3 vases, 5 books - but if you have room, e.g. for 7 candles, let's do it!

What to put on the shelf in the living room?

Keep the shelves tidy with baskets

You should keep order on open shelves. In woven baskets or fabric containers, it will be easy to hide smaller items, and thus not to create unnecessary mess. Shelves with too many small accessories quickly become covered with dust and look very unsightly.

Bookcases with a touch of personality

There is nothing better to display on the shelves than personal photos. Your family's photos will add a lot of warmth to the living room. You can also choose e.g. wall paintings that reflect your style - retro, pop-art or minimalist. You can either put them on a shelf or, for example, hang them around it to create a gallery.

Also, remember to display accessories that are important to you, e.g. those brought from holidays or received for your birthday. Or are you a collector? The shelves can be used to highlight your favorite decorative items, such as ceramic vases, porcelain jugs or sculptures. It's good to be surrounded by things that make us happy!

Display your books

Books are a great help in decorating shelves. They can be arranged traditionally or in small piles, thanks to which it is easier to add height and structure to the entire exhibition. You can sort them by size, color or alphabetically.

Include decorations that harmonize with the colors of the living room

Make sure the shelf matches your room's décor. Take a look at it and choose the colors that you want to add to the shelf as well - e.g. the shade of the curtain, pillow or tablecloth. Decorations that are ideal for such a shelf complement are, for example, candles, which come in many color options.

Incorporate potted plants into the design

Plants are a must when styling shelves. Apart from the fact that they have a positive effect on our health and lift our spirits, they are also beautiful decorative elements. They will bring a touch of color and freshness to the arrangement. The most popular plants used to decorate shelves are succulents that do not require a lot of attention, so they are great for filling gaps that arise, among other accessories. Often on the shelves there are also decorative climbers, which not only look great in the highest place, but also grow well in virtually every stand.

Decorating the shelves in the living room is the perfect solution to add personality to your space. It is a place to show your creativity and accessories that evoke beautiful memories. Use some of our tips to decorate them, and you will have a living room you dream about.