Open shelving, while gaining popularity, has its downsides. Whether it’s open shelving in the kitchen or a bookcase in the living room, it can easily look cluttered and outright unappealing. This trend isn’t going anywhere, however, so here are a few tips to help you style open shelves in any area of your home:
- Eliminate visual clutter
Baskets and boxes are perfect vessels for capturing all of the little bits and bobs that need to remain accessible but don’t need to be seen. This step alone will make your shelves look much tidier. To make is easy on yourself, make sure you’re grouping categories of items together. For example, baking utensils can be kept in one basket in the kitchen, while Tupperware lids go in another. Baskets and boxes can also add subtle accents to your room’s décor, so make sure they match your style and color palette. - Make a Collection
Does everything on your shelves have a designated place, or are things simply thrown together? When organizing your shelves, think about grouping like items into a collection. For example, storing your glassware together suddenly creates visual interest of different shapes, heights and sizes. In the living room or office, books can be arranged by color or size. Place some of your favorite accent pieces between the books in a row or on top of a stack of books to add additional interest. - Find Balance
Finding the balance in the décor of your shelves is the fun part. First, think in terms of “visual weight.” Chunky or dark items appear “heavier” to the eye than crystal or light-colored pieces. Arrange your shelves in odd numbers. For example, place three heavy items strategically throughout the shelving in a zig-zag down and across. Fill in with lighter items in the same manner. Then use a mixture of smaller items that are both visually heavy and light to artfully fill in the nooks. It’s best to leave some breathing room on your shelves, if possible, by leaving a few open spaces. It may take a bit of arranging and re-arranging, but eventually you’ll find the balance that’s right for you.
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