Shelf Styling
So you’ve just installed your beautiful new shelving from The Timber Line - give yourself a little pat on the back for making an excellent custom shelving choice! Now you have the fun task of styling up your new shelves, and finding that balance of beautiful and practical, decked out but not too cluttered. This can be a little daunting for some, but don’t worry! Our stylist Alex of The Styling Stories is here to help with the how-to’s
Kitchen Styling
Kitchen shelving is one of those spots that you can really take advantage of the practicality of extra storage, but also want to tread a fine line that you don’t leave your beautiful new shelves looking too cluttered.
First of all, gather up all the bits and bobs that you think you’d like to have on your new shelves. Some ideas for your kitchen shelves include:
- Cookbooks
- Chopping boards
- Fruit Bowl
- Cups
- Bowls
- Plates
- Cannisters
- Flowers
- Small plant
- Salt & Pepper
- Cannister of utensils
- A small artwork
Once you’ve got your items, have a play around with placement. Stylists (myself included) don’t always get it right first time - more often than not you find a completed look through trial and error. Try arranging your items in varying heights and shapes, draw the eye up and down. Did you know our brains will find this more aesthetically pleasing? This is called Visual Interest! You can achieve this by stacking a small amount of cookbooks horizontally, then maybe some taller flowers, then some shorter bowl stacks etc. Stand back, and have a look at what you’ve put together. More often than not, you can probably afford to take a thing or two away - less can be more.
Most importantly, make sure it’s something YOU love!
Living Room Styling
Living room shelves are such a great way to inject more of your personality and style in to one of your home’s gathering spots. The vibe can be completely transformed based on what you place on your shelves - think a Mid Century Modern vibe with records, whiskey, retro relics. Or maybe Scandi / Minimalist is your vibe with the timber being the warm element, and using minimal books, magazines, clear glass and a stem or two in a simple floral arrangement.
No matter what your style is, here are a few ideas of treasures you could include on your living room shelves:
- Books
- Plants
- Decorative bowls or boxes
- Magazines
- Bar items & bottles
- Art
- Vases / Flowers
- Candle
- Family photos
- Small wireless lamp
- Coasters
- Certificates, awards - anything you’re proud of
- Records
- Small textured basket with practical bits hidden away - remotes and controllers etc
Unlike the kitchen styling, this is probably a spot that showcases more special or styling specific pieces, unlike the utility of bowls, cups etc. Invest in a beautiful trailing plant that can draw the eye down. Get a couple of special family photos printed and framed, or treat yourself to some fresh or everlasting blooms for an injection of colour and texture. It’s also a good spot to hide away the less aesthetically pleasing gaming controllers, tv or aircon remote etc in a small basket. Gather things that make you happy, try stacking books both horizontally and vertically while using a decorative object as a bookend.
The great thing about living room shelves is that they can be switched up at anytime with simple styling changes. Who doesn’t love a little refresh!
Bathroom / Laundry Styling
Another space that’s probably more utility focused - but let’s still make it pretty, yeah? Some bathroom and laundry styling item ideas include:
- Amber glass bottles of cleaning sprays
- A small stack of handtowels or towels
- Glass canisters of washing powders or wooden pegs
- Small baskets to hold beauty & personal products
- A small plant
- Candle
- Fresh flowers or greenery
For shelf styling in these spaces, focus on ways you can neatly and practically store things that you use everyday that might not be so nice to look at on their own. Decant you laundry powder and cleaning sprays in to glass bottles, hide away sanitary products in baskets that you can easily reach for. Create a little stack of folded hand towels for texture and convenience.
Bedroom Styling
Our haven - a space to retreat of an evening, and hopefully in a bit of peace and quiet if you’ve got kids in the house! I like to keep bedroom styling to a minimum, to help foster that sense of rest and calm. Our minds are busy enough, our bedroom shelving doesn’t have to be too.I would be reaching for a beautiful incense holder, or a couple of scented candles. A small stack of my current reads on display (if colourful book spines aren’t your thing, turn them around the other way). A framed photo of dear ones or small artwork, and a trinket dish for my treasures.A list of styling ideas include:
- Framed photos
- Art
- Candles
- Incense
- Trinket dish
- A few books
- Simple floral arrangement
- Diffuser
Less is more for your sanctuary, keep it simple and sweet.
Kids / Nursery Styling
So you’ve kept things beautiful and serene on your bedroom shelving, now it’s time to have some fun in your kids spaces! A great opportunity to inject colour and personality, tailored specifically to your little person. Some kids and nursery styling item ideas include:
- Books
- Toys (you could go beautiful and minimal with wooden toys, or display their bright figurines and dolls etc)
- A small plant
- A special drawing or family photo on display
- Frames art print
- Small basket to contain practical baby items (creams, washers etc)
- Bunting
- Small shoes
- Lego creations
Especially for bigger kids, it’s important to toe the line between something that looks great but also something that they will love. If you’re going all out with colour and fun, maybe just keep the volume of items down so it doesn’t feel too busy. If you’re feeling brave, include your child in the styling process and have some fun with it. At the end of the day it is a kids room and they may likely want to shove every special rock, drawing and junky toy that they’ve ever collected up there. My best advice as a Mum of 3 - pick your battles! I have no doubt that one day we will miss the mess and chaos, shelves included.
