Have you heard? Open shelves and built-in bookcases are a decor favourite, but do you have the right decor accessories to style your shelves yet?
I love browsing decor accessories for my home (it’s an addiction at this point) and many of the decor items I select are for the open shelves in my kitchen or the bookcase in my office.
I’m also planning to add a gold shelving unit in my living room, so I’ll definitely need to grab more decor accents for that too.
So I decided to put my love for decorating accents to good use to compile this list of 20 essential shelf styling decor items for you to browse when curating your shelf decor.
I’ve also thrown in some shelf styling inspiration to show how some of these accents can be displayed and grouped together for the best look.
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General Shelf Styling Tips
- Standalone vs. Grouping: Some objects look best on their own, while others present better grouped in twos or threes. Play around with grouping similar items to get the look you’re after while showcasing some standout pieces.
- What’s Your Vibe? Decide on your colour scheme (e.g. gold and white? black and white? neutrals? any accent colours?) and general aesthetic for your shelves (e.g. rustic? modern? bohemian? vintage? art deco?) so you can shop for your shelf decor in the colour and decor theme you’re after.
- Material: Consider different textures and materials for your shelves based on your theme. For example, do you want your items in porcelain? Stone or marble? Wood? Metal? Clay? Pick the materials that speak to you and don’t be afraid to mix things up a bit.
- Layering: Layering decor accents can bring more interest to your shelves; for example, stack a vase on top of a couple hardcover books or a stand instead of displaying the vase alone on the shelf. Layering also allows you to play with different heights of objects.
- Short vs. Tall: Don’t keep all of your objects at one level on the shelf; experiment with short, medium and tall heights of objects for visual interest.
Decorative Boxes
Decorative boxes are another weakness of mine. Whether alone or stacked, decorative boxes come in different shapes, materials and colours and are a must for shelf styling, IMO.
Hardcover Books, Bookends & Albums
Hardcover books in various sizes and colour combinations are great items for stacking one on top of another or displaying vertically side by side in your open shelf or bookcase. Take a visit to your local bookstore and grab some hardcover books on topics you want to share with cover colours matching your colour scheme.
If you prefer to display your books standing upright, consider grabbing some fun bookends to hold them up and add some interest.
If buying real books isn’t your jam, you can browse these stunning decor books and book boxes on Etsy that look great and won’t break the bank.
Photo albums are also a great item to display, especially the photobook albums that can be customized and printed in hardcover to feature family photos. Personally, I love creating my own photobooks and designed my own wedding album, honeymoon album as well as albums for each of my daughters to show their first year of life.
Framed Photos
Showcase your personal photos in beautiful frames that flow with your shelf decor for a more personal touch.
Tip: Layer different sized framed photos together for interest.
Glassware
Depending on where your shelves are in your home, you may want to add some glassware into the mix, like crystal drinking glasses or decanters. This would be a great touch for shelves in a dining room or office.
Greenery & Florals
Greenery brings a natural, earthy vibe to your shelf decor and can come in the real of faux variety. Florals can add a pop of colour to your shelf style.
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Abstract/Interesting Decor Objects
Add some abstract decorative objects for a more modern vibe in your shelves. For example, the infinity knot decor item is a fan favourite for coffee table and shelf styling in wood, resin or stone.
For more character, search out some unique or vintage finds to add as a focal point, like the brass telescope below.
Statues & Busts
Statues or busts of people or animals in different colours and materials are a great addition to your shelves – I personally love them most for an office built-in and have a couple already!
Candles & Candlesticks
Candles in different shapes or within votives are wonderful for shelves either grouped in threes or as standalone accents. Consider the artificial, battery operated variety to add some mood lighting without the fire risk; most faux candles come with remotes so you can turn them on from the comfort of the couch.
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Bowls
Metal bowls, wooden bowls, porcelain bowls – so many bowl options to consider for your shelf aesthetic! Bowls can be displayed empty or with decorative items inside, like decorative balls or lovely candies.
Smaller bowls look great on top of a stack of hard cover books as a trinket dish.
Glass Globes & Hourglasses
Globes are an easy item to add to your shelf for some whimsy. Consider a lone globe or grouping different sized globes together.
An hourglass is a brilliant traditional piece for a shelf or bookcase in your office.
Vases, Canisters & Ginger Jars
I can’t style a shelf without having a a vase, canister or ginger jar on it (my open kitchen shelves have all of these items!).
Vases and canisters are great for adding some height to your shelves or clustered in small, medium and large sizes for interest and come in all kinds of shapes, materials and colours for your decor needs.
Trays & Stands
Trays are perfect for grouping two or more decorative items together in a decor vignette, while stands are lovely for elevating vases or items you want to really highlight.
Consider trays and stands in wood, metal, acrylic, stone or mirror for the look and feel of your overall shelf aesthetic.
Glass Domes (Cloches)
Cloches are beautiful for highlighting any decor items that fit underneath it. They’re also useful for storing and protecting items you don’t want people putting their fingers on or would like to keep free of dust.
Grab some in various size to create a cloche cluster or add a single cloche to highlight a special item.
Must Have Kitchen Decor Accents
Browse these must have kitchen decor accents to decorate your kitchen countertops and shelves.
Artwork & Prints
Framed art brings some character to your shelves and is a reflection of what you enjoy viewing. Add some simple prints or your kids’ best artwork to a frame and show it off.
Tip: Buy a fun paint by number kit and make your own artwork!
Crystals & Natural Stone
Agate, crystal, marble, quartz – these natural items have simple beauty that makes them perfect for your shelf as bookends, paperweights, trays or unique decorative pieces.
Wicker & Baskets
For a more coastal or rustic vibe, add some wicker baskets or wicker decor items.
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Shells
If you love a coastal vibe, large shells, real or fake, can be a beautiful touch.
Apothecary Jars
I love apothecary jars in my decor because you can add anything to them to suit your vibe or the season.
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Signs
If you love a funny or inspiring sign, or enjoy the traditional farmhouse look, a sign is a fun touch.
Tip: Etsy is a great place to find personalized signs in wood and acrylic options for your shelf design.
Mirrors
Mirrors, whether displayed upright or as a mirrored tray reflect light and give a hint of glam to your shelves.
Which decorative accents will be on your shelves this year?
And don’t forget to hit the follow button on my “Home Decor Accessories” Pinterest board below for more decor ideas for your kitchen, bedroom, living room and more.
