Decorating with Shelves

Have you ever thought of using your book shelves for more than just books? These very functional pieces can be a great resource for a wonderful decorating scheme for any room. Think “outside the shelf”, so to speak, Or should I say “Outside of the Book”. We all have some built-ins, bookcases, shelves or even decorative wall ledges, in our homes and there are as many ways to accessorize shelves as there are things to accessorize them with.


There are so many different types of shelves, they correspond with just as many items that you can focus on while decorating with those shelves. Maybe it is your favorite collection that can be highlighted on a mantle shelf – one that looks like crown molding. Or maybe you have some old quilts that have been handed down in your family. A really fun way of displaying them is to fold them neatly and lay them on the shelves of the book case. Taking another shelf and highlighting a family member who made them, would add a fun touch to your display.

What about something you are passionate about? Shelves are a great place to highlight that passion. Maybe you have painted a great landscape or taken a wonderful photo while on vacation. Instead of just hanging it on the wall, why not highlight it by placing it on a shelf?

Do you enjoy the beach during the summer? Then using a shelf or two to highlight some wonderful shells, starfish, or even a lighthouse or two – is a fun way to capture some of those wonderful summertime moments and have them live on in your home for months to come.

You might want to think about grouping items with like theme, color, shape or texture together. You might also want to think about grouping some photos together on shelves or mantle instead of around the room on the wall. This can make more of a statement than when scattered on the wall.