Open shelving: it’s gorgeous, trendy, and completely unforgiving. Let’s be honest—those dreamy Pinterest kitchens and magazine-worthy living rooms make it look easy. But in reality, open shelves can easily go from “effortlessly styled” to “yard sale in progress” if you’re not careful.
So how do you strike that perfect balance between function and style? Whether you’re dealing with kitchen shelves, a living room bookcase, or floating shelves in the bathroom, here’s how to make open shelving work for you—not against you.
1. Start With a Clean Slate
Before you style anything, clear off your shelves completely, and wipe them down. Take a step back and look at the space. This isn’t just about cleaning—it’s about resetting. You want to approach your shelves with intention, not just add things back because they were there before.
2. Pick a Color Palette
One of the easiest ways to keep open shelving from feeling chaotic is to stick to a cohesive color palette. It doesn’t need to be matchy-matchy, but a little coordination goes a long way. Think soft neutrals, earthy tones, or even bold blacks and whites—whatever suits your style. A few pops of color? Absolutely. A rainbow of knickknacks? Maybe not.
3. Group in Odd Numbers
Styling in threes (or fives) is a well-loved design rule for a reason. Grouping items in odd numbers tends to feel more natural and visually balanced. Try a small stack of books, a plant, and a ceramic bowl together—it just works.
4. Mix Materials and Heights
To keep things interesting, layer different textures and materials—such as glass, wood, metal, ceramics, and woven baskets. Vary the height of objects too. For example, tall vases next to shorter stacks of dishes or a candle next to a small sculpture. This adds dimension and keeps the eye moving.
5. Use Negative Space
Don’t fill every inch of shelf space. Repeat after me: blank space is your friend. It gives the eye a place to rest and makes the pieces you display stand out more. If every shelf is packed, it feels more like storage than styling.
6. Bring in Some Life
Plants are shelf magic. A little greenery instantly softens hard lines and brings a sense of life and movement to the space. Opt for low-maintenance plants like pothos, snake plants, or air plants if your shelves are in trickier lighting.
7. Make It Personal (But Not a Shrine)
Yes, your shelves should reflect you, but that doesn’t mean displaying every souvenir from every vacation. Choose a few personal items—a framed photo, a meaningful piece of art, or that cool bowl you picked up in Morocco—and let them shine.
8. Rotate Seasonally
Open shelves aren’t permanent displays. One trick to keeping them fresh (and resisting clutter) is to change them up seasonally. Rotate in a few new pieces, swap out artwork or books, or add seasonal touches like candles in the fall or light ceramics in the summer.
9. Hide the Ugly Stuff (Smartly)
If your shelves double as storage, not everything needs to be on display. Use woven baskets, lidded boxes, or opaque containers to stash less aesthetically pleasing items. You get the function without sacrificing form.
The Bottom Line:
Open shelving is as much about editing as it is about styling. Be selective. Be intentional. Curate instead of clutter. And remember: if it feels overwhelming, it’s okay to take everything off and start fresh. Sometimes, a little breathing room is all your shelves—and your mind—need.