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Project Design: Easy Steps to Style Your Shelves

February 22, 2018 By Mary Ann Pickett 28 Comments

Styling shelves are something I enjoy doing.  So, I am REALLY excited about this latest Project Design with regulars Rough Luxe and Most Lovely Things and two other favorite designers…Design Indulgence and Driven By Decor!!!

Thanks for visiting if this is your first time here!  Here are my 10 easy steps to decorating shelves.

STEP ONE  Empty all the shelves (might as well dust while you are at it).  This is very important.  Then, put all your accessories on your dining room table or floor.

These are our bookshelves BEFORE we moved in…

STEP TWO  Make the shelves more uniform like I did here.  I left some space for larger items, but they are the same on the right and left.  Sometimes you have to remove some shelves.

STEP THREE (OPTIONAL)  Paint or wallpaper the backs of the shelves. (Mine are painted, Benjamin Moore Sterling).

Now you are ready to go!

STEP FOUR Layer art or larger family photos at the back of shelves.

Note:  Those books turned backward are really more like props for texture.  My favorite design books are turned around to see the titles.  And we have lots of our favorite hardbacks with visible titles on shelves in the guest room.  I share my paperback books with others (the good ones) so I don’t keep them.  And nowadays everything is available to read online…that is how my husband mostly reads books.

STEP FIVE  Display collections together, like these vintage bottles.  Flea markets are great places to hunt for unique items for your shelves.  The drawing of the lady also came from a flea market for around $20.

STEP SIX  Fill in with books.

STEP SEVEN  Make sure your items are pulled forward and not pushed to the back.

 STEP EIGHT  Add plants or flowers if you like (I used real quince branches and faux ferns from Pottery Barn).

STEP NINE  Just an idea...add flickering electric candles for a night-time effect. I placed mine in carved coconut shells that I brought back from vacation.  The candles from Pottery Barn are on timers (not cheap but more realistic and nice to come home to).

Step Ten  Pour yourself a glass of wine or sparkling water.  Return to the shelves.  Make some little adjustments.  Say to yourself  “D*#@ I’m good!”

You can see more of our homes in San Francisco and Newport Beach here.

Now please go see what these very talented ladies advise!!!  I can’t wait to pop over myself!

Design Indulgence 

Driven By Decor 

Most Lovely Things 

Rough Luxe

 

​Also, we would love to see your shelfies on Instagram #projectdesignhome

Related posts:

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Filed Under: Decor Tips, Design, Our Home, Our San Francisco apartment, Uncategorized

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Douglas says

    March 5, 2018 at 7:16 pm

    Love, love, love the idea of putting family photos on the back of the shelves

    Reply
  2. Kerri Hansen says

    February 28, 2018 at 12:52 pm

    So helpful! Loved every shelf!

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      February 28, 2018 at 4:48 pm

      Thanks so much, Kerri.

      Reply
  3. Lisa says

    February 27, 2018 at 6:58 am

    I love this series Mary Ann! These are such great tips, especially #10!! I struggle with this so much for some reason (particularly in my own house). I’m going spruce up my shelves after reading your ideas!

    Reply
  4. Carla Aston says

    February 24, 2018 at 6:51 am

    You have such lovely accessories and books for styling. Love the coral and natural elements too.

    Reply
  5. Carol says

    February 22, 2018 at 7:53 pm

    Lovely shelves, except for the backwards books. I don’t think they add texture – they make me think style rather than substance and make me all judge-y. 🙂

    Reply
  6. shannon a says

    February 22, 2018 at 5:04 pm

    Hi Mary Ann, Love your blog and always look forward to all your posts. I just saw your post on your moms birthday and while watching TV I saw a local car dealership commercial ( I live in San Diego) and I am wondering if by any chance your mom appeared in a TV commercial??? I thought she was so darn cute in the pictures and then seeing that commercial a few hours later…….
    Thanks for your interesting blog!
    Shannon A

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      February 22, 2018 at 5:09 pm

      YES! Shannon, that was my mom for a Scripts commercial (not a dealership). Every time it comes on when I am in SD we always rewind it to watch it again.
      WHAT A GOOD EYE YOU HAVE 🙂

      Reply
  7. LA CONTESSA says

    February 22, 2018 at 4:07 pm

    LOVELY DETAILED ON A HOW TO!
    Loved the VIDEO……..it was VERY SHORT RIGHT?
    AMBIANCE GALORE!

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      February 22, 2018 at 5:10 pm

      Yes…really short just to show the flicker. I love not having to worry about anything burning up 🙂

      Reply
  8. Catherine says

    February 22, 2018 at 3:38 pm

    I love the addition of the symmetrical elements on the middle two shelves. I think that makes all of your shelves look more sophisticated and purposeful. The quince branches are beautiful, and your idea of using flickering lights on timers is charming.

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      February 22, 2018 at 3:42 pm

      I came home after dark last night, Catherine, and it was so nice to have them flickering there and on our mantel. 🙂

      Reply
  9. Mindy Rosenberg says

    February 22, 2018 at 2:55 pm

    Damn, YOU are good Mary Ann!

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      February 22, 2018 at 3:42 pm

      Ha! Mindy, you are the floral designer extraordinaire!!!

      Reply
  10. Karen B. says

    February 22, 2018 at 1:28 pm

    Mary Ann,
    I’m such a fan of this series. I always come a way inspired and your shelves look fabulous.
    Thank you for hosting this party.
    xo,
    Karen

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      February 22, 2018 at 3:43 pm

      Thanks for being here, Karen!!

      Reply
  11. Patricia says

    February 22, 2018 at 12:27 pm

    The shelves look absolutely beautiful ! You make something that is very hard for many people seem easy with your great explanations and photos ! I love those flickering battery operated candles also – Costco has an amazing price for them – the cheapest I ever saw ….Only problem is they only seem to have them at the end of November to the beginning of December but they are a great bargain when they have them !!

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      February 22, 2018 at 3:45 pm

      That is a great tip, Patricia. I have the other, cheaper ones and they don’t look as good as the ones with the wavy wicks. Now we have to wait unitl November!

      Reply
  12. Teresa Cunningham says

    February 22, 2018 at 11:32 am

    Nice!

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      February 22, 2018 at 3:45 pm

      So are you!

      Reply
  13. Gail storti says

    February 22, 2018 at 9:27 am

    Shelf styling from my favorite bloggers…what could be better! It’s definitely time for a restyle of my shelves and with all this great advice, they should look…fabulous? I hope!
    A trip to a few stores and shopping in my basement should do the trick.
    Thank you!
    xo Gail

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      February 22, 2018 at 3:46 pm

      And show us your shelves, Gail… #projectdesignhome 🙂

      Reply
  14. annie says

    February 22, 2018 at 8:58 am

    Mary Ann! I love how you changed this built in and made it work so beautifully in your space by adding the marble top table and the vintage jug of quince branches with a mirror. Everything looks so fresh and pulled together perfectly! Love your collection of bottles and of course real art in this space makes it perfect!
    xo
    annie

    Reply
  15. Taste of France says

    February 22, 2018 at 8:49 am

    Good advice and beautiful results.
    The marble on that demi-lune table is the same as my kitchen counters! It is from a quarry in Caunes-Minervois, in the south of France. It also appears in the Garnier Opera in Paris. (And if you ever see wine from Minervois, give it a try–it’s excellent.)

    Reply
  16. cindy hattersley says

    February 22, 2018 at 8:33 am

    Your shelves are positively ethereal. They are so you. You are a master…I am bowing! Love all the elements you have added. What a group! I am so excited! Loved all of them!! So original. I have to come see these lovely shelves in person and up close soon!

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      February 22, 2018 at 4:01 pm

      YES! I wish you would come visit! See you Sunday!

      Reply
  17. Kathy says

    February 22, 2018 at 8:19 am

    Always lovely and perfect. Great inspiration. Love this series😊👍

    Reply
  18. sherry hart says

    February 22, 2018 at 7:38 am

    Damn….I forgot step 10!!! Ha ha my fav! There are a few things on your shelves that you need to send to me when you are tired of them! So pretty and would I love to have a pretty shelf in the middle of mine for some branches. And now I kinda wish I could adjust mine:( It is all beautiful Mary Ann and thank you so much for including me with the “cool kids”…..

    Reply

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