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!
Love, love, love the idea of putting family photos on the back of the shelves
So helpful! Loved every shelf!
Thanks so much, Kerri.
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!
You have such lovely accessories and books for styling. Love the coral and natural elements too.
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. 🙂
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
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 🙂
LOVELY DETAILED ON A HOW TO!
Loved the VIDEO……..it was VERY SHORT RIGHT?
AMBIANCE GALORE!
Yes…really short just to show the flicker. I love not having to worry about anything burning up 🙂
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.
I came home after dark last night, Catherine, and it was so nice to have them flickering there and on our mantel. 🙂
Damn, YOU are good Mary Ann!
Ha! Mindy, you are the floral designer extraordinaire!!!
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
Thanks for being here, Karen!!
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 !!
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!
Nice!
So are you!
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
And show us your shelves, Gail… #projectdesignhome 🙂
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
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.)
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!
YES! I wish you would come visit! See you Sunday!
Always lovely and perfect. Great inspiration. Love this series😊👍
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”…..