Shelf Decor: Where to Source + How to Layer

I posted an image of our first-floor study a few days ago and got quite a few questions on the shelves, so I thought it’d be helpful to share my favorite sources and tips for shelf styling here!

These shelves are still a work in progress, but I love slowly collecting and adding pieces that are unique and elevated, which can sometimes take time to hunt down. There are plenty of different routes when it comes to shelf styling, but I’ve found that I typically stick to a few main principles.

STICK WITH A THEME/COLOR PALETTE
It’s important to stick to a few specific colors within your shelves to make the styling look intentional and cohesive. You can definitely pull different tones and hues of those colors for more variety–perfection is boring! My shelves in the study include mostly neutrals: ivory, beige, brown, black, and brass.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BOOKS
Books are the anchors of shelf styling, the meat and potatoes, if you will. I start with the large display books first (this one is a new fave), stacking them vertically. Then, I fill other hardback books in horizontally, capped by a vase or bookend.

If you don’t have an expansive book collection, don’t worry. I bought a lot of mine at our local Savers and GoodWill for $1-$3 a book. Shelf styling does not have to be expensive.

One of the most important steps for getting a cohesive look when styling your books is removing the jackets. Most hardbacks have lovely covers with the titles printed in a neutral or metallic down the spine. If you’d like to use what you already have at home, create new jackets out of brown butcher paper or white wrapping paper for a uniform look. Or you can simply turn turn the book around so that only the pages show.

ADD HEIGHT & INTEREST
One of the biggest mistakes I see in shelf styling is not adding variation in height. You don’t just have to stack your books and bookends horizontally. You can use vases, art, plants and other found objects to stack and layer to create interest. I like to style shelves in 2-3’s. If you’re styling a few display books vertically with an object in the top left corner, trying mirroring that look in the bottom right as well.

SHOP VINTAGE
There’s nothing that provides more character than a collected piece with a story. I love shopping for smaller antique items like art, vases, lamps, and books at my local antique shops and online.

Some of my favorite places to find second-hand gems: Etsy, Ebay, Facebook Marketplace, One King’s Lane, and EBTH.

LOOK FOR STATEMENTS & UNIQUE FINDS
When I’m shopping for new pieces, I want them to count. Sometimes hunting for the perfect vintage piece can take longer than expected, so if you find something that fills a void and completes a shelf go for it!

Where I look for styling pieces: CB2, H&M Home, McGee & Co., Pottery Barn, and Amazon to name a few.