By Bed Threads Interiors 28.07.2026

How to Style a Shelf Like an Interior Designer in Just 4 Steps

A well-styled shelf can bring a whole wall to life.

You know the impeccably styled shelves inside the impeccably styled homes on Instagram and Pinterest and websites like the one you're on right now? They didn't happen by accident.

Behind every beautifully styled shelf you'll find (not literally) a professional interior designer, or at least a naturally skilled amateur, who has selected and arranged every item just so, and created a sense of harmony and functionality where there would otherwise only be a haphazard assortment of stuff gathering dust and inspiring exactly no one.

"Shelves can be one of the harder spaces for people to style," says interior stylist and decorator Claudia Stephenson.

She says shelf styling is an intuitive process, and one that involves a lot of trial and error – which is probably why it can be so fun to do.

"I think different shelves call for different styling," she says. "The shelves themselves can dictate placement and curation, with chunky wooden shelves styled differently than a slim marble shelf."

Whether you're working with a vintage Ladderax wall system or a simple marble mantle or even a space-saving floating shelf installed in a narrow hallway, a well-styled shelf will elevate the mood of any room.

Elements of a well-styled shelf

According to Claudia, a well-styled shelf can help balance out a room and bring a wall to life. Avoid repetition and uniformity, she notes:

"Unless you're a pro and can create a great cerami-situation en masse, avoid too much of one style of object."

It's also important to avoid only using items that are 'on trend'.

"Make sure that some of the items speak to your individuality or family in some way," Claudia tells Bed Threads Journal.

As you're styling a shelf at home, there are four design elements to keep in mind:

Mood: "The items should be ones you love looking at," Claudia says, "items that make you happy or satisfied, ones that don't need to be used every day."

Shape: "Aim for pleasing shapes created by the objects," she says. This is where standing back and assessing your progress comes in.

Texture: Opt for a mixture of textures. A glossy handblown glass vase beside an unpainted ceramic sculpture creates both depth and balance.

Tone: One element that benefits from consistency, rather than variation, is colour. "Ask yourself: do you want to create a tonal earthy moment, or do you feel like you need some bursts of colour?"

How to style a shelf like a pro

1. Polish, prep and pick its purpose

First, remove everything and give every surface a good wipe and polish. "I always start with a blank canvas," Claudia says. "Remove it all!"

Next, establish the purpose of the shelf. Is it decorative (form), or practical (function), or both? Once you've done this, you can start curating your items.

To decide which items to put on the shelf, start by focusing on the function of the shelf.

"If a shelf is purely decorative, then ideally have things that aren't everyday practical things on there like books, ceramics, art, candles," says Claudia.

"However, if it's a hall table situation, it makes sense to include those more practical items as well, like a key dish – just make it a beautiful one. You can also use practical items that have some weight, like a coin jar, as bookends."

2. Add form to function

Now that you've started with 'function', you can add 'form'.

"If the bowl is low-lying, add some height either with a book stack and object atop, or a decorative vase or indoor plant," Claudia says.

"Remember you don't need to fill up every inch of space, so make sure each element has room to breathe, and that there is space between each item or cluster of items.

"At the same time, while it's important to edit, don't be afraid to overfill the shelf initially, as you can always edit down. It's not always about having all your 'best things' on display all at once. I have a 'holiday cupboard' where things rest for a month or so until I get them out again to restyle a space."

3. Bring the books in

If you have multiple books that need to be displayed, opt for multiple stacks of varying heights and orientations.

"Build one small stack of four or five books with their spines facing out, and then a few standing against a bookend or heavy vessel to finish that cluster," Claudia says.

4. Step back and scan

"As you're placing the items, stand back and assess the shelves every now and then," Claudia says.

"Are there differences in height? Is there textural interest? Is there too much of one thing, i.e. are there a lot of books and barely any sculptural objects? Continue to edit and shift things around until you feel satisfied."