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When it comes to styling shelves for our home decor, many assume that the only decorative objects to use on shelves are books, vases, plants, family photos, artwork and small decorative accessories. These are standard shelf styling items, but I know of a few more that you may not have thought of.
To help you make the most of your shelves and bookcases, I gathered some creative shelf inspiration or shelfie ideas that are not only easy to do, but will add color and personality to your decor.
Table of Contents

Decorative Edge Trim For Shelves
Adding shelf trim falls into the decorating category I call the “little details“. These details when decorating a home can make a big difference. They are not really needed, but can make something look so much better.
This shelf styling tip is my favorite easy trick.

Adding a decorative element on the outer edges of shelves can make a boring bookcase or shelving unit come to life.

Using ribbon to do this is the easiest way, but consider how wood trim molding bought at the home improvement store would look across each shelf.
Adding trim of any kind will take a plain bookcase up a few notches on the style scale.

Narrow craft store ribbon attached to the shelves in a pantry closet using decorative nail head tacks.

The shelf edges in this linen closet were gouged and rough. Something the builder of the house just painted over.
To hide it without having to sand and repaint. I added white grosgrain ribbon the same width as the shelf edge and attached it with tacks.
Doing this was not necessary, but every time I opened the closet, I smiled to see something pretty instead of ugly.

For open storage shelf styling on a budget, use dollar store baskets or cover shoeboxes with decorative paper in the way of maps or leftover wallpaper from another project.
I used purple ribbon and white thumbtacks to add a pop of fun color to the open shelves.

If you are crafty you can make DIY trim from paper to decorate the front edge of open shelves in holiday or any style you want.

If you like to be organized, you can add clear plastic label clips to the front edge of shelves.
This can done on any shelf. They will help you easily find everything at a glance and will keep the shelves organized since you will know exactly where to place them.

Decorate Open Shelving Using Backdrops
Open shelves, cabinets and bookcases in a living room, bedroom or home office can become one of the most decorative elements in a room.

Instead of focusing on what to place in open shelves or bookcases, think about how adding a colorful or patterned backdrop to the back of the shelves can make the items in front of it look even better.

I make my shelf backdrops using corrugated cardboard or dollar store foam boards and choose what I wrap them with depending on the color scheme of the room.

There is another nice aspect of adding a shelf backdrop when using the same wallpaper or wall paint color that a bookcase is on. It can make a closed back bookcase or shelf look like it has an open back.
This can create a focal point and make the bookshelf or shelves look really nice when viewing the wall with the bookcase as a whole.

I have even made shelf backdrops for a medicine cabinet in my previous home to add a pop of color and pattern.
To find out how I make the backdrops, head over to this blog post:

Consider Neutral Shelf Decor to Add Impact

Create instant impact on open shelves by displaying a collection of similar objects or using items all in the same color.
Having many items on your shelves that are all the same color makes the overall impression look less cluttered and more styled.

Office Shelf Styling Ideas

When it comes to office bookshelf decor, sometimes you may need the shelves to be purely functional to hold printer paper, files, etc without using any decorative accessories.
If this is the case for you, then add color to the organizers you have. Plain cardboard file holders can be covered with gift wrap to add style. Shoeboxes can become decorative boxes in which to hold smaller items.
Store printer papers in low sided rectangular baskets. Make the most of everything with square shapes by stacking them.
Use the top shelf for the non-functional items where they will add to the overall look of the open shelves or bookcase, but not be in the way.

As you can see, shelf styling doesn’t always have to be about adding decorative items to the shelves.
Take a look around your home to see if any of the shelves or bookcases could use a little detail or infusion of color.

Shelf Filler Ideas

Decorative Objects for Shelves
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