Shelfies Are the New Gallery Walls – Shelves Decor Ideas

What are Shelfies? How Can I Decorate My Shelves? Bookshelves are the new gallery walls. Get inspired with these Shelfies Shelves Décor Ideas.

Shelfies Shelves Decor Ideas

You heard it here first, mmm-kay? Shelfies.  Shelfies are the new gallery walls and learning to display your “stuff” can express more about yourself than you realize.

What are Shelfies?

Shelfie is an amazing picture of a shelf. It’s top notch shelf decor ideas to show off off someone’s books, movies, art, collectibles, special belongings, etc. A shelfie displays completed bookcase decor with aesthetically pleasing design and home decor ideas.

How Can I Decorate My Shelves?

It’s easy to decorate shelves. Mix up the size, orientation, and shapes for visual interest. Begin with collectables and home décor that tell a story of oneself. This can be family heirlooms, travel souvenirs, favorite books, photographs and more. When you have collected pieces that tell your story, place them all together on a table for easy assembling. You want to begin with a cleaned off shelf.

There is a formula for decorating shelves. When searching for things to put on its important to mix larger and smaller items, as well as textures. Try to keep complementary colors together (i.e. Navy blues and lights blues, blacks and whites.) Your shelves need to produce layers. Backgrounds and foregrounds. Remember simple is more. When you create a cluttered shelf, the story is lost and no longer told.

A few shelf décor ideas include the tips…

• Start with larger items and then add touches of smaller items (high and low)
• Use a triangle formula for bringing yourself together
• Mix textiles and consider contrast and texture
• Create layers (photo in back, vase in front, small décor piece beside)
• Mix in greenery to give life
• Arrange in odd numbers – pair things in sets of 3, 5, 7…
• Place collections together like candle sticks or glass bottles
• Pull elements forward on the shelf (not pushed back)
• Add lighting without hiring an electrician to highlight favorite pieces

Once you have decorated bookcases, look for areas where the are gaps or missing pieces. To fill these spots, it is time to visit a flea market, thrift store, or your mother’s china cabinet (please ask her first). You can even visit home good stores like Michaels, T.J.Maxx, Home Goods and more. I have even used the internet or Facebook Marketplace to look for treasures from favorite countries I have visited (i.e. India, Singapore, Mexico and more.)

Whatever your personal style, perhaps you’ll feel inspired when challenged by your next bookshelf organizing endeavor!

Bookshelves Decor Ideas

Before we get started with these amazing Shelves Decor Ideas, take a look at these related posts…

• Ikea Billy Bookcase Hack Ideas
• Creative Reading Corners for the Home
• How to Wallpaper Built In Shelves – The Easy Way!

Zebra stripes, bright pinks, and neon greens… The bookshelf styling in this home office offers a touch of Kate Spade-esque style!  | Source

Guess what!?! It’s okay to break the rules shelving books spine in. Turn your books around to keep with a neutral color pallet using beige, white and off-white colors. No judging a book by it’s cover with these backwards books on shelf décor. | Simple Home Simple Life

Consider painting the back of bookshelves the same color as the walls, allowing the white frame of the book shelf to pop.  Break the rules for decorating shelves and keep all your books horizontal, grouped by color with small accessories dispersed throughout. | Amanda Reynal on Martha Stewart

When it comes to the art of styling bookshelves, add accessories in various heights. By adding small decorative elements in front of, next to or even on the books you create a diverse whole. | New England Home Mag

Try to find a cohesive color scheme or let your True Colors shine through, like a rainbow (yes, I meant the pun.) Get inspired by this ombre bookshelf décor idea. | The Guardian

Speaking of color coding books for display, try this fun idea. Organize each shelf individually. For instance, keep warm colors on the right, cool on the left, and neutral in the middle. The end product will make the color coding vertical. | Up to Date Interiors

Have grandmillenial taste? Style with your favorite coffee table books and hide your magazine vices with artwork and sketches. | Coastal Home

Have a built-in can be quite expensive unless working with something like a DIY Billy Bookcase Design. If DIY isn’t your think, try a floating bookshelf like Clear Acrylic Bookshelves. (This is what we used in my sons room and they look amazing!) | Source

Organize books by the color of their spines to create color-blocked bookshelf décor. Vary heights and create interest by stacking books horizontally as well as lining them up vertically. If you have volumes that don’t fit with the others, turn their spines to face the wall so only the pages are visible. | BHG

I am swooning over this gorgeous Grandmillenial French country style bedroom with double built-in bookshelves surrounding a gorgeous vintage mirror. Makes me want to lay in bed on a rainy day. | Source Unknown

This home library design includes a beautiful art overlay bookshelf. All the books are vertical but there are beautiful horizontal elements mixing in china and beautiful paintings. | Windham House Design

Looking to style a boy’s bedroom with out all the frou frou? This Boys Bookcase is everything masculine yet organized. | The Makerista

Deep bookshelves give you the luxury to play with layers. Lean artwork along the back of the shelves, and anchor them with books or heavier objects. To decorate the bookcase, place a few small pieces of art near the front of the shelves to give them depth. Bulky vases or decorative plates can hide their heft behind small frames without losing their uniqueness. | BHG

Create vignettes. To keep your bookshelf from feeling too stark you will want to create a few vignettes within the stacks of books. Let the books be the focus, but adding a small lamp, a little accessory in front of books, or even some flowers can help break up all of the vertical and horizontal lines that the books create. | Style by Emily Henderson

… and in summary, Overflowing with books but still don’t have any idea how to arrange them in a book case?  Stack ’em.  Here are 7 ways to stack books so they look good. | The Art of Doing Stuff

Billy Bookshelves Ikea

It doesn’t have to cost much to create a custom built in shelf for your space. Take a look at these IKEA Billy Bookcase Hacks and Ideas. Pin to Pinterest.

Reading Corners

If you like a styled bookcase, you likely like to read. Look at these Creative Reading Corners for the Home. Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Christmas, Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next party.

Last Updated on August 22, 2021 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living