Effortless Shelf Decor Ideas for Styling Every Room

Easy options to style your home decor with these shelf decor ideas.

Do you ever feel an inexplicable urge to add open shelves to your home, but have no idea how to make them look chic and stylish? Open shelving is a great way to instantly transform your space, but to get it right you need to strike a balance between form and function.

These shelf decor ideas and inspiring designs will help you to create gorgeous shelf displays that look effortless and are incredibly useful. Here you'll find ideas that emphasize aesthetics, while also providing an understanding of how to organize your shelves and select the right items for the look you're trying to create. With a few simple tricks, your open shelves will have the effect of making your room look more open, spacious, and modern. Let's get to decorating!

Why Open Shelves are Awesome

Using shelves in your decor is a great idea for several reasons.

• Shelves are a great way to keep your countertops clear while still including decorative items in your space.
• They can be practical for providing extra storage solutions.
• When styled right, these these shelves are just too cute to be hidden and can be additional elements of your design choice.
• These shelves can open up your room rather than traditional cabinets that may make it seem closed off.
• Shelf decor can add a needed pop of color and visual interest.

Take a look at some of my favorite shelf decor ideas for various rooms and styles.

Kitchen Shelf Decor Ideas

Some of the best ways to display shelf decor items in your kitchen is by utilizing open shelving. This is a beautiful shelf styling above the kitchen sink. If you are needing a place for extra storage and dishes but want something a tad cheaper, this is a great way to go! (Source unknown)

Isn't this shelf decor idea from Rhiannon Lawson Home just gorgeous? I love the Bohemian vibe and neutral color scheme with various shades of brown, white and copper. And greenery or small plants are always ideal for adding to wall shelves because they bring in just a touch of color and visual style.

I love the open shelves in my previous farmhouse kitchen. They go really well with the rustic design of our open pantry. You can see how we built them here for the perfect look. This area is one of my favorite features in a kitchen because I can still have decorative objects in this shelf space without cluttering my countertops.

How about this stunning design of modern farmhouse shelves from Country Living? It's the perfect farmhouse vibe mixed with industrial elements for a clean look.

And I can't help but love the shiplap wall design in the background to create some different textures! If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to traditional shiplap, this is a great option.

Living Room Shelf Ideas

Open shelves can also help to bring function and design together. When I was designing our built-in entertainment center I knew I needed some living room shelves for storage as well as for home decor. See the tutorial here.

Open spaces like these are great at maximizing the storage you have. Plus, using a wall shelf versus a closed off cabinet is always going to make your space feel bigger. And adding decorative pieces will help to show off the style of your home. More tips on styling neutral floating shelves here.

This new modern shelving unit is very eye-catching. I love the concept of encompassing the rectangular shelves with a round border. It's so unique! (Source unlisted) This design idea would be awesome to incorporate in a gallery wall or to use for smaller items in display.

This full wall of shelves is so beautiful. Incorporating floating shelves that stretch from top to bottom is the perfect way to elongate your space. I love that it is set against the brick background too for an additional statement piece. So stylish and colonial!

If the background wall of your shelf is more busy like this one, keep in mind that you will want to minimize the shelf decorating and use simple neutrals like this photo. Use simple stacks of books, plants, family photos and small objects that are a neutral color palette.

Using open shelving built-ins around a window is a great way to make a beautiful accent wall. Add some baskets for closed storage and enjoy. See how I built these here.

Wow! Talk about a full wall of character. If you have the space for something this flattering, then do it! White space makes this shelf decoration very appealing in this living space. (Source unknown)

Shelf Decor Ideas for Bedroom

How cute is this little desk nook? These are decorated so classy and fun with a little more modern twist. (Source unknown)

Open shelves for books are something I included in my little boy's bedroom. I love using these instead of a typical bookcase. And, you could also use these for any kind of toy storage or display items, not just books.

And here are more ideas from my daughter's shelves in her room. We found items that were important to her or that she loved and added them in to the space.

If you are looking for a fresh new look on a floating shelf, why not try this design that uses a whole wall? We built a pegboard wall display and then added in individual shelves to take it to the next level. This custom pegboard wall has many options for flexibility in styling shelf decor.

Bathroom Shelves

Above the toilet there is often wasted space. Adding some shelves with decorative storage containers makes it both beautiful and functional. Don't forget a basket to store the toilet paper too. Tutorial here

This simple farmhouse style open shelving is gorgeous for this themed bathroom. (Unknown Source)

Have you seen the trend for these adorable ladder shelves? They can totally make the space into something amazing, like this one from The Lettered Cottage.

Other Shelf Decor Ideas

And here are a few options for some of the best shelf decor ideas floating around.

How about a shelf in your laundry room? Here are a few more ideas that inspired my own.

Try out a DIY built-in corner shelf for your decor. You'd never know that it didn't come this way!

Or how about this DIY old door turned shelf that you can easily use as a floating shelf or to hang hats, scarves, or bags.

And this unique single floating shelf is a car bumper turned shelf that I made for my little guy's bedroom. It is a stylish focal piece that your car-loving guru will adore.

Shelf decorations are a great way to bring style and personality to a space in an affordable and easy-to-maintain way. With the right selection of decor and colors, these shelves can turn any room from dull to dazzling. Experiment with different items, colors, and heights to create a unique look that captures your home’s essence.

By taking the time to tailor the decorations to your lifestyle, you can create a beautiful visual representation of yourself that will make your house feel like a home.

Happy Decorating!

Brooke