Metal Art to Fill Empty Space Above Built in Bookcase

In this mail: Struggling with how to decorate a bookshelf? I'm sharing my unproblematic tried and truthful formulas for adding bookshelf decor that works!

Our previous dwelling was pretty limited on closet and storage space, only nosotros've had LOTS of built-in bookcases so I was basically forced to figure out how to decorate shelves and bookcases to proceed those rooms from looking bare and boring. And I've made it super easy for you to do too by sharing six simple formulas that you can use to bound-start your shelf decorating. So if yous've got some bare shelves that have been bugging you, hopefully you lot'll detect the inspiration and know-how to finally decorate those babies up! Let'southward caput on into the family room first… (post includes affiliate links – full disclosure statement available {hither})

Near of yous accept been following my blog long enough that you've seen this space many times before but if you're hither for the first time, you can check out more pics of information technology and become a amend idea of the layout of the 2 bookcases in the room {here}. Whoever designed this bookcase fabricated it pretty easy on me considering they bankrupt the shelves upwards in a way that the shelving infinite on both the left and right sides is perfect for housing a single decorative accompaniment and then for those information technology was one and washed:

The middle shelves aren't quite every bit simple but I figured out a few no-neglect formulas as takeaways for you to utilize:

#i. Books + bookend adjacent to filled bowl

Choose v-viii books (you can bring some colour into your infinite by choosing ones with spines in your favorite colors or past wrapping them in a favorite fabric or you can keep things neutral by turning the books around and so the pages show instead of the spines) and add together a decorative bookend. My favorite online source for unique bookends is Etsy {here}. Place a bowl next to information technology (it doesn't have to exist woods – it can be metal, woven, etc.) and fill information technology with something decorative. These are a few of my favorites:

I threw in a bunch of faux cabbages that I had laying around after using them on my fall fireplace mantel but you could also utilize decorative ceramic assurance, simulated flowers, shells…. just about anything!

#2. Leaning books + ball shaped accessory next to vase on books/box

Lean a few books (starting with i or two that are fairly alpine) against the cease of the bookcase and put some blazon of brawl shaped accompaniment next to it such as my oyster trounce ball (y'all tin find a similar one {here}). The rope whatchamacallit on the bottom right of my bookcase would have worked well in that spot too! Side by side to it, place a either a shallow box or two stacked books and put a medium sized vase (mine was a HomeGoods detect!) on top.

#3. Tray or fine art impress in eye + alpine accessory on left + low accompaniment on right

Start with a sizable shallow round tray (mine was a thrift store detect but {this one} is similar) or an art impress or mirror (it doesn't have to be round – square or rectangular would work fine also). Ideally yous want something adequately tall but you can always cheat like I did and put a few books under it to add height. Add a tall accessory such equally a plant on 1 side (this is my FAVORITE constitute – it's a blazon of snake plant and it survives fifty-fifty the worst neglect!) and an accessory that's fairly low in height on the other. I used {this dried star pod} – information technology's kinda weird but I kinda love it and accept used information technology on my fireplace mantel too! I have another example of this formula on our other bookcase too – let's head that way…

Tin can you guess which shelf information technology is? Yes, the heart shelf on the left – there'south a center art impress (mine is similar to {this} Allow's Stay Home printable) with a small establish on one side and a large accompaniment (similar {this candelabrum} that's similar to mine) on the other:

And in that location are two other unproblematic formulas you can steal from this second bookcase:

#iv.Tall, thin accessory + smaller accompaniment adjacent to framed print

Outset with a tall, thin accessory such equally a vase (mine is a HomeGoods find!) and add a pocket-size accessory in front and a bit to the side. Place a framed photo, art print, or a mirror adjacent to it. In choosing your accessories, the of import matter is to have some variety in height (my vase is closer in acme to my framed photo than I'd actually like – having a several inch difference is best!).

#5. Large accessory adjacent to decorative box + small emphasis piece on top

Outset with a large accessory – it can exist a sculpture like mine, a bust, a ceramic horse head…. pretty much anything! Then adjacent to it, place either a horizontal stack of a few books or a decorative box (such as {this black & white striped box that I accept}) and then add a small accent slice (such as {this small piece of coral} on top of the box.

Now we're going to head on into our home role but before we become did you notice that the top eye shelf = formula #1?! Information technology'south definitely a formula that works considering I didn't even realize I had decorated two shelves the aforementioned basic style until writing up this post 🙂

I've shown our abode office on the blog and Instagram many times before simply ordinarily I'thou sharing pics of our gallery wall that'southward on the other side of the room. Today we're turning the photographic camera round to the big ole built-in bookcase:

A chunk of the shelving space is already taken up by a Television and two speakers and the area in a higher place the desk-bound has little wood cubbies that I filled with {these IKEA KVARNVIK boxes} but there was still plenty of shelving in need of some styling:

I came up with two more shelf styling formulas you can use as accept-aways to manner your own shelves:

#half-dozen. Books + vase (or similar) every bit bookend + long, narrow handbasket

Get-go with a few upright books on the stop of the shelf and then use a vase or other decorative accessory as a bookend. Anything that's the correct height and heavy enough to back up the books volition work so information technology's a not bad spot for something unique and/or meaningful – for ex., I dearest horseback riding and take used my old saddle stirrups every bit bookends before. Hither are a few vases I love that would work:

Next to it, add together a long, narrow handbasket that you can put books in, fill with something decorative, or use as storage for part supplies, etc. (mine has some of my zillion textile samples in information technology). Having more than variation in the tiptop of everything (i.east. taller books and a shorter vase) than my shelf does would look better – exercise what I say, non what I practise – ha!

#7. Upright books + horizontal books + minor decorative object

This is i of my simplest shelf styling formulas and one I utilize all of the time (including on the shelf above the Goggle box in this bookcase). You only stand near 4-vi books upright on the end, then lay ane-2 books down right next to them and put a small-scale decorative accessory on top. I LOVE white coral and have several pieces of it so am using that on acme of the volume but it tin can be annihilation including sentimental pieces like those large ole ceramic pieces that kids make in fine art form and you don't know what to do with! Identify whatever yous want next to this little arrangement on the shelf – I layered a piece of plaid artwork that my youngest girl made plus a brass hog that feeds my weird love for brass animals.

Update! I've started decorating our shelves in our new house – you might go a few new ideas from these too:

Tips & Ideas for What to Put on Your Shelves

I hope you guys found those formulas to be helpful – I'm a girl who likes to spell information technology all out! To wrap things upward, I wanted to share a few final tips and suggestions to continue in heed when you're decorating your shelves:

Odd numbers typically piece of work all-time – you lot'll notice that most of my formulas involve doing things in three'southward
Keep things interesting with lots of different textures (like mesomorphic baskets, coral, etc.) and finishes (different metals, colors, etc.)
Don't be afraid to leave some empty space! My large jug on the bottom shelf in our family room is all lone on a shelf that's a couple feet long but it works!
Show your personality, interests, etc. Shelves are a great place to put family photos, keepsakes, or anything that makes you smile. They can exist filled with books too but don't have to exist. Whenever I share a pic of our bookcases on Instagram, at least 1 person says "bookshelves should be for books". Nope. They should be for whatever you want them to exist – it'southward your home so exercise what yous love!
Stagger the heights of your objects (but y'all guys already picked up this tip earlier, correct?!)
If y'all don't have plenty light to keep plants alive on your shelves, go with faux! There are some peachy ones out in that location:

Dress up your bookcase past lining the back of your shelves with wallpaper! I used {this grasscloth wallpaper} on my shelves in the family room.

Phew… are yous still with me?! Drop a comment and permit me know if yous have any questions or if I merely confused the heck out of you lot!

XO,

blacklockfiry1970.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.drivenbydecor.com/how-decorate-shelves-bookcase-ideas/

Blacklock Firy1970