Styling shelves—whether built-in, or floating—is an art form that requires careful planning, a trained eye, and a fair share of trial and error. Yes, even for seasoned professionals. When styled well, shelving displays become a versatile design feature that adds personality, dimension, and life to any room. However, achieving a polished, cohesive look is not as straightforward as it may seem.
There are clear guidelines I tend to follow, and when applied thoughtfully, the results speak for themselves.
1. Working From the Top Down
When styling open shelving, I always begin with the top shelves. The reasoning behind this is simple—items placed higher up need to be larger and more prominent since they are farther from view. This helps anchor the arrangement and adds balance to the overall display.
To achieve visual balance, I typically reserve the top and bottom shelves for larger decor pieces, as the spacing between these shelves is ideal for accommodating bigger items. For shelves at eye level, I opt for smaller, more delicate objects and place them closer together to maintain proportion and cohesion. Let’s take a look at our Lions Bay Project, where we applied this principle.
Notice how the top and bottom shelves feature larger-scale pieces, while the middle shelves are reserved for smaller items, sometimes arranged in groups and other times as single items on a shelf. On the bottom shelves, we intentionally placed oversized natural stone vessels to act as both functional storage and a grounding element.
This hierarchy of size, paired with thoughtful spacing, creates a balanced and dynamic display that feels organized rather than cluttered. The careful selection of textures and materials, from smooth ceramics to textured driftwood, further enhances the visual interest of the arrangement.
2. Striking a Balance Between Symmetry and Asymmetry
While symmetry plays an important role in creating order, it is not always necessary. In fact, relying too heavily on symmetry can make a display feel rigid and predictable. For this reason, I prefer to mix symmetrical and asymmetrical elements, which keeps the display feeling organic.
In our Newfoundland Project, we purposefully lowered the top centre shelf slightly, creating a larger focal point compared to the shelves on either side. This subtle shift breaks up the horizontal lines of the shelving and instantly attracts the eye, adding dynamic visual interest. The result is a natural flow for the eye to follow, from top to bottom and left to right, making the display feel both dynamic and balanced.
3. Creating Contrast and Cohesion
Colour plays an essential role when designing a home, and the same holds true when styling open shelves. A well-balanced mix of light and dark tones can add depth, dimension, and character to the display, transforming it into a focal point within the room.
When styling open shelves, one of the first things I consider is the background colour. If the wall behind the shelves is light, I pair it with darker objects to create contrast, and vice versa. This contrast brings attention to the displayed items, contrasting them against the backdrop and preventing the arrangement from feeling flat.
In this Contemporary Dining Room Project, we chose darker objects to create a striking contrast against the bright white built-in shelves (left). As you enter the dining room (right), the opposite side of the shelving features a deep navy background creating a rich, sophisticated aesthetic. Brass detailing acts as a subtle bridge between the two areas. Although the two displays are visually distinct, the use of cohesive elements throughout ensures a seamless flow from one side to the other.
It is this careful balance of light and dark, warm and cool, that brings unity and elevates the overall design of both spaces.
4. Embracing Negative Space
Negative space is an often-overlooked but essential element in styling open shelves. By intentionally leaving areas open, we create breathing room that allows the eye to rest. While shelves can easily become a catch-all for storage, they should serve a more purposeful role in your design. Instead of overcrowding the space, focus on providing ample room for each piece to stand out.
In our Newfoundland Project, we intentionally kept the open shelving in the office minimal yet impactful. A vibrant statement art piece took centre stage in between the custom-designed white oak shelves, while carefully chosen items, like a family photo and small sculptures, were arranged to create balance. The remaining shelves were filled with neutral decor items, keeping the overall look purposeful and uncluttered.
Similarly, in our West Vancouver Project, the narrow shelves in the dining area required a thoughtful approach to prevent overcrowding. By embracing negative space, we allowed the few objects on display to shine, elevating the design and creating a refined, balanced aesthetic.
5. Styling Floating Shelves with Intention
Floating shelves offer a sleek, modern alternative to built-ins, requiring an even more restrained approach to styling. Since they lack the vertical supports of traditional shelving, balance and minimalism are key. Rather than filling every inch, I like to treat floating shelves as a place for a few carefully chosen pieces.
Take a look at the Blueridge Family Home kitchen, where we styled white oak floating shelves against a crisp white tile backdrop.
A small curated selection—vessels, neutral ceramics, a monochromatic piece of art, and a touch of greenery—allowed the beauty of the shelves themselves to shine. The result? A functional, elegant feature that enhances the space without competing with the kitchen’s overall design.
Before & After: From Cluttered to Cohesive
Empty, open shelves can feel like a blank canvas which can be daunting at first. But with the right approach, everything begins to fall into place. Styling shelves, like any design project, requires expertise and a trained eye. Sometimes, the best way to understand our approach is to see it in action.
Left: Before; Right: After
In this West Vancouver Coastal Home, our client had a vision for beautifully balanced bookshelves, but despite her best efforts, the space felt disorganized and disconnected. While the general structure of the room stayed the same, we made a few key aesthetic changes, such as refacing the fireplace and reworking the built-in millwork, including adding an arch to the top of the bookshelves. However, the real transformation came when we styled the shelves.
On its own, the room was lovely, but once we styled the shelves, the space truly came to life. While traditionally thought of as a place for storing books, modern bookshelves (at least the ones we style!) often serve as a showcase for curated objects, artwork, and meaningful keepsakes.
By carefully selecting pieces that reflected our client’s style, removing excess items, and arranging everything with intention, we created a display that felt cohesive, balanced, and full of personality. Beautiful!
Achieving a Balanced Display
Styling shelves is not simply about arranging objects—it is about thoughtfully curating items and decorative pieces to create a display that feels cohesive, elevated, and reflective of your personality. This is where the expertise of a trained professional comes into play.
From selecting the right combination of items to creating balance and contrast, a professionally trained eye is the secret to turning a space from ordinary to extraordinary.
If you are ready to unlock the transformative potential of living in a professionally styled home, we would love to help.
Yours,
Lori
