22 Ways to Arrange Your Shelves
Picture frames on shelves
Credit: Sang An
Use empty picture frames to create visually striking geometric patterns against a wall.
Credit: Sang An
A cleverly arranged bookcase can be as pretty as a window view.
Credit: James Baigrie
Borrow a trick from interior designers: Inside a bookcase, use paint that’s a couple shades deeper than the room color.
Credit: Monica Buck
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For maximum pop, try arranging the shelves with solid-colored items, like white ironwork or a vibrant vase.
Credit: Monica Buck
Imagine living room shelves as display space for your favorite books, photographs, and family heirlooms.
Credit: Chip Cordelli
Give bathroom shelves an organized look by grouping together like-colored towels.
Credit: Jonny Valiant
Use labeled boxes to house odds and ends without a home.
Credit: Antonis Achilleos
Shelve items by type―pots on one level, books on another―for a systematic look to your kitchen.
Credit: Justin Bernhaut
A simple arrangement of classics has the order and stateliness of a library.
Credit: Sarah Maingot
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Style a bookcase with unexpected items, like an eye-catching antique or a porcelain statue.
Credit: Monica Buck
Ordinary items collected in glass jars make an arresting still-life.
Credit: David Prince
Organizing a colorful collection of found objects makes an offbeat (and inexpensive) alternative to wall art.
Credit: Mark Lund
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Even just a few striking objects can create a visually interesting display.
Credit: Aya Brackett
There’s no rule saying that everything has to match. Though these letters vary in look, they work together because they are alike in essence.
Credit: Lucas Allen
Want to make a bold statement? Let paint do the talking for you.
Credit: Mark Lund
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Open shelves and steel hardware give a room contemporary flair.
Credit: Hallie Burton
Whitewashed shelves and conch-shell book stoppers feel as restful and airy as the seaside.
Credit: William Meppem
Hang a chalkboard inside sliding doors for extra playtime fun (or to log your children’s TV time).
Credit: David Land
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Use a furry friend to keep your child’s favorite reads in place.
Credit: Kathryn Barnard
Use inexpensive baskets to provide catchall space for sundries.
Credit: James Baigrie
Divvy up cubbies among your kids and allow them to arrange their belongings as they see fit―so long as it’s neat!
Credit: David Prince
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A smart cleaning strategy for drop-in visitors: panels that prettily disguise what’s on the shelves.
Credit: Hallie Burton