5 fantastic ways to style those boring floating shelves

Floating shelves are a great space saver, but can appear a little dull when they become overcrowded. Try these hacks on how to style them your way

1. A pop of greenery

Plants have a way of bringing a whole space to life, especially floating shelves. The added splash of green is a great way to amp up the styling of your shelf, especially if you feel a little stuck with what to do. The string of pearls plants always look pretty as they cascade along the side of the shelf, or even devil’s eye plants are great for the minimal care that is needed. If all else fails, fake plants are a suitable solution because they will always be green. Be sure to wipe them every so often with a damp cloth to avoid them becoming dust monsters.

A pop of greenery adds life to an otherwise plain wooden shelf, Photograph: Unsplash

2. It is all about balance

When it comes to creating a beautiful shelf display, the key is always balance. From the height to the size, it’s always a good idea to have different elements on your shelf that offer various ranges and create a good flow. Trial out items and keep taking steps back to see if the objects work together. Move them around and swap out what does not work until you feel there is a good balance of objects on display. If this seems a bit too daunting, you can always opt for perfect symmetry with the same-sized object displayed across the shelf, or work your way out from the middle to create a symmetrical display.

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The perfectly symmetrical shelf above the stove is user-friendly and creates a beautiful feature, Photograph: Mickey Hoyle

3. Keep it simple

In this case, less is more when it comes to styling. Choosing powerful objects to display will require less ‘stuff’ and therefore leave a bigger impact on your viewers. The famous trio in terms of how many items to display is always a good option or even just a single object will do. This ideally creates the focal point to draw your attention, so will always work best in your entrance hall or any common area of the home.

Two marble objects of different sizes are displayed in the entrance hall of this home, Photograph: Tom Ferguson

4. Books are your best friend

When you are out of ideas with which ornaments and objects to use on display, you will never go wrong with some good novels and classic reads. Arrange the books by colour or take off the paperbacks to add to your neutral colour palette. Finish the shelf off with the perfect marble bookends and you have styled your floating shelf to perfection in under five minutes.

5. Display items you love

If you are not sure what to display, start with your beloved items and work your way out. Whether it’s a collection of candles, or a collection of shoes, when you display the items you love, you will find it easier to style your floating shelves. You can also put up multiple shelves to create various heights with the shelf instead of with your objects.