Open shelves are a fantastic way to add personality, storage, and style to your home. Whether in the kitchen, living room, or bathroom, they showcase your favorite items and create an airy, inviting feel. However, open shelving comes with one challenge many homeowners face: how to keep them looking stylish without the clutter.

If you love the idea of open shelves but worry about things looking messy or overcrowded, this post is for you. Here are my top 5 styling tips to help you make your shelves feel thoughtful, layered, and personal - with real examples from my own home.

1. Start with a Blank Slate

Before you dive into styling, take everything off the shelves. This helps you see the space with fresh eyes and reset the visual clutter. Clean the surface, step back, and think about what feeling you want the space to give off — cozy, collected, minimal, layered? Do you want it functional, decorative, or a mix of both? When I styled my wall of shelves, I wanted them to feel warm and lived-in - like a reflection of our favorite reads, earthy pieces, and some personal touches from travel and home life.

2. Use a Balanced Mix of Items

The best shelves have a blend of:

Books (stacked or upright)
Greenery (real or faux plants add life)
Art (small framed pieces or leaning canvas prints)
Useful items (pretty bowls, mugs, jars, or baskets)
Personal touches (heirlooms, vintage finds, photos)

The key is balance. On my shelves, books anchor almost every section - but I broke them up with:

a clay pot with trailing greenery
a collection of ceramic jugs
a gold bowl
neutral fabric boxes
a stack of framed landscape photos

All of these add texture, tone, and a sense of calm - even though there are a lot of pieces.

3. Create Visual Triangles

Group objects in odd numbers (like 3s or 5s) and arrange them in triangle shapes. This creates movement and draws the eye naturally around the shelf. For example:

The stacked books in the center, small gold bowl on the right, and the pot with plant on the far left form a subtle visual triangle.
Or on the second shelf down: the white boxes, vase, and plant move your eye smoothly across.

It doesn’t need to be perfect — just thoughtful.

4. Leave Breathing Room

One of the reasons these shelves feel peaceful (even with so many books!) is that you didn’t fill every inch. The open spaces between clusters allow each item to stand out.

The top shelf especially shows this:

Large pottery pieces and framed art are grouped, but not crowded.
The negative space around them makes the grouping feel intentional, not crammed.

5. Add Something Unexpected

This is where the magic happens. Slip in something a little surprising — a sculptural object, a quirky thrift store treasure, a textured basket, or a piece of handmade pottery. These are the items that make the shelf feel uniquely yours.

On my shelves:

The green climbing pothos that cascades down the side brings a touch of life and movement.
The art pieces make the space feel curated.

Bonus Tip: Switch It Up Seasonally

One of the perks of open shelving is how easy it is to update. In spring, add a vase of faux tulips. In fall, swap in a mini pumpkin. A small shift can make a big difference — and it keeps things feeling fresh without starting from scratch.

Final Thoughts

Open shelves are a wonderful way to express your style and add personality to your home — but the key is intentional styling and editing. By planning your layout thoughtfully, choosing items you love, grouping them artfully, and leaving room to breathe, you can create beautiful shelves that feel curated, not cluttered.

Don’t forget to infuse your shelves with your unique personality by adding meaningful artwork, vibrant plants, your beloved books, and special decorative treasures. This way, your shelves aren’t just shelves — they’re a reflection of you.

Try these tips on your next shelving project and enjoy the fresh, inviting atmosphere open shelves bring to your space.

By Leah Ann Grace

Tips for How to Style Open Shelves