15 Picture-Perfect Ways To Step Up Your #Shelfie Game

By Ryan Sargent On July 13th, 2020

Bored of your bookshelf?

Take a page from our collection of stylish shelves and rediscover your display of fiction and odd curiosities! Stepping up your #shelfie game is as easy as investing in a few new accessories, painting behind shelves or visiting the room next door to give your possessions a new pride of place. Scroll down for our shelf design ideas on how to take this snap-worthy space to the next level!

Add interest with height. Displaying accents that vary in size can help create an eye-catching vignette. Consider layering a smaller frame in front of a larger one or adding greenery to just one of three matching vases.

House & Home June 2013

Mix and match items. For a truly unique display, forgo matchy-matchy accessories and opt for a curated combination of both old and new or modern and traditional.

House & Home March 2020

Create an art wall. Art and photographs feel casual and unfussy when leaning on barely-there ledges, compared to being hung directly on walls.

House & Home June 2012

Bring in vintage pieces. Your shelf will instantly read more refined, not to mention full of character. Give those antique frames catching dust in the basement new life by leaning then against shelves and pair it with some timeless yet on-trend pottery.

House & Home April 2016

Paint behind shelves. Nothing says drama like the painted black wall in this zen hangout spot. It turns ordinary open shelving into a minimalist decorating moment.

House & Home May 2018

Create a statement backdrop. Every #shelfie needs a background that’s just as Instagram-worthy as what’s in front of it. Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint in Graphite, Chicago Grey and Athenian Black was used to create a plaster effect in this moody kitchen.

Choose a theme. Nautical accents and hues ensure the pieces in this shelving unit feel cohesive and connected even though each is unique.

House & Home June 2008

When in doubt, stack it. Have tons of books or magazines lying around? Consider stacking them. Have a precious objet worthy of having its own plinth? Stack it on top of a pile of books or magazines for an instantly stylish shelf!

Maison & Demeure July/August 2015

Display items in the same hue as your shelves. In this clean and contemporary Muskoka kitchen, white dishes and accessories seamlessly blend into the lower island’s crisp color, achieving a streamlined look.

House & Home August 2019

Install Lucite shelving. It’s no secret that Lucite-anything brings luminescence into rooms. Factor in your most prized possessions and the shelves won’t be the only things shining.

House & Home June 2012

Decorate with graphic accents. Dark hardware and accessories give this white-walled dining area by designers Greer Nelson and Jamie Hamilton an element of edge.

House & Home June 2019

Color-coordinate your library. Every book has a place in this dreamy, sage green built-in, which feels organized thanks to its neat rainbow rows.

House & Home July 2010

Keep it simple. The number of accessories in this vignette can be counted on one hand, but that doesn’t mean it has any less impact. The scattered rocks are a clever nod to the outdoorsy art that hangs above them, and the platter and vase fill shelf space while being mindful of the rule of thirds.

House & Home June 2017

Repurpose storage boxes as shelves. From wooden crates to baskets that are sturdy enough to sit sideways facing up, consider swapping your display area with a unique version that can be built up or down to your liking — think of it as Lego for your living room.

House & Home June 2011

Finish with decorative trim. Give your bookshelf a dose of personality with a DIY that uses patterned trim — it’s not only easy to complete but has great graphic payoff, too.