We Asked 2 Designers the One Thing They Never Put on Their Shelves, and They Both Agreed (It’s So Controversial!)
When it comes to interior design, a shelf isn’t just a shelf — it’s a blank canvas to showcase snippets of your personality mixed with current trends, if you like to follow them. You’ve probably learned through countless social media #shelfies that this is a revered spot in a home. And in order to make a shelf reach its full potential, it’s best for its items to be carefully considered.
Designers tend to agree with these sentiments. “I look for sculptural objects, textural elements, and items found in nature like rocks, shells, and crystals,” says Natalie Myers, the principal designer of Veneer Designs. “I also try to incorporate something to spark conversation, and ideally something personal, like a cherished object or small painting.”
Mastering the art of the styled shelf takes practice, and shelfies tend to come together over many attempts — you shouldn’t necessarily start and finish styling in one easy swoop. You’ll likely need a teeny library of large and small books, a handful of decorative pieces like vases and sculptures, and perhaps even live components like climbing plants and flowers. After you decide on some potential items, you’ll want to spend time categorizing this collection in a way that feels most interesting to you.
“The goal is to style a shelf so that it doesn’t feel too cluttered or too scarce,” says designer Abigail Marcelo, owner of Casa Marcelo Interior Design Studio. “You want to create a bit of interest, which is why I like to style with vintage items. They offer a unique decorative element that won’t be seen everywhere else.”
Of course, you can always display whatever you want, and the beauty of a shelf vignette is there’s room for creativity. But there’s also definitely one “rule” many designers often follow when it comes to shelf styling. While your home can otherwise be filled with images of your family, the two designers I spoke to both agree a styled shelf usually isn’t the best place for personal photos.
“I never style open shelves with framed family photos,” Myers says. “Even if my clients have an impressive collection, I don’t put them here.” Marcelo also favors displaying family photos elsewhere in a home versus on a styled shelf. “It can start to look like a mausoleum or an altar,” she says. “I prefer to use artwork for the shelves.”
This might be a controversial choice for shelves in a family room, where framed memories with loved ones may be a given. But both designers say these shots should be reserved for more personal spaces, like a gallery wall in a hallway.
At the end of the day, it’s up to you how you fill your open shelves and bookcases, but swapping your family photos with interesting artwork or vintage decor can ultimately help make the setup feel more high-end and unique. It’s easy to repurpose the pictures elsewhere, too!