I have posted a lot of pictures of this wall over the years. You may wonder why I do this. Well, this is my canvas, and one of my favorite outlets for creativity. The changes in decor may look simple and be uninteresting to some, but I’m going to take some time to explain the process of decorating shelves. While design is creative and subjective, good design is also based on concrete ratios, symmetry, and harmony.
Here are some of the design principles and tips that I use when I populate these shelves:
- Display things that I love and nothing else.
- Build a base layer using objects in whites or neutrals, and aim for some open space on each shelf.
- Choose a color palette to match the season and repeat it in different ways throughout. In this display, my color palette comes from the fruit plates.
- Allow layering and depth in the design, and avoid always placing things strictly in a row.
- Treat each shelf as its own vignette, using objects harmonious in shape, material, or color to those found on other shelves.
- Aim for odd numbers of objects on each shelf.
- Distribute visual weight evenly. Visually heavy things are bulky in size or saturated in color, and they need to be separated and balanced in the display.
- Incorporate different shapes throughout.
- Find a way to group small knickknacks together to create a cohesive unit rather than a random smattering of objects. In this display, I placed small cross stitch pieces inside the white house-shaped shadow boxes to unify them.
- Use pieces of various heights.
- Sometimes it’s nice to group objects that are similar on one shelf, rather than distribute them. My upper shelves are designed like this.
- Incorporate different materials. Natural materials are best for adding warmth and texture. For most seasons I include living plants.
- Sometimes it’s hard to see imbalances just by looking at the room. For some reason, taking photos and studying them throughout the process helps me identify things that seem “off.”
- “Shop” my house and nature. I remind myself that I don’t need to buy new things.
- Enjoy the creative process, including the time it takes and the satisfaction I feel when things finally look “right.”