Living Room Shelving Decorating Concepts

Decorating the shelves in your living room can completely transform the space. The right styling turns those empty ledges into an eye-catching focal point that expresses your personality. Shelves showcase cherished belongings while organizing clutter out of sight. Strategic decorating also draws the eye upwards, making rooms feel more expansive.

But knowing where to start can be overwhelming with so many potential living room shelf ideas. Here we cover creative suggestions for all shelf types and styles. Read on for pro tips that will have your shelves looking Pinterest-worthy in no time!

Types of Shelving Ideas for Living Rooms

The first step to decorating shelves is selecting the right fixtures for your space. Fortunately, living rooms accommodate diverse shelving options to suit any layout or design scheme.

Floating Shelves

These popular ledges mount directly on walls without visible supports. Floating shelves work in small living rooms by preserving floor space. Their simple design pairs well with modern or industrial rooms. Display everyday items, decorative accents, photos, and art in groupings.

Corner Shelves

Make use of awkward corner nooks with angled shelves. This smart solution saves wasted space and prevents clutter from accumulating. Corner shelves suit rooms with modern or vintage charm. Stack books, plants, baskets, and collectibles for a cohesive vignette.

Wall-Mounted Shelves

Wall-mounted ledges affix securely to wall studs for sturdy support. DIYers appreciate their simplicity, while customizable sizing suits any room. These practical shelves excel at storing items you need within arm's reach. Cluster framed photos, art, and sentimental objects for a personal display.

Built-In Bookcases

For prominent living room storage, built-ins cannot be beaten. Custom cabinetry with shelves builds right into the architecture for a flawless fit. Built-ins provide copious storage for books, collectibles, media, and files. Their polished aesthetic elevates living spaces with elegance.

Ladder Shelves

Lend farmhouse charm with popular lean-to ladder shelves. Their slanted silhouette saves space while providing charming display real estate in rustic living rooms. Line ladder shelves with framed photos, flower pots, antique books, and sentimental finds from the flea market.

Curio Cabinets

For collectors and curators, locked glass cabinetry securely displays treasured items. Curio cabinets shine in formal living spaces by exhibiting china, memorabilia, and delicate objects behind glass. Their built-in lighting illuminates contents, while keeping valuables free of dust.

Decorating Shelves by Living Room Style

Once shelves are installed, it's time for the fun part--styling! Use these living room shelf decor ideas tailored to popular design aesthetics:

Traditional Living Rooms

• Add glass-door curio cabinets to gracefully showcase china collections in formal spaces.
• Use symmetrical built-ins with crown molding for a polished look befitting heritage homes.
• Display leatherbound classic book collections between brass bookends.
• Hang a wall shelf filled with silver-framed family photos over a sofa.

Modern Living Rooms

• Install black floating shelves atop bold accent walls to contrast artwork.
• Spotlight decor items like sculptures and vases on slender wall shelves.
• Mount asymmetrical wooden shelves near furniture for handy storage.
• Use colorful cubbies for storing vinyl record collections.

Farmhouse Style

• Wooden ladder shelves hold woven baskets, pottery, and black-and-white photos.
• Line deep built-ins with lattice backing for open storage brimming with books.
• Split a long shelf to display floral arrangements at each end.
• Group white ceramic vessels and green succulents atop a reclaimed wood mantle.

Arrange Living Room Shelf Decor

Now for the fun part--arranging your shelving! Avoid cramming shelves full or placing items too close together. Follow these guidelines for living room shelf decorating success:

Balance Heights and Widths

Create visual balance by mixing tall and short items teamed with a few medium accents. If shelves display mainly books, break up repetitive heights with bookends, trays, and paperweights.

Coordinate Colors and Textures

Tie collections together using tone and texture. For example, combine ceramics, natural wood pieces, silver items, or colorful spines facing outward. Avoid overwhelming the eyes with too many competing colors.

Spotlight Special Items

Draw attention to prized unpacked objects like souvenirs or family heirlooms. Position these eye-catching accents at eye level surrounded by neutral decor.

Allow Negative Space

Resist cramming every inch with knickknacks! Negative space allows breaths between groupings so collections pop. Go for 60 to 75 percent full.

Add Lighting

Install floating shelves with built-in LED strips to illuminate displayed items. Or, use track lighting to shine spotlights on shelving vignettes like paintings to create dramatic displays.

Living Room Shelf Decorating Ideas

Looking for living room shelf decor inspiration? Browse these gorgeous yet attainable ideas to find displays suited to your treasures:

Display Books

Line shelves solely with books for handy storage and quick access to favorites. Arrange by color or subject and bookend genres. Go vertical with stacked sideways and upright spines.

Showcase Travel Souvenirs

Display vacation moments through sentimental finds like beachcombed starfish, paper mache animals, or exotic musical instruments. Add framed location prints to enrich themes.

Highlight Sentimental Pieces

Designate a shelf for precious items with nostalgic ties like inherited antiques or childhood capstones. Surround frames with greenery and accent lighting.

Mix Artwork Sizes

Build a gallery wall with canvases, metal prints, photography, ceramics, and paintings. Square and panoramic orientations make dynamic displays--especially on ladder shelves!

Add Fresh Flowers

Incorporate faux or fresh florals in wall vases, hanging planters, and pots. Opt for neutral bases to coordinate stems and foliage with surrounding decor.

Feature Favorite Photos

Designate shelves for framed photos that make you smile. Capture loved ones, vacations, pets--anything uplifting works! Arrange creatively or chronologically.

Include Plants and Pots

Nothing enlivens a space like greenery! Display tropicals, cacti, and succulents solo or grouped in ceramic planters and woven baskets matching the room's color scheme.

Shelf Decor Considerations

While dreaming up dazzling displays, remember to consider practicalities governing living room shelving:

Select Durable Materials

When installing shelving, opt for wood, metal, or heavy-duty plastics over particle board, which sags over time. Reinforce with brackets for weight capacity.

Check Weight Capacities

Before loading shelves, verify maximum weight limits. Light accents are safer bets than heavy books on unsupported boards. Load bottom shelves first, then work upwards evenly.