Shelves and Surfaces: Decorating with Keepsakes and without Clutter

Decorated Living Room

When you first move in, the house might feel a little empty. The fastest way to bring in personality and style – and to make it truly feel like home – is to decorate the shelves. Chances are you have a shelf or two to use, whether it’s the entertainment center, bookcase, fireplace mantle, or coffee table. Open surfaces like these are the perfect place to display your favorite keepsakes. However, be careful you don’t go overboard. Decorating home décor shelves requires some careful time and attention. That way, you don’t run the risk of your new living room looking cluttered.

Decorating for Balance and Style

When arranging keepsakes on a shelf, don’t just think about how that one lone shelf looks. Consider how these decorations will impact the room as a whole. What colors will your decorations introduce? Will they complement your furniture or clash with it? And what sort of story will they tell? If you want your keepsakes to enhance the space, you have to ask yourself these types of questions before just placing items wherever they fit.

Highlight Special Items

Another important thing to keep in mind is that you want your special mementos to be the focal point. That photo you adore or that vase you love won’t get the attention it deserves if it’s hidden behind a bunch of clutter. Remember, it’s okay to keep your shelves spare and simple. If you’re decorating a bookcase, for example, one to three décor items per shelf should do the trick.

Don’t Be Afraid to Get Creative

Now that you’re in a new house, it’s the perfect opportunity for a fresh start. Take the time to get new frames for your old photographs or to add a fresh coat of paint to your accessories. As your style changes over the years, making little updates like these can help you enjoy your keepsakes that much more. Plus, tweaking the accents can make them fit in better with the rest of the room.

Tips for Arranging Decorations

How you arrange your shelves is more important than you might think. Object placement can mean the difference between a well-styled room and an eyesore. As was mentioned earlier, try to keep shelves minimally decorated with just a few items per shelf.

In addition, be sure to play with different shapes and heights. Incorporate a combination of tall objects, like flower vases, and short objects, like stacks of books. Pair round candles or decorative bowls with square picture frames to balance it all out.

Another tip is to take advantage of depth. Most shelves are pretty deep, and you can use that to your benefit. Place a photo or decorative plate against the back of the shelf, with complementary accessories towards the front.

Time to Get Decorating

For a lot of homeowners, decorating the house is one of the most fun parts about moving into a new home. And that’s what W.B. Homes is all about – making the home buying process as smooth, simple, and exciting as possible. W.B. Homes has been building custom homes for decades all throughout Bucks and Montgomery Counties, with tons of styles and neighborhoods to choose from. Call us at 215-800-3075 to learn what we can do for you.

Meet Donna, Your Trusted New Home Advisor

As a helpful resource, Donna’s here for you. She knows all about the neighborhoods we build and can help guide you towards making the best decisions about your perfect W.B. home.