Open shelves look great in photos but can quickly become clutter traps in real homes. The trick is to balance beauty and practicality.
First, decide the main purpose of the shelf—is it mostly for display, mostly for storage, or a mix? If it’s pure storage, consider baskets and boxes to hide small, ugly items. If it’s display, limit how many things you put out.
Use a mix of heights and shapes—books, a plant, a few framed photos, a bowl or two, maybe a candle. Group items in small clusters instead of lining them up like a shop.
Leave some white space. Every inch doesn’t need to be filled. Empty space around objects lets them stand out and stops the shelf from feeling chaotic.
Stick to a loose colour palette. If everything is different colours, textures and sizes, your eye gets tired. Repeating tones—wood, whites, a bit of black, one accent colour—brings harmony.
And remember: shelves aren’t permanent. Rotate items every few months and give things a break. That way your space feels fresh without constant shopping.