How much space should be between floating shelves? We recommend spacing shelves 11 to 17 inches apart for visual flow and to give items on the shelves adequate space. Feel free to stagger them or keep them in a straight line, depending on your preference.
If you’re considering floating shelves for your home or are looking for wall shelf ideas, it helps to understand how to style them beautifully. Here, a few design tips for styling modern floating shelves for each and every room of the house.
First, here’s what makes floating shelves different from traditional bookcases or shelving units. Essentially, a floating shelf hangs on a wall with no visible support; it’s typically attached to the wall through concealed mounting hardware. The result is a clean, uncluttered look that can help make a room feel more open and airy.
Modern floating wall shelves have become a staple of interior design, whether the style of any given room leans minimalist or embraces all-out maximalism. Their popularity is due to their versatility: Floating shelves create display and storage options without using valuable floor space, and the right ones can make a design statement on their own. Many interior designers appreciate the clean, uncomplicated look that floating shelves provide in the living room, bedroom, office or bathroom.
Floating Shelf Arrangement Ideas
Deciding on the right floating shelf arrangement may seem like a daunting task, but a few principles of design can make it easy. Of course, floating shelves look best when their silhouette and materials complement the existing decor of the room. (For instance, try a brass wall shelf in a space filled with art deco furniture.) Once you’ve chosen a style of floating shelves that is harmonious with the rest of your space, consider these floating wall shelf ideas below.
Focal Point
Floating shelves look best when they’re at eye level, so they become a natural focal point of the room. Positioning shelves at eye level immediately draws attention to the items on display. The ideal number of floating shelves depends on the size of the room and the scale of the shelf. In a smaller space, a single floating shelf may visually anchor the entire room, especially if it (or its contents) contrast with a bold colored wall or wallpaper. Or if you’re blessed with high ceilings and large walls, you may prefer mounted floating shelves above one another—perhaps even from floor to ceiling—to create clean lines and a dramatic moment. And don’t be afraid to style your shelves in a corner–sometimes this can be the best and most attractive space for shelving if you don’t have wide open walls to work with.
Asymmetry
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If you have multiple floating shelves, consider staggering them slightly in an asymmetrical position. For example, if you have three floating shelves, place them in a horizontal line with the middle shelf above or below the others. Be sure to use a level when installing each shelf so they’re perfectly straight.
Choosing the Best Decor for Floating Shelves
After you’ve decided on the positioning of the floating shelves, it’s time to style them. Creating a well-styled shelf may seem as simple as choosing your favorite items to display, but interior designers rely on key strategies to make floating shelves look chic and cohesive.
One technique used by design insiders relies on asymmetry to create visual interest and flow. It’s especially useful when styling multiple shelves. Envision an “X” across the shelves and stagger similar pieces (i.e., those of the same size, same shape or same color) so they are not directly on top of or below one another. This creative and intuitive strategy creates balance and makes for perfectly styled shelving every time. Read on for floating shelf design ideas.
Decorative Objects
Styling with decorative objects and home accessories is an easy way to bring your personal interests into your space. For a harmonious look that feels considered, edit your floating shelves decor by theme or color family and play with scale. For instance, you may want to style your floating shelves with treasures collected over years of travel—a woodblock print from Kyoto, for example, alongside a bud vase plucked from a Parisian flea market. Or, for more minimalist floating shelf decor, you might prefer choosing a color, then assembling a small collection of items in varying tones of the hue. Items of different scales, textures and transparencies will add visual interest to your shelf.
Styling tip: When placing your items, always start with the largest ones. Position them in the aforementioned X pattern to let your eyes easefully move through each vignette. Fill in empty spaces with medium accessories next, then add smaller ones. (Books, stacked horizontally and vertically, can help here as well.) Don’t feel the need to fill every square inch of your shelf. Negative space helps each item be seen.
Plants
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Plants add some, well, life to your shelf design. Cascading plants like pothos add a romantic touch while small succulents look contemporary and clean. Or, if caring for plants isn’t your forte, introduce decorative modern vases for an elevated look—then fill them with maintenance-free (but stunningly realistic) faux botanicals, dried florals and grasses.
Books
It’s easy to show off your literary collection with a modern floating bookshelf. Keep your favorites at arm’s reach and look to sculptural bookends to stylishly keep books upright. Stacking books both horizontally and vertically creates a dynamic feel. This styling technique also allows you to elevate smaller items that may otherwise get lost among larger ones.
Styling tip: Keep like-colored book covers and similar sizes together for a cohesive look. Or, try the trend of turning them all backward—it’s a low-commitment way to freshen up the room.
Floating shelves are an ideal place to display framed photographs. Not only does it allow for swapping out pieces whenever the mood strikes, but it creates clean lines for a streamlined design.
Styling tip: For a cohesive look, style your shelf with photos in frames that match the same tone of wood as the shelf itself.
Styling Floating Shelves By Room
Kitchen Floating Shelf Ideas
Open kitchen shelving is popular for showing off dishware and drinkware such as wine glasses and coffee mugs, but it also has functional benefits. Floating kitchen shelves keep frequently used items within reach and can allow a stunning backsplash tile to shine through. Here are some ways to style your kitchen shelves.
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