Tips to Make Open Shelves Look Less Cluttered
On Instagram or Pinterest open shelves look great. However, once you try to organise things yourself, does it end up looking like a chaotic mess? Well, you’re not alone. You’ve probably seen several documentaries on decluttering and keeping things neat and tidy. No doubt, the urge to have a Pinterest-worthy home is real. We’ve noticed that a lot of new homes have open shelves in all their rooms. Whether it’s the bedroom or kitchen, open shelves are all over. While they look great, the key is to know how to style them. Needless to say, they offer a mix of style and practicality. However, once you get into the habit of stuffing things, it is going to look messy.
As one of the best interior design schools in India, we have some tips for you that will help you keep the open shelves looking less cluttered.
The Secret to Styling your Open Shelves
Pick a Colour Palette
When there are too many colours or things happening, shelves can look cluttered. When the colour scheme is well-curated, it gives a polished and tidy look. As far as possible, choose two or three main colours and repeat them in the rest of the shelves. For instance, if the open shelves are in the living room, neutral hues with a hint of green works great. It’s subtle and at the same time helps maintain visual harmony. You can even do pop colours. The key is to make it look stylish. Once you stick to a calm and cohesive colour palette, you can then pick the decorative and functional elements that will go on those open shelves.
Make it look Pretty
Open shelves are the perfect opportunity for you to display things that are functional and decorative. Bought something when you were travelling? It’s great to display it there. It’s ideal to showcase trinkets such as vases, framed art, books, candles, plates and other decorative pieces. Pinterest is always there for you to understand how to style them. A mix of textures also works wonders. When you’re styling open shelves, you just have to keep in mind that you need to add dimension. Besides being a display area, shelves are also useful and multipurpose.
Use Baskets & Bins for a Clutter-free Look
Only open shelves in the living room are worthy of holding decorative objects. When you have open shelves in the kitchen or bedroom, the things stored there don’t have to be on display. The best thing to do would be to buy woven baskets, rattan bins, and stylish containers that will help you eliminate the clutter. This also keeps open shelves organised. For instance, in a child’s nursery, there are a lot of toys which are simply scattered around. The best way to tidy up the room a bit is to store them in these boxes and put them away. It helps maintain a clean aesthetic. Whether it’s toys, kitchen tools or office supplies, baskets help conceal the clutter.
Group Items by Function
A common mistake homeowners make is that they turn open shelves into makeshift junk drawers. Don’t do that as it can ruin your entire aesthetic. The best thing to do is to group similar items together. If you plan to display crockery in your open shelves, make sure plates and bowls are stacked properly. Keep the items you use frequently at eye level so that they’re easy to reach. Keep daily use food supplies away from dishes and other kitchen utensils.
Negative Space is Key
It can be pretty tempting to fill every shelf. Refrain from doing that. You don’t have to fill every inch of the shelf with décor. It’s best to leave some empty space as this will prevent it from looking cluttered. Negative space creates visual interest while maintaining visual harmony. It also makes sure that the shelves don’t overwhelm the room. Go in with a well-edited approach instead of overloading it with random items.
Keep Cleaning
Regular cleaning is a must for open shelves. Over a period of time, there is immense dust accumulation. You need to keep cleaning these shelves to keep them dust-free. You can even step back and take a photo of the shelf and review how pleasing it feels to the eyes. If you feel any décor item isn’t doing much to the visual aesthetic, it’s better to remove it.
Conclusion
When you’re styling open shelves, keep functionality in mind. Only keep the items you use at hand. This way it will always look less cluttered. Don’t think of open shelving as just storage. It’s a chance to show off your style. Whether you’re a minimalist or maximalist, you can do a lot with open shelves. It can help you strike a fine balance between beauty and function.
Once you study an interior design course in Bangalore, you can even take up the profession of a stylist or offer home organisation services. Besides interior decoration and designing, there is a vast demand for individuals who also help with tidying up a home.
