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Install a Decorative Ladder
WFX Utility Cafferkey Wood Step Ladder
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Install a Decorative Ladder
WFX Utility Cafferkey Wood Step Ladder
Now 42% Off
Credit: WayfairIf you’ve got super tall bookshelves and have no idea how the eff you’re going to make your way up into those nooks and crannies to store stuff—let alone style items!—invest in a very chic ladder that rolls back and forth along the unit. Not only will it make the room feel like an old-school collegiate library, but it'll actually be useful.
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Embrace Funky Shapes
Mercury Row Amezcua Steel Geometric Bookcase
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Embrace Funky Shapes
Mercury Row Amezcua Steel Geometric Bookcase
Credit: WayfairLook for shelves that have non-traditional shapes to house your goods, like this gold statement piece with unique cut-outs. Not only does this act as extra storage, but it creates unexpected areas that make everyday items look totally different when placed on an angle.
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Use Food as Decor
SAIOOL Canister Set of 2
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Use Food as Decor
SAIOOL Canister Set of 2
Credit: AmazonIt’s true: Some food is just as pretty to look at as it is to eat. Repurposed olive oil canisters? Adorable. Glass jars full of dried pasta? Gorg. Try setting out a few foodie items, even if your shelf isn’t in the kitchen, to help set the scene.
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Go Mobile with Your Shelving
Rebrilliant Kirkman Bar Cart
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Go Mobile with Your Shelving
Rebrilliant Kirkman Bar Cart
Now 48% Off
Credit: WayfairTake note of this clever lil idea: repurposing a rolling cart to store books, dishes, or other knick knacks. If you have people over or your storage needs evolve, it can roll it right into another room in your home.
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5
Mix Bath Linens in With Pops of Zen
Opalhouse designed with Jungalow Natalia Bath Towel
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Mix Bath Linens in With Pops of Zen
Opalhouse designed with Jungalow Natalia Bath Towel
Credit: TargetGive yourself a whole spa vibe by styling your bathroom shelves with neatly folded linens, stacked in tidy piles, and adding a few calming accents. Think essential oils, soaps, candles, books with your favorite mantras or meditations, and succulents.
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Use a Cabinet to Corral
Mercury Row Biggins Display Stand
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Use a Cabinet to Corral
Mercury Row Biggins Display Stand
Now 16% Off
Credit: WayfairA beautiful cabinet looks stunning and helps protect your favorite souvenirs and swag. The key to making it shine: mix up the colors, textures, and heights of the items to create visual interest.
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Go Full Rainbow Aesthetic
HelloLullu Custom Color Books Stacks
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Go Full Rainbow Aesthetic
HelloLullu Custom Color Books Stacks
Now 15% Off
Credit: EtsyBibliophiles, take note: We’ve all seen rainbow bookshelves pop, and they're not going away anytime soon. Another way to embrace the styling technique is to try a diagonal pattern where same-shaded books descend down the bookshelves to look like a rainbow on a bias. Sure, it may take a while to sort all those books, but I mean…how pretty?
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8
Use Contrast To Your Advantage
Pottery Barn Meredith Tiered Etagere Bookcase
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Use Contrast To Your Advantage
Pottery Barn Meredith Tiered Etagere Bookcase
Credit: Pottery BarnDealing with a rich, dark color bookshelf or backdrop? Add books, vases, and objects in a lighter color—everything on the shelf will pop. Plus, interesting shapes and textures will get more attention.
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Embrace a Bracket
Liberty Brushed Brass Decorative Shelf Bracket (2-Pack)
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Embrace a Bracket
Liberty Brushed Brass Decorative Shelf Bracket (2-Pack)
Credit: Home DepotBasic metal brackets make it easier to install a simple shelf AND they look good doing it. Buy brackets in a finish that matches other metals in your room to help everything look as ~cohesive~ as possible.
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Shop Ceramics
West Elm Totem Ceramic Vases
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Shop Ceramics
West Elm Totem Ceramic Vases
Now 29% Off
Credit: West ElmInclude vases and other objects in unusual shapes. Ridges, rings, and rolls all feel way more fun than your standard planter or vase. In fact, they make the whole bookshelf feel more playful.
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Don’t Be Afraid to Double Up
Pottery Barn Aubrey Double Lateral File Bookcase
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Don’t Be Afraid to Double Up
Pottery Barn Aubrey Double Lateral File Bookcase
Credit: Pottery BarnPractical and pretty, sometimes you need your shelving to do some serious heavy lifting. Ideal in an office or if you’re trying to organize a large book collection, two shelves are much better than one.
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Add a pop of color
Clare Clare Paint Gallon in Current Mood
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Add a pop of color
Clare Clare Paint Gallon in Current Mood
Credit: ClareSometimes it’s what’s behind your shelves that matters. This moody green paint provides a nice contrast for white and light wood tones. It makes each shelf the star of the space.
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Don’t Just Stick to the Shelf
Zsalto Suspicious Mugs Framed Art Print
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Don’t Just Stick to the Shelf
Zsalto Suspicious Mugs Framed Art Print
Now 15% Off
Credit: Society6Pro tip: Style more than just the inner shelves. Add art and curios to the top and hang framed art on the front.
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Play Up Your Plants
The Sill Philodendron Green
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Play Up Your Plants
The Sill Philodendron Green
Now 21% Off
Credit: The SillIf you’ve got a seriously green thumb (show-off), an entire bookshelf or shelves full of plants in matching terra-cotta pots will really make a statement.
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15
Display a Collection
Gracie Oaks Solid Wood Wall Mounted Wine Glass Rack
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Display a Collection
Gracie Oaks Solid Wood Wall Mounted Wine Glass Rack
Credit: WayfairHere, a collection of wine glasses look more polished when they’re displayed together. Not only does it keep your glassware accessible and protected, this chic display frees up room on your bar cart for even! more! wine!
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16
Incorporate a Gallery Wall
Pottery Barn Stowe Modern Metal Frames — Set of 6
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Incorporate a Gallery Wall
Pottery Barn Stowe Modern Metal Frames — Set of 6
Credit: Pottery BarnA gallery wall on its own is stunning, but when you work in a bookshelf it adds even more color and dimension. By concentrating all of the accents on one wall, it creates a focal point for the entire room.
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Think Outside the Living Room
17 Stories Kedarious Standard Baker's Rack
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Think Outside the Living Room
17 Stories Kedarious Standard Baker's Rack
Now 20% Off
Credit: WayfairMost people relegate decorative shelving to a home office or the living room—but they look beautiful in other spaces too. A high shelf in the kitchen can be a great spot to display artwork or more ornate serving ware or dining accessories.
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18
Just Add Paint
Pro Grade Pro Grade Paint Brushes — Set of 5
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Just Add Paint
Pro Grade Pro Grade Paint Brushes — Set of 5
Now 34% Off
Credit: AmazonLeftover paint gets put to good use, brightening up the inside of a built-in bookcase. Paint is an easy way to add a touch of color and turns a small nook into a standout storage space.
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Find a Secondhand Gem
TroveMagpie Vintage Rattan Shelves
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Find a Secondhand Gem
TroveMagpie Vintage Rattan Shelves
Credit: EtsyWhy not look for something with more charm and character? You’ll score a better deal and having something that feels different and special makes everything you put on it look even better.
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Display More Than Books
West Elm L-Beam Tiered Industrial Wood & Metal Wall Shelves
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Display More Than Books
West Elm L-Beam Tiered Industrial Wood & Metal Wall Shelves
Credit: West ElmNo room for a bar cart? No problem. A shelf is a clever way to store all of your glasses, liquor, and bar accessories in a dining room. It’s easy for guests to serve themselves or for you to mix up a strong drink on the fly.
Jessica Goodman is the New York Times bestselling author of young adult thrillers They Wish they Were Us, They’ll Never Catch Us, and The Counselors. She is the former op-ed editor at Cosmopolitan magazine, and was part of the 2017 team that won a National Magazine Award in personal service. She has also held editorial positions at Entertainment Weekly and HuffPost, and her work has been published in outlets like Glamour, Condé Nast Traveler, Elle, and Marie Claire.
Hannah Chubb is the lifestyle editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things home, travel, food, health, career, and more. She spends pretty much every hour of every day curating the internet for the best new products, trends, and travel destinations. You can typically find her looking for houses she can’t afford on Zillow or Airbnb, planning her next meal before she gets to the restaurant, or taking all of the Justin Bieber classes over and over and over again on Peloton. Follow her on Instagram.
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