It’s tough to say exactly when shelving transitioned from storage space to stylish display, Somewhere between the vast libraries of the Victorian era and the emergence of Minimalism, things changed. So it’s perfectly normal that you might be having a hard time finding your footing when it comes to modern shelves. You may even be wrestling with such existential questions as: How many trinkets are too many trinkets? Don’t worry, this is one question you won’t have to find the answer to alone.
Another important concept when styling your shelving and modern bookcases is layering. This can be achieved by grouping items that look good together and arranging them from front to back, or stacking them on top of each other. If you’re looking to add depth to your decor, try placing taller items such as framed artwork or pictures further back and then adding smaller decorative items like statues or knick knacks in front. If your shelf is lacking visual interest or feels unbalanced, consider stacking things like books or magazines and placing decorative pieces on top of them to add height where necessary. And if you’re feeling extra artsy, you can stack items on top of one another and THEN place them in front of taller items that… Look, we’d love to be able to sit here and tell you how much layering is too much layering, but unfortunately, there is no hard and fast rule.