How can I make these shelves look better?

[munchkintrouble]

It's 3 shelves at the side of our fireplace. They aren't very deep-about 6 or 7 inches and not high either so I'm limited to what I can go fir but I've never been happy with the layout.

Any tips or ideas to make it flow a bit better?

I think you've tried to make it too symmetrical with main pieces in the middle and bits either side. Try to make it more random and varied, groups of 3 or singular items.

Books, books and more books.
Plus a plant and a lamp.

She's got plants.

Too much stuff I think. Lovely otherwise.

Books

Too many ornaments and nothing that's actually useful or practical.

I like the idea of a tumbling plant on the top shelf, then add books or DVD's. I find it odd to see shelves with nothing actually stored on them!

If you love the white, paint the shelves white. Otherwise add some stacked art or travel books in different colours - and then bonus, you’ll have books to read :)

Don't paint the shelves!!

Definitely don't paint them!

I think they are too close together and agree that it's possibly the layout of what's on them that makes them not work.

They are shallow and close together at present so will look best as book shelves. But the middle one is quite bowed. So you could remove the middle one entirely and that would allow you to have larger items, pictures etc.

Definitely group in 3s or 5s, you need odd numbers otherwise your eye can't settle.
So top shelf, push the plant closer to the lamp on the left and put the smallest candlestick directly in front of them. The other items on that shelf push to the right hand side and group closely.

Put the plants on the middle shelf all the way to the right, so they are diagonally opposite the plant on the highest shelf.

I would have the three photo frames grouped together I think, perhaps on the bottom shelf on the right, but without gaps in between.
The items need to be in groups, a plant shouldn't be directly above another plant, and in the groups try to have varying heights.

Right what do you think to my reshuffle?

I struggle to put things on because they aren't very deep or high. I wanted chunkier frames
But they are too high!

I think they look better but still not 100% happy

Photo

Personally I’d put books on those (and I say that as someone who doesn’t display a lot of books and feels roo many is clutter) and remove the ornaments and plants, it’s a bit next at home, I’m sorry, but nothing on it is particularly wow, just space fillers.

I'd struggle to fit books on there plus we don't read unless it's toddler books 🤷🏻‍♀️

That looks much better OP.

I think truly love your shelves, you are going to have to find something that you truly love to display!

Move the plant off the bottom shelf, it's squashed. Put the rabbit ornament from the shelf above on it. Then I'd either move the vase from the top shelf or the plant and keep the vase but with something in it.

I’d probably just remove them then, It looks like you’re just shoving stuff on there for the sake of it. Like the old display cabinets of old

They would easily fit books if six or seven inches deep but if you don’t read then I’d just remove them, as they’d work best as bookshelves.

But ultimately, it's your home and if you are happy and like it, that's all that matters

I think it needs more depth, trailing plants, pictures propped behind other things, some smaller sized objects, and I like stacked books. We have similar shelves in our alcoves and I love rearranging them, although I like lots of different colours and more "stuff" than you!

Looks better but swap the bottom left plant ( looks squashed) for the oil burner on top shelf

Also remove both pictures by the bunnies as it's squashed there too.

Hi Op, haven't read full thread but have looked at all your pics.

I'd get rid of the plant on bottom left, looks squished, and the bunnies.

I'd like 3 or so books flat on top of each other with a candle on top in the middle of one shelf for a different look. I'd get rid of about half the stuff you have on there to be honest, all lovely but far to cluttered!

Books

The things you have are fine
The colours are fine

Try -

Removing the orchid, it's too tall

The H where the plant is on the bottom shelf

That plant where the orchid is

Photo from the top where the bunnies are

Bunnies where the H is