When you own a lot of stuff in a small apartment that has limited storage space, it can be pretty tempting to pile it all on any nearby open shelves. As long as it fits, right?
The big problem with doing that is it quickly becomes a cluttered eyesore in the room. And when you need to grab a book or any other item that’s at the bottom of the stack, pulling it out of there without toppling everything that’s resting above it can make it feel like you’re playing a game of Jenga.
There are ways to make everything fit without having it look terribly cluttered or impossible to grab when you need something. Here are some tips to keep in mind.
1. Have a good mix of accessories with a similar theme and colors.
An easy way to fit more stuff onto your shelves without making it look terrible is by sticking with items of the same color palette and aesthetic. Neutrals might make this easier for you, and you can always add pops of color here and there.
Consider mixing things up by combining books with picture frames or art and other knicknacks. Creating a sort of zig-zag style with your accessory placement as you look down on your shelves will help create a balanced effect.
2. Use the background for picture frames and art.
An easy way to style up the background of your shelves is by placing picture frames or wall art pieces in the back. If you can stand them up against the wall, that will still leave you with plenty of room to store stuff directly in front of it.
3. Place smaller items in front of larger ones.
Speaking of placing smaller items in front of tall picture frames or art, it’s important to do this with basically all items you decide to display together. Create tighter bunches of your accessories by picking three to five items and organizing them with the tall items in the back and smaller items in the front.
4. Use boxes and baskets to keep collections of small items neat and tidy.
If you have a lot of small items that would simply look too cluttered if all placed out on display, using a nice-looking box or a wicker basket is a great way to keep your shelves organized and still very functional. Boxes and baskets also make nice large items that add some balance against all the smaller stuff you’ve decided to display.
5. Experiment with a combo of vertically stacked books and horizontally stacked books.
Shelves are basically made for books, but filling them up entirely with massive stacks can sometimes make them look a little too packed. Instead, break up your stacks of books by combining them with other items and varying the way you display them, such as by stacking them flat or lining them up on their sides to add more of a visually appealing effect.
And that’s it! The way your open shelving looks will largely depend on the type of shelving unit you have to work with and the types of accessories you want to display. With these versatile tips, however, you should be able to steer clear of anything that looks a little over the top.
If you’re looking for more ways to get rid of clutter in your apartment, be sure to check out how to refresh your kitchen with these organization ideas.