With the seasons changing, it’s time to clear your shelving of summer décor and make the move to a more autumnal look!  Restyling the décor on your shelves is a great way to start the journey towards a new season, so it’s often where I start.  Changing shelf styling is a task that can be a bit daunting, but here are a few tips to make it easier and give you a designer look every time!  And if you don’t have shelving, these tips apply to other areas, too – mantles, console tables, centerpieces, or (my favorite!) buffet décor.

Tip #1: Clean & Clear

No matter how well you keep the house, shelving just seems to attract dust (and the odd dead fly – ew).  Changing seasons is a great time to pull everything down and give it a good cleaning.  I like to do it all at once, so all your décor pieces are in one place and you can see what you have to work with, all clean and shiny.  PRO TIP: As you pull things down, it makes it easier if you group items together and organize them by size.  Then you can select them easily when you go to redecorate.

Tip #2: Select your Theme

Many decorators choose their themes in advance or make selections based on current trends. If you find yourself stumped, there are always a ton of theme ideas on Pinterest.  A word of caution on hot trends – whatever is currently “in” can be easier to find, but doesn’t often wear well for future years.  Only buy into the trends if you really love them.  Far better to maintain a more neutral base, and then add in a few “hot ticket” items for fun.  If you tire of them, they fall out of vogue or don’t hold up you won’t feel badly about getting rid of just a few pieces.  PRO TIP: Once you have selected your theme, make sure you have more than one piece to “reinforce” that theme. Three is a great number, but you can also work in more as needed. 

Tip #3: Add in Layers

As you re-fill your shelves, start with the largest items, filling from the back to the front.  As you go, stand back and look to see the distribution of items so everything is balanced and visually interesting.  The eye loves odd numbers – threes, fives, etc.  An easy rule of thumb is to never stack your décor.  If you have a tall item, balance it with another tall item on the opposite side of the next shelf styling.  Work your way through your items in size order, finishing with the smallest items. PRO TIP: It’s an oldie but a goodie – don’t forget your spillers, pillars, thrillers, and fillers.  Some items to drape down, some to rise up, something interesting, and then fill in the gaps.  It’s a winning combo!

BONUS TIP: No matter what you are decorating, never underestimate the power of going back for a final edit the following day.  It’s amazing what you will see after you’ve taken a break and slept on it!