You have hung up that corner shelf at last. You stand back. You are pleased with it. Then, gradually in the succeeding weeks, it turns into a dumping field. A half-burned candle. Three books you were going to read. A charger. That market trinket you have not had a home. And there, all of a sudden, is a shelf that is evidently meant to be on purpose, but looks to the eye like a junk drawer.
It occurs to nearly all of us. And it is not that you have poor taste, but that it is quite difficult to decorate a corner shelf successfully, as it appears. The regulations are not the same as a regular shelf. The area is smaller. All objects are more conspicuous. And the temptation to cram it all is there.
This guide will assist you in being right. No degree in design is mandatory.
Start with the Shelf itself
You may have to consider the shelf before you consider what is on the corner shelf. Is it the right size for the wall? Is it of the right height? A shelf that does not fit the area but is too small will always appear clumsy, regardless of what it carries. A shelf that is too high will lose its visual relationship with the rest of the room.
As a general rule, place a corner shelf at eye level or slightly higher. It is about 150-165 cm off the floor for most individuals. This will have your display in the natural line of sight, but it will not seem like you have to strain your neck to view it.
When you have a series of shelves, one on top of the other, in the corner, make some breathing space between them. Shelves that are crowded seem crowded regardless of how you dress them.
The Real Reason Shelves Look Cluttered
The bulk of clutter on the shelves is not too much stuff. It is all about an overabundance of stuff trying to get your attention at once. When all the objects on a shelf are of varying colour, height, and texture, your eye is unsure of where to focus. The outcome is an eye jumble, rather than a visual representation.
The remedy is cool and soothing. You want a few things to shine, and many things to come along and uphold them.
A well-dressed corner shelf is not overloaded, but in harmony. The space left is part of the design.
Three easy rules to transform everything.
Odd numbers only
Divide into groups of three or five. Uneven number groupings are natural. Even numbers are formal and stiff.
Vary the height
Do not place objects with the same height adjacent to each other. Keep tall, medium, and short objects in the same shelf such that the eye moves naturally along the shelf.
Leave space
Intend to empty at least 30 per cent of the shelf. Space does not go to waste, but it allows the things that you do have the opportunity to breathe and be visualized.
What really works on a corner shelf?
The shelf corner is not very large. And that is what is special about it, it makes you edit. You’re not decorating a wall. You are documenting a little thing. The following are the kinds of items that are likely to go well together.
A Single plant or a Creeping vine
Something living softens the overall display. It might be an organic pattern of a small pothos, a succulent, or a trailing strand of pearls, which no object will be able to duplicate. It also attracts the eye either upwards or downwards, providing the shelf movement.
A Single Tall Anchor unit
This is your hero. Tall vase, sculptural object, or a stack of books with a small object on top. It provides a visual reference point and something to lean on besides everything else.
A Meaningful Object
A small piece of pottery. A simple holder candle. A cardboard picture or small photo. Items that have some element of personal significance seem not accidental. They narrate a tale without making a noise about it.
Not colour only, but also texture
Fuse matte and shiny. Wood and ceramic. Soft and hard. The use of texture brings out richness without creating visual havoc. It is the key to why some shelves appear rich and layered, whilst others merely appear busy.
Colour: Make or Break factor
Choose a palette and then choose objects. Two, three notes that match each other – then keep to them. Tones of earth are kind and earthy. Natural and white wood are Scandinavian and clean. Dark greens and terracotta are sumptuous and earthy.
The error most individuals make is adding something they adore without examining whether it matches the palette. That gilded orange pot you got at the market could be lovely in itself, but when your corner shelf is all creams and sage greens, it will have a battle on with all the rest of it.
In doubt, make a selection with colours of the same family. A five-colour white display seems more unified compared to a five-colour accent display.
