curating beauty with styling: a guide to chic, statement - making displays

Artwork and books are a meaningful depiction of personal expression. Open shelves provide a perfect canvas to showcase your high-end, luxurious pieces in an elegant, eye-catching display. Here's how to style your precious collections to create a truly striking and refined aesthetic.

1. START WITH BALANCE

Arrange your artworks and books in a way that creates balance and symmetry. This doesn't mean everything has to match perfectly. Rather, spread out pieces of varying sizes and colours to ensure the look remains harmonious.

2. GROUP BY THEME

If your collection includes artworks or books of a certain period or genre, group them together to create a curated look. This provides an opportunity to create mini-narratives within your collection, reflecting personal interests and passions

"Bookshelves are not just for books. An interesting shelf is a mix of books, art objects, and items that mean something to you. Treat it like a small exhibition of your life." – Kelly Wearstler.

3. PLAY WITH HEIGHTS AND ANGLES

Alternating between vertical and horizontal orientations can add an additional layer of visual interest. Prop up small pieces of artwork on book stacks or incorporate bookends for an artistic touch

4. PERSONALIZE

Include personal objects, travel souvenirs or framed photos in between books and artworks. It constitutes a delightful connection between you and the displayed items, making the arrangement truly personal and unique.

5. SHOWCASE COVERS

Consider facing out some books, especially those with visually striking or cherished covers. They can become part of the artwork.

Styling open shelves is not a 'one size fits all' situation

It is an ongoing process of trial and error, of adding and subtracting. It's a reflection of your personal taste and lifestyle. Whether your collection consists of art masterpieces or signed first editions, they deserve to be displayed in all their glory! Remember, a well-styled shelf is a delight to the eye, a peek into your world – an artful balance of high-end pieces, personal mementos, and pure creativity.