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Styling Built-in Cabinets

How to Style Built-in Cabinets

Shelf styling is one of our favorite decorating techniques, but it’s also one fo the trickiest. Knowing what to display and how to style these built-ins can sometimes be a challenge, typically these pieces have long runs of multiple shelves which can be tricky to figure out exactly what to showcase. We’ve broken it down for you here:

Step 1: Start with a clean slate!

No matter what kind of shelves we’re styling, we always empty our shelves first. That way, we can start fresh and see the space we’re working with in a new light.

Step 2: Consider what you’re working with 

Once you have cleared everything from your shelves, look at what you already have, and start grouping your objects by size.

This process makes it easier once you start styling, and it helps you connect all your pieces and consider what you may want to add to your collection. 

Step 3: Start the look with fundamental pieces 

Start by using your largest items first to create focal points to style around. Vases, baskets, bowls, art, or other large decor items are perfect for adding substance and visual weight to a built-in.

Placing items with dark tones first or beginning overall with similar toned items makes it easier to build upon.

We typically like to stagger these items so that they don’t stack on top of each other and are not right next to each other, which helps create balance!

Step 4: Start adding your smaller items 

This next step can be the hardest part of the process, but also the most rewarding! We love to create groupings with our medium and small objects to fill in the spaces that our large pieces don’t occupy. 

Stacking books, adding in boxes, and pairing two similar elements together are some of our favorite go-to’s. This is also the perfect time to add personal touches like family photos or collected objects to make it your own! 

XOXO
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