Floating shelves are one of the easiest ways to add storage and personality to a wall. They are also one of the easiest places for clutter to gather. The difference between a shelf that looks considered and one that looks crowded usually comes down to a few simple rules.

Start with the shelf itself

A shelf with no visible bracket keeps the focus on what sits on it. The Curved Floating Wood Shelves are solid wood with a concealed bracket, so they appear to rest directly on the wall, and the rounded front edge softens a hallway, bathroom or nursery.

A few placement tips before anything goes on top:

• Above a sofa or desk, leave enough space that the shelf does not feel like it is pressing down on the furniture. Roughly 8 to 12 inches above the top of a sofa back is a common starting point.
• In a stack of two or three, keep the spacing even so the group reads as one piece.
• Use a level and the right anchors for your wall, and follow the weight guidance on the product page.

Rule 1: Leave about a third of each shelf empty

Empty space is what makes a shelf look styled rather than stored. If every inch is filled, the eye has nowhere to rest. Aim to leave roughly a third of each shelf clear.

Rule 2: Group in odd numbers and vary height

Three objects of different heights almost always look better than two or four of the same height. A simple combination:

• Something tall, like a vase with a single branch.
• Something medium, like a small stack of books.
• Something low, like a small bowl, a candle or a plant.

Rule 3: Mix vertical and horizontal books

Stand some books upright and lay others flat. A horizontal stack can double as a small platform for an object on top. Bookends keep upright rows tidy and add weight to the arrangement.

• The Geometric Stone Bookends are cut from solid marble or travertine and are heavy enough to hold a full row.
• The Decorative Concrete Bookend is hand poured in the shape of a quotation mark, a small literary joke for a bookshelf.

Rule 4: Add something living

A plant or a stem softens the hard lines of wood and books. Small, simple containers work best on a shelf.

• The Pure Ceramic Planter Bowl is about 4 inches across with a drainage hole, sized for a small houseplant.
• The Minimalist Concrete Tabletop Planter comes in hexagon, circle and square shapes for a succulent or cactus.
• A Petite Ceramic Teardrop Bud Vase holds a single stem in very little space.

Trailing plants, such as pothos, look especially good on an upper shelf where they can hang down. Our guide to choosing a vase covers which vases suit which stems.

Rule 5: Keep one personal object

A photograph or a small keepsake makes a shelf feel like yours. The Marble Photo Clip holds a photo or a card upright on a small stone base.

Rule 6: Repeat colors and materials

Choose two or three materials, such as wood, ceramic and stone, and repeat them across the shelves. Repetition is what makes a group of different objects look intentional.

When you need storage, not display

If the wall needs to hold things that change often, like tools, notes or craft supplies, a pegboard is more flexible than a shelf. The Minimalist Wall Pegboard is powder coated metal with a magnetic surface, and Pegboard Accessories such as small shelves, hooks and pen holders can be moved whenever you like.

See our wall organizers and living room collection for more.

Common questions

How do you style floating shelves so they don't look cluttered?

Leave about a third of each shelf empty, group objects in threes with different heights, and repeat two or three materials across the shelves.

What do you put on floating shelves?

A mix of books, a plant or a vase, one or two decorative objects and something personal, like a photo. Bookends help keep upright books tidy.

How high should floating shelves be above a sofa?

A common starting point is about 8 to 12 inches above the top of the sofa back, adjusted so the shelf relates to the furniture below it.