Open shelves are brilliant - they magically attach to a wall to create storage that is visible to everyone! I wouldn't just stack things on them; I'd style them with cute and colorful accessories. There are tons of things that you could mix and match -- your collectibles, vases, clocks, monograms, baskets, art works, books, jars, mugs, plates, canisters, etc.,. to create a purposeful storage space that contains an amalgam of your favorite items. You have full control to come up with a decor plan that will work for you today, or be rearranged later for your liking. :) That's really the fun part of combining decor with storage. Couple of thoughts - create some sort of symmetry with your objects, keep scale and balance in mind, group similar items to create harmony, fill in empty spaces as much as possible, have adequate lighting above the shelves, work with the background color, and finally, remember to dust the items regularly.
I stumbled upon several beautifully decorated open shelves, so I've decided to share just a few to give you an idea.. We have one open shelf in our dining room, and there's a picture of it in my page on Earthy Brick Walls.
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