A Home Office Bookshelf Styling

I finished up one of my local bookshelf styling giveaways this week and I couldn’t wait to share how it turned out.

This is a home office where the homeowner had 3 floating shelves.

I did a quick visit first to take a few pics and check out what she had that she might want to use on the shelves. She had some books in the closet that I could pick from to work into the shelving and a few other items.

I picked through some a few of her accessories while I was there. Here was what was appropriate for these shelves.

• Small painting in a warm red color

• Delicate metal vase, obviously hand crafted

• Little wooden doll

• A few antique books

Bookshelves to be styled in Bookshelf Styling Giveaway | carlaaston.com

She wanted to include a few family photos too, and had some black frames so I added those on the shelves too.

Bookshelf Styling Color Inspiration

Here was a lovely original piece of art in the room above a chair. The chinoiserie bowl was in the closet and when I was there we brought that out to the small table there. You can see the warm red color was nice and would be something to repeat on the bookshelves, as well as the colors in the painting.

Color inspiration for bookshelf styling | carlaaston.com

While I was at her home in the first visit, she asked me to style this bar cart in her dining room too. She didn’t really want to deck it out as a cocktail station, they actually have bar cabinet built out over by the kitchen, but wanted some pretty items here to fill this corner.

Sorry for the fuzzy pic!!

Bar cart to be styled.

I spent a few weeks gathering items from a few shops in Houston that I visit for accessories, my own stash of props in my store room, and then some cash and carry vendors at Dallas Market.

One thing I always experience with every single styling project, whether for photo shoots or as projects, you always need more than you think!

With this project, I used everything I brought. It worked out just right. :-)

Here’s the result.

Bookshelf Styling Giveaway | carlaaston.com

Bookshelf styling with floating shelves and baskets below - Bookshelf Styling Giveaway| carlaaston.com

Bookshelf styling with floating shelves and baskets below - Bookshelf Styling Giveaway| carlaaston.com

I brought those big baskets from my stash, as I felt like she needed something under those shelves. I was hoping she had some pretty pillows or throws to stash in these and these were tucked in the closet with the books. They look great there.

I added these items to fill these shelves.

• Two vases

• Two disc decor items on stands (good for height and for upper or lower shelves when styling) I love how these worked with her metal vase in front there too.

• Two modern picture frames (I really like the simplicity of these and they will look great once she gets some photos in there. The black ones were a little too bold and traditional.)

• Decorative marble topped box

• Two crystals and one coral piece

• Brass bird

• Small moss in container

Bar Cart Styling

I wanted to keep the bar cart simple with larger items. The tall vase with the branches adds height and the other rounded shapes echo the shape of the cart.

I popped two cocktail recipe books on the cart for a little color, they work with the orbs in the bowl below. I brought all these items in new.

Bar cart styling with new accessories | carlaaston.com

The two cocktail books add some color and make the styling feel a little less that it is just all decor items. | carlaaston.com

I saw this art in her closet with the books and we leaned it against the wall. I think it would look great hanging there above the cart. It’s just the right size for that wall.

Bar cart styling with art to be hung | carlaaston.com

Here’s how the color inspiration translated to the bookshelves.

Color inspiration for bookshelf styling | carlaaston.com

Bookshelf styling giveaway | carlaaston.com

I’ve got another one coming soon! That homeowner was tasked with painting the back of her bookcases, and that is happening now. Check back in a week or so to see how that one turns out!

Another Bookshelf Styling Giveaway

I am looking to do this offer again, locally, in the fall, so look for that to come in the next month or so. These stylings give my time and expertise for free but you do have to pay for the items I need to buy. We settle on a budget before I go shopping at the initial meeting in your home.

Maybe you don’t need any new items for your bookshelves? That’s okay too! I love to work with what you have to make it shine in your home. :-)

More Bookshelf Styling Goodness