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Shelf styling is a newer love of mine, and I’ve learned a lot through inspiration research, as well as some trial and error. I have always been intimidated by open shelving and the risk of looking busy. I quickly realized with the right decor, shelves can make a statement without adding a clutter. These are the elements I use when going for a modern look.
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Black Accents
First and foremost, my favorite way to make a space feel modern is by adding black. In this case, the brackets are already black, so I added the black shelf set and black candlesticks to complete the look. The wall hanging in the middle is modern in shape, but the hits of black make it even more so.
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With all shelf styling, I typically start with books. I remove the paper covers and attempt to find as many neutral books as possible. I wasn’t able to purchase books for this project, but if you are, these books are an option. Since we couldn’t purchase and also couldn’t find quite enough white/cream spines, we used the trick of turning the books backwards. That way, the white pages of the books show instead of the colored spines.
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Glass
A modern element that I was somewhat surprised by was glass. I don’t know why I didn’t expect it to add a modern touch, but I fell in love with the look. In this setup specifically, I added these glass canisters. I plan on filling them eventually but am currently liking the clean look of them empty. On the other set of shelves, to balance it out, I added vintage wine glasses. The vintage aspect adds another dimension, but the modern element of the glass is what’s captured here. These glass vases are another favorite of mine to use!
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Metals
Specifically, gold and copper metals. On the left side, I put this little gold vase with some cascading greenery. It’s a subtle touch, but makes a big impact. Especially with the black shelves reflecting in it! On the opposite side, I have a copper bowl with faux dark ivy cascading.
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Geometric Shapes
A great way to fill a random “hole” on the shelf while also adding to the modern vibe is with geometric shapes. Here, I’ve added a metal tic tac toe piece from Homegoods and wooden links on the other side. You also can’t miss the extremely geometric wall art in between the shelves that accomplish this as well! Since Homegoods finds are always random, I also love this large asterick, large jack, and this random table structure.
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Dark Greenery
Last, but not least, I want to give a shoutout to the darker shades of greenery. Honestly, you don’t NEED darker greenery for a modern look, but it’s a way to help if any of the other elements are lacking! Ivy, specifically, adds the modern look I love. I ran into Hobby Lobby a couple months ago and grabbed all the greenery we have here! But if you’re looking for an online ivy option, this is one of my recent favorites.
And that’s it! A few easy ways to bring in a more modern look…. In my case, always topped off with some farmhouse haha… can’t get away from it!
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