Few things bring us more joy than a well-styled shelf. It’s more of an art than a science, but we get asked often how to make a shelf look “just right” so here are our top 5 tips for styling. Save this for later so you have the recipe! 1. Use a mix of things you already love and new things you buy with intent to just look pretty. Your decor will feel more like you if every piece isn’t straight from the Pottery Barn catalog. Bring out the personal art, family photos and vintage finds that you can display proudly. 2. Varied heights are the key to your shelves not looking flat and boring. Think a tall vase next to a short canister, a big frame and a little frame overlapping, stacked boxes, using stands to lift art. 3. Books are your friend. Collect books from around your house and buy a handful of pretty coffee table books to act as a base for objects and add more dimension. Don’t tell your local librarian, but we always take the book jackets off to make them look simple and clean— plus you never know what’s hiding under a colorful jacket! 4. We love a good bowl. Wooden beads, terracotta or wooden chains and glass balls are our favorite fillers for bowls. The effortless look of a beaded garland spilling out of a bowl or off a box never gets old. Please— whatever you do— do not use fake grass balls, potpourri, or anything else you find labeled “filler” at Homegoods. Just walk away… 5. Have fun! The most important thing is that your home feels like a reflection of you so don’t force it. It shouldn’t look perfect or over styled. Less is more and personal is always better than store bought. Design @pennyandpearldesign Photos @marinaporl