Styling a large piece of furniture like a cabinet or hutch can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. It’s a lot of space to fill and it can be tricky to get the right balance of colour, material, and interest. But once you get the hang of it, cabinets and hutches are a great way to create a collected and curated look in your home, while displaying some of your favourite pieces.
We have a cabinet in our dining room, and recently I gave it a fresh coat of paint and added wood shelves and new hardware which gave it a brand-new look. While I was at it, I took everything out and restyled it too.
When styling open shelves I always keep these three simple rules in mind to help me create a beautiful display.
No. 1 – Start with a Blank Slate
Remove all of the existing pieces from your cabinet shelves and gather them all in one place, this will help you easily see what you have to work with. Ensuring you have a variety of pieces will help you to create a look that feels collected and interesting.
While you should use objects you love, make sure they feel intentional by keeping in mind the location of your cabinet. A cabinet in a dining room will feel more intentionally styled if you use pieces that make sense in a dining room. Vases, dishware, and serving platters are all great pieces to incorporate. While a cabinet in a living room will look better if it’s styled with more decor-focused pieces, like vases, books, and art.
No. 2 – Create Balance
I always use the triangle method while decorating shelves. If you’ve never heard of the triangle method before, it refers to placing three objects in a way that visually connects them, ultimately creating a triangle.
Here, I started with four vintage crocks and placed these on the shelves to create a triangle. Next, I did the same thing with three pieces of white serveware.
It’s an easy way to create a visually appealing display!
No. 3 – Add Interest
Finally, I fill in the gaps with pieces that will add interest. This can be done with a variety of objects.
- Texture – Adding textured pieces, like a natural wood pedestal bowl or rattan baskets is a great way to inject texture and even warmth.
- Books – Beautifully photographed books are a great way to add interest, and even provide extra layers of height for your pieces. Here I added a favourite cookbook.
- Art – Layering one or two pieces of art will elevate the look of any cabinet or hutch. I love using vintage art to create a moody aesthetic.
The more you decorate open shelving, the easier it will become. We found some great cabinets we will be including in our cottage remodel and I am already looking forward to styling these.
As always, decorating your home should be fun and bring you joy! These tips are only meant as a guideline for inspiring your beautifully styled cabinet or hutch.
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