Styling Tips: Kitchens & Shelves
- Giselle Saab
- Aug 4
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 18
Discover my top tips to elevate your kitchen and shelves through styling techniques you can easily apply at home!
Hello there! Welcome to my new blog post series, where I will be sharing applicable design tips to elevate your home and everyday living! I am so excited to share with you all the design tips I have learnt from real-life projects and how to easily apply them to your own home!
In this very first blog post, I will be sharing my tips for styling kitchens and shelves to obtain an elevated look using some simple styling guidelines. And without further ado, let's dive right in!
Kitchen Styling Tip #1 - Pick One Tone From The Existing Kitchen Elements & Mix It With An Earthy Texture
When styling a kitchen for an elevated look, pick up some of the tones from the existing kitchen elements into your décor pieces. Then, mix them with an earthy texture such as wood, stone, clay, etc. In the image below, I picked up some of the brass tones from the countertop's veins and cabinet hardware into the vases. I then added some earthy textures through the wooden cutting board book stand.
I love styling kitchens this way because the tone of your décor pieces ends up looking really cohesive with what you already have in your kitchen, and the earthy textures help the space feel more lived-in and inviting. I guess we can all agree that a super put-together kitchen can look fabulous for photoshoots, but in real life, kitchens are meant to be enjoyed, and mixing décor pieces in this manner makes your kitchen seem more approachable!
Kitchen Styling Tip #2 - Add Décor In Clusters
Another great tip is to style décor in clusters. Arrange similar pieces next to each other, placing taller pieces next to shorter ones. For example, you can group some aesthetic drinking glasses and vases on your open shelves or a tray of spices and cutting boards by your stove. This clustering technique helps to ground your kitchen's surfaces and creates little vignettes as you look around the space. The idea is to use your everyday kitchen elements as décor pieces and to arrange them in a way that feels elevated!
Image via Rustike Home on Pinterest Image Via Shop LTK on Pinterest
Kitchen Styling Tip #3 - Add Greenery & Scented Items
Adding greenery and scented items, such as candles and diffusers, is a must-do in your kitchen! These are not only visually appealing, but they also create a sensory experience throughout the space. You can get really creative and make your own flower arrangements, or candles, and change them up with the seasons! My favorite flowers for kitchen displays are white hydrangeas, and I love a candle with a nice citrusy scent!
Image via @2ltllambs on Pinterest Image via @brit10luvr on Pinterest
Kitchen Styling Tip #4 - Add Visuals: Cooking Books
The last kitchen styling tip is to add visuals, such as cooking books, on your counter. While yes, all recipes may be found online, nothing beats having a nice cooking book open, with tons of cooking inspiration! I personally find this very motivating when I do not feel like meal-prepping, and let's just be honest- they decorate kitchen spaces very well! Below is a lovely cookbook stand that I think would look great in any kitchen! (Click on the bottom-right image for the shopping link.)
Image via @thechicquota on Pinterest Cookbook stand by Paynes Gray
Shelves Styling Tip #1 - Style From The Top Down
When styling shelves, decorate from the top down in a pyramidal style. Begin by adding bigger décor pieces on the top shelves and then place smaller ones on the lower shelves. What this does is create a balance so that the shelves feel styled but not too crowded. In the image below, I began by decorating the top shelf using a beautiful, shell-like piece my client found, and then worked my way down with smaller décor pieces. The end result is a gorgeous display of décor that feels intentional and very easy on the eyes!
Image from our Emerald Villa Project, Los Angeles, CA
Shelves Styling Tip #2 - Mix Contrasting Metals
When choosing your décor pieces, don't be afraid of mixing contrasting metals! In the image below, I went for some silver décor pieces that pick up some of the tones from the quartzite fireplace surround, and mixed it up with some brass décor to break up the gray tones and add some warmth!
Image from our Emerald Villa Project, Los Angeles, CA
And...those were some of my styling tips for kitchens and shelves!
I hope you enjoyed these easy tips on styling kitchens and shelves for an elevated look, and that I have inspired you to apply them in your home! I know that sometimes it might be overwhelming with all the décor choices and styles. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me! I would love to get to know you and help you with your styling in any way I can! Also, don't forget to share this blog post with your friends and leave a comment below to let me know what kind of tips you would like to read about next! - Giselle
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