Simple Kitchen Shelf Styling (for Spring and Beyond)

When we (mostly) wrapped up our cozy beadboard wall update in the kitchen, I knew it was time to bring some charm and function back into the space—starting with my built-in shelves.

Shelf styling always looks effortless when it’s done, but the truth? It’s a whole lot of step back, swap out, and second guess until it feels just right. It takes TIME, so much so -I don’ t even want to admit how long it took me to style these shelves yesterday.

Originally, I was planning to style around this antique match holder I’ve been holding onto (you may have seen me mention it in stories!), but I kept hitting a wall trying to find the perfect pairing.

Or realized that I needed to first focus on resetting the shelves with things I actually reach for and love to look at and that ultimately helped inform my decision about the match holder (and plate). Come to find out—I had it right all along!

My Shelf Styling Goals:

• Keep it simple, cozy, and functional
• Layer in textures and tones
• Bring back a sense of “home” now that the walls are fresh and bright

I reused a few favorites—like my small cookbook collection, my pretty plates/dishes and mugs (which I noticed has definitely lost a few pieces over the past year🤔) plants, and baskets that hold votives, taper candles, cloth napkins and my silverplate utensils—and balanced it all with some some simple styling on top with my wooden bowls, pedestals etc.

Spring Decorating

At the last minute I added in the  little gilded bunnies as my simple nod to spring. I’m in a season of life where I just don’t have the capacity—or desire—for extra clutter, so I keep it light and intentional. A few sweet bunnies, some real or  faux tulips, and a dainty garland over the kitchen window usually do the trick.

I’ll also swap out the pillows on our kitchen window seat for lighter, brighter colors and pretty much call it a day. Once Easter passes, the bunnies get tucked away, but the rest stays put through summer until it’s time to welcome fall again.

Whats’s Next?

Now the shelves are back in place, I’m shifting my focus to the pantry nook. Youset (my future son-in-law is coming to skim coat the old textured ceiling, which will give us a clean canvas for the next phase of this kitchen refresh. Our kitchen ceiling is less than perfect so we wanted to give skim coating a try in a smaller area first and if it seems like too much (work, time, money, mess) we’ll consider planking the ceiling (like we did in the sitting room) in the near future—so stay tuned if you love those warm, old-home textures as much as I do.

Until then, I’m just enjoying the magic of shelves that feel like me again.

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