Floating shelves are small stages. That’s what makes them fun to decorate and also why they get crowded so fast. A bookcase can hide a mess behind books; a single floating shelf can’t. These are the rules I use.

The rule of three, per shelf

Every shelf gets three things, in three heights: one tall, one medium, one low. Then stop. On a 17-inch shelf, three objects is already full.

  • Tall: a small vase of cut greenery, a candlestick, a framed card.
  • Medium: a cluster of mini trees, a jar of ornaments, a small lantern.
  • Low: a stack of two books, a little dish, a single ornament on its side.

If you have two or three shelves stacked, shift the tall thing left on one shelf and right on the next so the eye zigzags.

Mini trees do the heavy lifting

Mini bottle brush trees (on Amazon) on wooden bases come 30 to a set in mixed sizes. That sounds like a lot, but grouped in threes and fives they cover several shelves, a windowsill and a tray. Put the tallest at the back. Leave the rest in the box for next year, or for the Christmas village.

The edge: a garland and a strand of light

A faux eucalyptus garland (on Amazon) laid along the front edge of the shelf softens the line, especially on dark wood. Let it hang an inch or two over the edge in the middle and tuck the ends behind objects.

Weave a strand of battery fairy lights (on Amazon) through the garland. The battery box hides behind the tallest object. With the timer, the shelf glows in the evening without you remembering to switch it on.

Open kitchen shelves

If the shelf holds plates and glasses you use every day, decorate only the ends. A small tree on the left, a garland swag on the right, and the dishes stay reachable. Poinsettias like the ones in the photo are pretty, but keep them out of reach of pets; the ASPCA lists them as mildly toxic to cats and dogs.

No shelves yet?

If you’ve been meaning to put up a floating shelf, the PHPH wood floating shelves (on Amazon) are 17 inches long. Check the set count and the finish on the listing, and check your lease before drilling. In a rental, the bookshelf styling post might be the easier route.