The Art of Console Styling – (Part 1) The Essential Elements

Pinterest-worthy spaces aren’t just about the furniture; they’re all about the styling and accessories.

When styled right, decorative objects and accents are what truly bring a home to life. It might seem like an overwhelming task to do on your own, but trust me—it’s much easier than you think!

In this two-part series, we’ll break down the key elements of creating beautifully styled shelves and consoles. Below (part one), we’ll focus on the essential accessories you need to elevate your styling game. Stay tuned for part two, where we dive into styling, placement, and guide you on how to piece it together for a perfectly curated space. Heres our guidelines ton the essentials you’ll need to help you nail that “shelfie” look every time.

To create the perfect shelf or console, you need the right elements that make up an eye-catching vignette, and then the right arrangement to make it visually appealing.

Keep reading to discover the key accessories that will elevate your shelf vignettes, complete with links to shop various accessories. 

Consider this your go-to guide to curating all you need for a perfectly styled shelf or console!

The essential elements of a well styled shelf/console

If you scroll through any home décor feed, you’ll likely notice the same objects popping up again and again in beautifully styled consoles & shelfies. These items remain the same, just varied in size, colour, shape, and theme based on your unique style. By breaking things down into basic elements, styling your space becomes an easy formula you can follow to get the look you want.

Here’s some elements you should consider when styling your shelf or console:

BOOKS: Books are an excellent starting point and create a solid base. You can mix and match books of different sizes or keep them in uniform piles. Choose a colour palette or theme to ensure cohesion, such as décor, style, or travel books, which reflect your personal interests. Aim for two themes and select 3-4 books in each to create balanced, book-based vignettes across your shelves. HARE & KLEIN INTERIOR | THE FORAGED HOME

PLANTS: If you’re not the best with plants, don’t worry! Faux plants look incredibly realistic these days and add a touch of greenery and life to your space. You could also consider preserved varieties, such as palm stems or dried foliage as an alternative. EUCALYPTUS SPRAY | DRIED PALM SPEARS | GUM NUT STEMS

CANDLES AND CANDLEHOLDERS: Candles help set the mood in any room, whether cozy, moody, or romantic. Mix up the styles and sizes of your holders—short seeders, tall pillars, and a variety of shapes and heights. Aim for sets of three to create a harmonious vignette, this will give you lots of options to play with when it comes to placement. CARVED SEEDER CANDLE | INDIAN PILLAR CANDLE STAND | ROUND CANDLE SEEDER

BASKETS: Baskets are perfect for grounding the space, especially on the lowest shelf or underneath a console. They add both functionality and texture to your styling. Use a basket under a hall table for shoes, or under a console for a cosy look—perfect for storing an extra cushion or throw. Smaller baskets are also great for organising or hiding away less attractive items, keeping your space tidy while maintaining a warm, inviting aesthetic. SQUARE JUTE BASKETS | NESTED JUTE BASKET SET ROUND

BOARDS AND TRAYS: Boards and trays create depth and visual interest. You can lean a large tray or board against the wall on your shelf or console and place interesting objects in front, or use boards as risers to add height and dimension. Vary the sizes and shapes to create a dynamic look and bring different textures into your styling. CHAPATI PLATE ROUND | VINTAGE WASHBOARD | CARVED BAJOT BOARD

POTS AND VESSELS: Pots and vessels are my favourite way to play with shape and height. Mix a tall vessel with a short, round pot, and fill them with faux botanicals or dried foliage. Opt for pieces that are stunning even without flowers—they’re great decorative pieces on their own. NEPALI POT | MANA POT | MATKA POT 

TRAYS AND BOXES: Trays serve as a great way to separate different vignettes, and boxes provide both style and extra storage. Stack books in or below, add a candle or some decorative fillers and include a taller vessel or some foliage to create a cohesive tray vignette. Use closed boxes for storage, like remotes or batteries, and open boxes as a drop zone for items like keys or wallets on the go. KHALIYA TRAY | INDIAN WOODEN BOWL | | VINTAGE BRICK MOULD | HANDLED DOUGH DISH

WALL HANGINGS: Wall hangings are a great way to create a focal point and add personality to a console area. When selecting a piece, consider the proportion and scale in relation to whats below. For a minimalist console, a large piece can fill the space without overwhelming it. Just ensure there’s enough room between the console and the hanging, and avoid hanging it too low, so it doesn’t interfere with the accessories. GIA DRIFTWOOD GARLAND | SARI WALL HANGING   | BAMILEKE JUJU

SOMETHING UNIQUE: This is where your personality truly shines! Add something one-of-a-kind to make the space your own—whether it’s something you picked up on travels, an item that represents your interests, an object that simply catches your eye or a rare vintage find. The most important thing is that it brings you joy. BAMILEKE JUJU STAND | VINTAGE OIL POT | ANTIQUE WASHBOARD

Stay tuned for part two, where we’ll explore how to arrange your pieces to create the perfect vignette and bring your console/shelf to life! Don’t miss out on the next step in mastering your space.