Knowing how to style shelves is one of those details that completely changes a room. A well-composed shelf gives character to the living room, brings order to the bathroom and turns a plain hallway into a corner with soul. An overloaded shelf, on the other hand, tires the eye and makes everything feel smaller.
Mediterranean homes have their own shelving tradition: whitewashed built-in shelves, niches carved into thick walls, solid wood boards that age gracefully. On them sit pieces of clay, fibre baskets, books that are actually read and the odd memento from the sea. Nothing is superfluous and everything tells a story.
Now that autumn is here and we spend more time indoors, it is the perfect moment to rethink the shelves at home. Here is how to do it step by step, with ideas that work on a built-in bookcase as well as on a wooden shelving unit.
In this article
- Choose the right shelving: built-in, wood or niche
- The rule of thirds and odd-numbered groups
- Natural materials on every shelf
- Books, horizontal and vertical
- Baskets for invisible order
- Shelves in the bathroom and kitchen
- Colour and light: the background decorates too
- Quick checklist
- Frequently asked questions
Get the look
On the porch of this Menorca house in the photo above, the built-in shelving sits alongside a whitewashed sofa, made-to-measure square poufs and cushions in a Majorcan print. These pieces will help you recreate the mood:
1. Choose the right shelving: built-in, wood or niche
Before decorating, start with the right base. Built-in masonry shelving is the most Mediterranean of all: it blends into the wall, is painted the same lime white and looks as if it has always been there. It is perfect for porches, living rooms with a fireplace and bathrooms, and its depth (around 30-40 cm) lets you play with larger pieces.
If you don't want building work, a solid wood shelving unit gives an equally warm effect. Look for woods with visible grain, natural finishes and simple frames; reclaimed wood or elm adds that lived-in touch that suits a southern home so well. And if you have a thick wall, a niche lit from inside is the most elegant way to display two or three special pieces.
Here are some of our favourite shelving units and bookcases to get started:
2. The rule of thirds and odd-numbered groups
The secret of a magazine-worthy shelf is not what you put on it but what you leave off. Decorators work with a few simple rules you can easily apply at home.
The figures worth remembering
Always start with the biggest things (books, baskets, tall vases), then add medium pieces and finish with the small details. Before calling it done, step back and look with half-closed eyes: if something stands out too much or one shelf feels heavier than the rest, rearrange.
3. Natural materials on every shelf
A Mediterranean shelf is recognisable by its materials: clay and terracotta, white or stone-toned ceramics, fibres such as rattan, jute or sisal, and wood with its grain on show. Choose a short palette and repeat it across several shelves so the whole looks coherent.
Get the look
In this Malaga home, the built-in unit combines closed cupboards below with open whitewashed wood shelves above, alongside fibre armchairs and blue sofas. To achieve a similar effect:
4. Books, horizontal and vertical
Books are the soul of any shelf, but lined up in one long row they can look monotonous. Mix positions and let some of them act as a plinth for other objects.
How to arrange them with style
- Horizontal stacks: three or four books lying flat make a base for a small vase or a candle.
- Short vertical rows: groups of 8-12 books, held by a heavy object instead of a bookend.
- By tone: group spines by colour family (creams, earth tones, blues) to rest the eye.
- Large art or travel books: on the lower shelves, which carry weight better.
Key idea: if the shelf is in the living room, keep the books you actually read within reach. A Mediterranean shelf is not a shop window: it is part of daily life at home.
If you'd like to create a reading spot next to your shelves, our article on how to create a reading nook has armchairs, lamps and throws to complete it.
5. Baskets for invisible order
Every home needs to store things we'd rather not see: chargers, remotes, paperwork, medicines, toys. Natural fibre baskets are the most Mediterranean solution: they hide the clutter while adding texture and warmth. Place them on the lower shelves, which carry the most visual weight.
Get the look
In the attic bathroom of the same Menorca house, built-in microcement shelving is all it takes to organise towels and the essentials. To dress shelves like these:
A practical tip: use baskets in the same material across the whole unit, even if their sizes vary. Mix too many fibres or colours and the sense of order is lost.
6. Shelves in the bathroom and kitchen
In the bathroom, open shelves are a great alternative to wall cabinets: the space breathes and everything is within reach. Folded towels in natural tones, baskets for toiletries and a jug with a green sprig are enough. Avoid filling shelves with plastic bottles; if you have them, decant into glass or ceramic jars.
Get the look
In this Costa Brava house, the bathroom's built-in unit keeps its open shelves for fibre baskets holding toiletries. Our suggestions:
In the kitchen, open shelves look great with everyday tableware, glass jars and a wooden board leaning at the back. For more ideas, take a look at our tips for a Mediterranean-style kitchen and a Mediterranean-style bathroom.
7. Colour and light: the background decorates too
The back of the shelf is a canvas. Against a white wall, clay and wood pieces stand out on their own; if you feel brave, painting the back of the shelves in a soft tone creates depth without losing light. These combinations work especially well in southern homes:
Light is the finishing touch. A table lamp on the middle shelf, a candle or a strip of warm light under the top shelf transforms the unit at dusk. To choose bulbs and colour temperature, see our guide to choosing the lighting for every room.
Quick checklist
- Empty the shelves completely before you start.
- Place the big things first: books, baskets and tall vases.
- Group in odd numbers and at three heights.
- Leave a third of each shelf free.
- Repeat materials and colours across several shelves.
- Use fibre baskets on the lower shelves to hide practical items.
- Add a warm light source and something living: a branch, a plant.
Frequently asked questions
What can I put on living room shelves besides books?
Clay or ceramic vases, fibre baskets, a sculpture, candles, a small lamp and a personal memento or two. The key is to mix heights and leave space between groups.
How many objects should each shelf have?
As a guide, one to three groups per shelf, each of three or five pieces. If a shelf holds lots of books, a single decorative object is enough.
How deep should built-in shelving be?
For books and decorative objects, 30-35 cm is enough; if you want to store large baskets or throws, go to 40 cm. The height between shelves is usually 30-40 cm.
At Pino & Jacaranda we believe a well-dressed shelf says a lot about the people who live in a home: what they read, where they have travelled, how calmly they live. Choosing a few pieces in natural materials, with a story behind them, is the best way to give every shelf meaning.
Because less but better applies to shelves too.
