Your old shelves on the wall can be a brilliant use of space if you give them a little update. Rather than curse bulky built-ins or rip out a rustic floating shelf, make the most of old shelving by refreshing the finish and accessorizing it well. The best aspect of decorating wall shelves is that you can quickly and cheaply change their appearance according to the season, the current trends or your mood. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Clear your old wall shelves. To effectively decorate your shelving, you need to begin with a clean palette. Give your shelves a good cleaning and polish, starting with a dry dusting to remove cobwebs and debris. Hit corners and crevices, including any molding or trim around the old shelves.
2. Consider your options with paint or finishes. If your old wall shelves are antiques or integrated in the home's original architecture, you may wish to avoid altering them in any way, which could adversely effect resale value. In most cases, however, a coat of stain or paint can give shelves a badly needed face-lift. You can paint wall shelves to match the surrounding wall color, or make them pop by painting them a bold shade such as periwinkle blue, seafoam green or sunny yellow. You can give an old wall shelf a shabby chic aesthetic by adding a faux finish with crackle glaze or antique whitewash. Distress the paint further by allowing it to dry and then sanding away at the edges with fine grain sandpaper.
3. Swap out shelf hardware for something more eye-catching. If your shelves feature brackets or other supports, you can invest in some wrought-iron scrolls or lightweight plaster sconces to use as stylish support. If old shelving includes handles or knobs that have no aesthetic value, switch them for vintage pieces from antique shops or flea markets.
4. Accessorize old wall shelving with interesting pieces. You can integrate family heirlooms, junkyard gems and do-it-yourself projects into shelf displays. Prop small paintings or drawings with bright compositions for a spot of color. Frame a shelf with ornate candleholders and pillar candles, or keep the look simpler with a line of tea lights and small glass bottles holding wildflowers.
5. Illuminate your old shelves to make them stand out. You can use wall sconces with candles or lights on either side of the shelf, or hang a pendant light over the shelf area. If you have a work of art on a top shelf, you can emphasize it by lighting the shelf with miniature gallery-style spotlights.
Tags: wall shelves, your shelves, your wall shelves, make them, shelf with, your wall