Ledge Decorating High Shelf Decorating Ideas

Don't you just love changing up your shelves from time to time, and figuring out new ways to make them look just right? Sometimes though, you clear everything off, and are just stumped. Don't have a ledge shelf? I got mine at IKEA for inexpensive, but if you don't have one nearby there are always options on Amazon. Once you have one, included here are some tips on where to hang, and some inspiration on how to decorate a ledge shelf…you know, just in case you're drawing a blank!

Where to Start

Step 1: First make sure your ledge shelf is in a nicely lit area. If you are going to be putting word art and photos for people to look at, you don't want them to be straining their eyes! Look for a place that is in plenty of natural light, or has good overhead or side lighting. It might even be fun to consider having a small can light installed directly overhead to really make your shelf shine! This is what we did on our mantel, and I LOVE having only that light on in the evening, showcasing all my hard work on my cute displays.

Step 2: Start with a clean slate. Make sure your shelf is well dusted and cleaned off. A nasty shelf will be the first thing others notice, no matter how cute your display is. If it's grimy, a simple solution of warm water and a gentle dish soap should get it looking like new.

Decorating a Ledge Shelf

Step 3:Start with a base frame, or decor item and think of a theme. For this display we used the Love Grows Best in Houses Just Like This from Hobby Lobby. The theme we were going for was family, since this is the dining room, and also the room where we play games and have family discussions, etc…I wanted everything on the shelf to speak the message of family love. This isn't a hard-fast rule, but it will make it easier to choose items when you are feeling stumped.

Step 4: Step outside the box! A lot of people get stuck on the fact that these ledge shelves are often called picture ledges, and are only trying to put pictures or framed items on the shelf. Don't feel limited by the name! Add items that aren't necessarily frames such as; small plants, letters, small trinkets, vases filled with something fun… We added the small succulent, the wood cut out of Oregon (where we live) and the small leather h for our last name Hewlett. It gives the whole shelf a little more life.

Free Printables

Step 5: Utilize those free printables baby! There are plenty out there to choose from, there are even a lot here on this very site! When you are stuck on what to add, add a free printable to a frame, clip it on a piece of shaped wood or even take a piece of washi tape and stick one to a piece of glass on an empty frame! You can really change the theme or look of the whole shelf by just changing these out from season to season, without having to start from scratch again.

Well there you have it! 5 steps to a perfectly decorated ledge shelf! What have you put on your ledge shelves?

Looking for more inspiration? Click the home tour tab up in the navigation, or read this post on 5 Tips on How to Decorate Tiered Trays.

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Tiffany is a stay at home mom to four ridiculously cute kids and wife to one smoking hot McDreamy lookalike. She loves the color white, chocolate chip cookies and sunshine. She is the founder of Making the World Cuter, where she loves to decorate, make cute gifts and fun printables.