How to: Style shelves and bookcases

Simple tips for styling shelves in any home

The task of styling empty shelves can be a daunting one. From open shelves in your living room to ladder shelving in the bedroom, modern shelves not only add valuable storage, but are a simple and easy way to give your room a chic and eclectic feel while surrounding yourself with the things that tell your story. It takes some styling, but curated collections of books, art and decorative homewares like vases give a layered, sophisticated feel to your space – letting guests see life through your eyes. 

Our biggest tip, keep styling until it feels right. Tinkering with textures, shapes and colours until you have your desired look. But in order to know when it feels right, you need to understand the basics. Brosa has a wide range of shelving options, so whether you’re looking to add storage or create an impressive design feature, here’s our interior design tips & tricks to styling shelves to perfection.

Monterey Open Bookshelf & Monteray Bookcase combination

Stick To Your Colour Palette 

The goal is to create an aesthetically pleasing shelf. The best way to do that? We recommend working with a cohesive colour palette. Not everything has to match, instead choose two or three colours from a complimentary palette and repeat them throughout your items, giving you an intentional, put-together look. For example, if your colour palette is white, beige and blue, add a beige basket, blue vase and stack of white coffee table books.

Big and Tall 

It’s easy for shelves to look messy when you begin styling with small, decorative trinkets. Instead, start with larger items such as indoor plants, sculptures or an interesting artwork — this will add scale and balance to your shelves to give you a basic layout to build from. We love the Brosa Lang Bookcase  for a stylish and versatile design with ample height to accommodate larger decor. 

Lang Bookcase

Hit The Books 

Books and magazines are a great way to inject style, personality and colour into your shelf design. Go minimal and present two or three of your favourite covers as an art installation or make the most of your collection by stacking books horizontally and vertically, and aligning some stacks to the left, right or centre of a shelf for an effortlessly put together look. Keep it simple with the Brosa Memphis Bookcase with fixed sides to keep your books in place. 

Memphis Bookcase, styled with Seta 4 seater sofa with chaise and Memphis Collection Pieces

Greenery  

Nothing adds a little life to a room like some lush indoor plants. A touch of greenery can wake up an entire space, adding texture to your shelves and a pop of colour to your room. Look for evergreen plants with a visual appeal like a hanging Devils Ivy or a structural succulent. Fresh flowers are also a great way to play with a new colour palette. 

Field Triple Open Shelf

Add Artwork 

In a world where pictures are usually hung, bookshelves are a great way to display artwork and photographs without the hassle. Opt for freestanding frames or lean them against the wall. Inject life into a room that may not allow permanent interior changes like a rental home or office space with an open shelf design like the Brosa Dominic Narrow Bookcase, with enough space to display your favourite pieces. Try placing artwork at the back of the shelf, layering smaller items in front to create depth and interest.

Dominic Narrow Bookcase

Highs and Lows 

You’ve selected the items you’d like to display, so what’s next? Combining larger and smaller pieces creates a balanced look. Start with a few large staple items, accessorising with smaller, more intricate objects to create a balanced aesthetic. Large picture frames, display bowls and tall vases are great pieces to incorporate as a foundation or to fill in space. A collectors delight, the Brosa Dominic Wide Bookcase is a beautifully modern, Mid-century inspired piece with ample storage to accommodate a range of items of varying sizes, while keeping it light and airy. 

Dominic Wide Bookcase

Styling Ladder Shelves 

Combining a rustic charm with smart, space-saving designs, ladder-style shelves are a great alternative to traditional cabinets and large shelving units. Their lightweight frame and compact design turn that forgotten, old corner into a functional and aesthetic space. Opt for the Brosa Lang Medium Wall Unit, a ladder-like shelf design that brings a new dimension to any interior without taking up too much space. 

Lang Medium Wall Unit – Ladder Shelf Style 

The Readers Nook

Shelves were practically invented to hold books. The petite Brosa Hemming Wall Shelf can be beautifully styled by alternating vertical and horizontal stacks and colour coordinated for maximum impact. Slotting snugly next to a beautiful fireplace or large window, a narrow bookshelf can add a new lease of life to a lonely corner!

Hemming Wall Shelf

Wide Open Spaces 

For a simple yet sophisticated look, leave a little space on each shelf beside your decor. We like coupling clusters of books and a small sculpture, or placing a lucious plant or vase of fresh florals in the middle of the shelf, leaving space on either side so that the wall is visible. A sure-fire way to be the #interiorsinspo of all your guests. 

Symmetry 

Explore using symmetry to balance your shelving design. A simple but effective principal, whatever you do on one side of the shelf, mirror it on the other! If you have large, heavy books on the bottom right, put another cluster of large, heavy books on the top left. A tall glass vase can be mirrored with a candlestick of the same height. The mirroring doesn’t have to be exact. Play with it to find out what works well.

Mia Wide Bookcase

Delivery to Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and beyond

Explore Brosa’s collection of standout shelving designs for a unique interior update. Dominic, Lang and Memphis are some of our bestselling favourites. Be inspired by Brosa’s stylish designs with Australia wide shipping and virtual consults. Visit our website for more info.

 

How to Mix and Match Your Living Room Furniture

Guest blog by Brosa friend – Geneva Vanderzeil.

Editor of Collective Gen, author, stylist, maker and photographer. She grew up in Australia and after moving to London in 2008 started her first blog, which quickly became one of the most popular websites in the world, with millions of readers and features in major newspapers and magazines. Geneva is a published author, designed a number of product ranges and been able to turn her passion for creativity into a career. Collective Gen is the next step in her commitment to creativity, a community that brings together creative makers and stylists from all over the world to share their experiences and ideas. Let Geneva provide you with her wealth of style wisdom as she talks all things living room. 

Geneva with her Ada Swivel Accent Chair

Tips and Tricks

I must admit, I’m a living room lover. Not only is the living room a key focus of the house, smack bang in the centre for us, but it’s likely a space in your home where you do most of your living – lounging, entertaining, playing and relaxing. Because of that, a living room needs to be designed to be one of the most versatile and comfortable rooms in the house, but also be welcoming and aesthetically pleasing. There’s a lot going on! But don’t worry, it needn’t be complicated. For me, creating a beautiful and comfortable living room is all about choosing a good mix of furniture pieces that complement each other and are also really versatile. Recently my friends at Brosa asked me to share my secrets to mixing and matching living room furniture, and after a few years of working to create the perfect space for us at home, I’m excited to share what I’ve learnt!

Define What Your Space Needs

It’s easy to get drawn into choosing the nitty gritty of the decor of your living room – the rugs, the textiles or the art – and not think enough about the foundations of the space itself. But by doing some simple planning to review what your space needs, you’re much more likely to create a room that not only looks great but is functional too. For me, the first place to start is with seating, given that a significant function of the room is about gathering and relaxing comfortably. You and your family may need a sofa and a few occasional chairs, or just a large L shaped sofa. Choose your seating based on how you will actually use the space, and keep comfort in mind. Once you have determined the seating arrangement, think about how you can add in other furniture like a console table, book shelves, main coffee table or smaller side tables to make a space that’s easy to use.

Connor Armchair

Consider a Colour Palette

Creating a cohesive palette in a living room will go a long way to making it feel well designed and welcoming, allowing you to mix a broad range of furniture styles together. As a simple rule, the more furniture styles I go for the more simple the palette. I like to think about the elements that exist already such as the walls and floors, and choose a few key tones that go with that. Keep in mind that larger pieces of furniture like a sofa or occasional chair will have a bigger impact on the palette, so it’s worth considering that when you make purchasing decisions. I usually opt for neutral colours for large pieces of furniture then add colour using cushions, art and rugs. Doing this will ensure your space is coherent, even with a range of different furniture styles in the room.

Drake Modular Sofa

Don’t Be Afraid Of Mixing Eras

For me, one trick to creating a space that feels layered and lived in is to mix furniture styles. It may seem like a room will look better if all the furniture and decor is of the one era, but in truth that can feel a little staged. In my opinion you’re much better to experiment with hints of all different styles like Scandinavian, Boho, Mid Century Modern and Contemporary. Start by choosing one style, say for your console table or sofa, and then mix hints of other styles in. I also like to consider the shapes of the furniture and contrast them with other pieces. A vintage style console table complements a more modern armchair.

Dominic Narrow Bookcase

Let Your Favourite Piece Shine

In line with the concept of mixing eras, another secret I have to creating an interesting and unique space is not to overdo any single style or material. Instead, choose one stand out piece that you love, say a Hamptons cabinet, and then use other more simple pieces to complement it. Whilst you may think this will mean your favourite style could be a little lost in the space, what this actually does is allow that single piece to have a stronger visual impact. I’ve learnt through experience that a little can go a long way in a living room!

Bailey Arm Chair

Think About Layout

Another way to create cohesion in a space with a range of different furniture styles is to layout the furniture using symmetry. Consider the lines of the room – any walkways, key walls or the location of the windows. Locate furniture in a symmetrical way following those lines, like putting a sofa under a window rather than next to it. This makes for a space that feels organised and calming rather than chaotic.

Kubrick Armchair & Como Motion Modular Sofa

Consider Pairings and Repetition

If you’re a fan of organisation and a space that feels well thought out, one way to achieve this whilst still mixing furniture styles is to opt for pairings of furniture or some sort of repetition in the space. This leads the eye across the room and helps it make sense. For example, a pair of these gorgeous occasional chairs would be perfect facing a neutral sofa.

Sawyer Occasional Chair

Find Balance

At the end of the day, mixing and matching living room furniture is all about finding balance. That means how you find the right mix of the materials in the space, the textiles, the finishes and the negative space. Sometimes it’s useful to take a step back to see the space clearly and understand what’s needed. Take the time to envision pieces of furniture together and don’t be afraid to experiment.

Brosa delivers Australia wide, including Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and beyond so make sure to check out the website for lots of beautiful items that you can have delivered to your front door.

How to Style Your Coffee Table

Coffee tables are often an overlooked opportunity to inject style and personality into your home. By incorporating simple styling cues like a vase, candle or coffee table book, you can reinvigorate your living space. From relaxed Hamptons style to modern elegance, a considered coffee table can provide a beautiful addition to any home. I like to keep my coffee table modern and minimal, injecting personality through coffee table books, my favourite perfume, a candle and a statement vase with fresh flowers. Fortunately, coffee table styling is easy to master, as long as you keep these simple style guidelines in mind. Here are my favourite tips that will have you styling your coffee table to perfection in no time. 

What to Put on Your Coffee Table 

Balance is an important component of any coffee table display, and one of the easiest ways to achieve balance is symmetry. Begin with a focal point, this could be a striking marble tray, statement bowl or stack of books, all working well to frame the design space, while corralling smaller objects like matches and remotes. 

From here, play with height and scale by layering objects. Place stylistic items like candles and sculptures on top of, or next to, more cumbersome pieces like large coffee table books, which make a great foundation for layering. Books also add colour, interest and give guests a peek into your hobbies and interests. 

To complete the look, add smaller objects that speak to your personal style. These surrounding objects don’t need to be identical, they just need to match the tone of your design. A beautiful reed diffuser, modern paperweights and magnifying glasses are a few of my go-to items. If you’ve only used hard materials, such as glass or metal, your coffee table could feel a little cold and would benefit from some natural textures, such as timber or woven material. Injecting an element of nature through florals or structural greenery is also a great way to bring warmth and a sense of calm. 

A large round coffee table like The Parc from Brosa is my favourite. Classic and contemporary, the silhouette of the Parc is the perfect all-rounder, ready to be styled to perfection.

How to Style Round Coffee Tables 

A round coffee table can be a beautiful way to add movement to what can often be an angular living space. I recommend a triangle layout for round tables, playing with layers and textures. Incorporating an angular focal point is a great way to balance it’s circular shape. It’s a good idea to have at least one tall item, such as a tall vase or a candlestick, and one lower and wider piece, such as a tray or stack of books, to create an arrangement with interest.

Kare Coffee Table

To let your display shine, opt for a minimal round coffee table design like the Kare Coffee Table from Brosa. For something with more flare, I love Brosa’s Baroque Coffee Table which features glossy black marble and gold metal hardware. 

Baroque Coffee Table

How to Style Small Coffee Tables

Small coffee tables are a great way to inject style when you are working with minimal space. With less surface area to work with, start by refining the objects you want to display, selecting one large focal piece for the middle of the table, before choosing two to three medium to small objects that compliment your aesthetic and inject height variation. A minimal sculpture, your favourite candle and a tall, thin vase with a few sprigs of greenery will help populate the table without overcrowding. 

When I’m conscious of space, The Pentagon Coffee Table from Brosa is modest in size and striking in design. 

Pentagon Coffee Table 

When styled well, glass coffee tables can be striking and incredibly complementary to your surrounding furniture. To avoid objects looking as if they’re floating on the glass surface, I like to create a few groupings or use one large object to display on its own, incorporating decorative bowls or a tray to corral your items. With a focal point to build your display, you can now layer decorative beads, crystals, and other items without your design becoming messy. I also recommend situating a glass coffee table over a plain, simple rug or flooring to let your decor shine. 

When opting for a glass coffee table, the Kipling Glass Top Coffee Table from Brosa is my go to for understated elegance. 

Kipling Glass Coffee Table

Alternative Coffee Table Ideas – Ottomans

The versatility of an ottoman in your living space is endless, serving as extra seating, potential storage or as a coffee table-like centrepiece. If you’re looking to add a touch of design to your ottoman, it’s important to incorporate pieces that are sturdy and large enough to house smaller objects like a try or large book. Taking note of their soft exterior, I would avoid tall, fragile objects like candles and vases. The Lena Small Square Ottoman from Brosa in Yellow Gold Premium Velvet is a firm favourite, showcasing its bold colour alongside a stack of glamorous coffee table books and a marble tray with your favourite candle. For something more understated in design with storage, the Megan Ottoman is a great option for larger living spaces. 

Coffee Table Styling Professional!

When executed well, your coffee table and coffee table decor can be one of the most versatile and engaging pieces of furniture in your home. The aim is to style a coffee table that looks aesthetically beautiful but that doesn’t disrupt the flow or function of your living space. Overall, as a rule of thumb, keep everything in threes and always start with a focal point, incorporating your supporting objects of varying heights and textures to complete your look. The most important thing is to have fun by injecting personality.

Be inspired at Brosa

Brosa has 1000s of products online with delivery Australia wide. It is the perfect place to be inspired, learn valuable styling tips or to help curate a home you’ll love. Shop furniture online at Brosa.

Tips & Tricks

How to maximise function & style

Small space living doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice style for functionality, start with our 5 tips on how to maximise your space with our favourite, scaled down Brosa designs. Multi purpose furniture pieces, hidden storage solutions and neat compact designs will transform your room and elevate its functionality like never before.

1. Sofa & Bed Solution

Is your Pinterest board filled with modular sofas, plush lounges and 4 seater couches? Unfortunately, large oversized sofas are the first thing to go when when designing a small living room. Start looking at multi purpose couches, sofa beds and futons – the dual functionality ensures you’re effectively utilising the highly sought after floor space. Choosing a sofa bed is especially useful for those homes that lack extra bedroom space, having the ability to transform into a comfortable spare bed in a number of seconds. For the trifecta of sofa beds, we suggest the Austin Full Sleeper Modular Sofa with storage. This full sleeper sofa bed, which comfortably sleeps two people, also has extra storage space for essential bedding items. Available in a modern Storm Grey and classic Dark Gull Grey, it can be customised to suit any home!

Shop Sofa Beds | Austin Sofa Bed

2. Go High Not Wide

Storage – it can seem a little boring, but it’s essential to any space. If you struggle with built in storage within your home and are looking for alternative storage solutions in smaller spaces consider these strategies.

Tall & Narrow

When floor space is in high demand, look for storage designs that are taller not wider. Tallboys & narrow chest of drawers can provide deep storage with multiple drawers whilst requiring little floor space.

Shop Storage | Hertz Tall Boy

Bedside Tables

Never overlook the storage capacity of bedside tables. Deep drawers, extra shelves and taller designs can be helpful in storing your daily necessities in an accessible location.

Shop Storage | Parc Bedside Table

2. Extendable Tables

Is your dining room tight on space but you love to entertain? Extendable dining tables are the ultimate solution – providing weekday functionality whilst satisfying your weekend entertaining needs.

The key consideration prior to purchasing your extendable dining table is to choose a size that functionally fits the space. If you are extra tight on room we recommend choosing a round style, it will fit neatly in corners and naturally encourage conversation.

Shop Dining Tables| Romulus Extendable Dining Table

3. Under-bed Storage

How are you making the most of your bedroom space? Do you have room for a queen bed but no bedside tables? Are you struggling to fit your laundry into your wardrobe? Think about elevating your furniture pieces not only in style but also in storage. Under-bed storage is key when it comes to maximising bedroom space, utilising dead surface area to provide much needed (and quite expansive) storage room. Gaslift bedframes and bases with drawers are the best types of options, providing ample room for extra blankets, pillows and everything else your wardrobe won’t fit!

Shop Beds | Shop Stella Queen Gaslift Bed Frame

4. Ottomans

It’s time for the humble ottoman to be given the praise it deserves; ottomans are not only super stylish with their plush quilted designs, but they also can be used in numerous ways.

• The most stylish footstool you will purchase
• Use as extra seating to extend your sofa
• Place a tray on top and use as a coffee table
• Choose a design with underseat storage (more, more, more storage)

Shop Ottomans | Shop Lena Square Ottoman

5. Bookcases & Shelves

Make a design statement and store, all in one with Brosa’s range of bookcases and shelving designs. Ladder shelves and open bookcases take up less space than boxy storage units, whilst also presenting the opportunity to make a stylish statement. Utilise the tall layout by integrating baskets and other decorate boxes on the bottom levels, whilst creating visual attraction with photo frames, books and other feature items throughout the top. For smaller, more integrated kitchen and dining room set ups open shelves make a great place to store extra plates, cups and other ceramic goods.

Shop Bookcases and shelves | Shop Lang Bookcase

For more inspiration on small space solutions and to shop furniture online, visit Brosa.

How to make your workspace and home office productive 

As millions of Australian’s continue working from home, it’s time to check in with yourself. How is your work-life balance? Have you figured out when and where you work best? Are you still working from the couch? As work and home life meld, we reveal 12 home office ideas that will help you create a productive workspace you’ll love. Whether you’re looking to up your WFH desk game, undertake a complete home office makeover or rival your colleagues Zoom set up, we’ve got you covered.

Vince Office Chair | Shop Office Furniture

1. Space Saving Study 

If you’ve set up your home office in a spare bedroom, laundry or even tucked it under the stairs, you’re probably looking for ways to make it work harder for you. Shelving can transform empty walls, creating a productive workplace design that’s stylish and easy to navigate. Turn a home office mess into a masterpiece with the Field Triple Open Shelf, a statement shelf offering ample space to hold and display your office supplies. You can even style it as a room divider for larger spaces when you just can’t face your partner anymore – isolation 2.0 is real. 

Shop Field Double Shelf | Field Triple Shelf

2. Up Your Desk Game

If your couch has turned into a makeshift office, it’s time to up your desk game. As we continue working from home, the lines between work and play have well and truly blurred. When you’re eating where you sleep and sleeping where you Zoom’d your boss for your 9am WIP – something’s got to give. Get to work in style with the Lewes Desk, a statement standout which will keep your workspace neat, tidy and ready to deliver. Don’t worry, we won’t make you put on real pants.

 Lewes Office Desk – Shop Now

3. Light and Bright 

A bright, light home office is the perfect place to think and create. After all, you’re not working at home to recreate the feeling of the boxed-in cubicle you left behind. While proper overhead lighting is important (especially during winter), introducing a table lamp can create functional mood lighting. The striking Leo Arc Table Lamp will illuminate your work space and brighten your mood at the same time.

4. Colour Pop Your Home Office Design 

Inspire yourself with a bold and colourful home office design. Bland and boring does little to promote creativity and productivity. If you want to stay motivated, you need to feel comfortable and relaxed, which can be achieved by adding vibrant colors. A new print or bold coloured chair can help create an inspiring home workspace. Opt for the striking Cyan Print, it’s simple design and vibrant colour palette is perfect addition to bring life to contemporary office furniture. 

Shop Wall Art | Home Office Furniture

5. Modern Boho Workspace

Casual and relaxed, Modern Boho is nonchalant cool with a touch of sweetness. Transform any drab home office with trendy home office furniture, harmoniously blending fresh neutrals with a toned down pallet of earthy sunset colours, warm timber, and quality fibres. Create interest with the timeless Espen Office Chair designed with comfort cushioning for long days at your desk in style. Modern Boho works best accompanied by a little nature, so treat your room to the silhouette of a blossoming peony flower with the Flowering Print or indoor plant for the perfect workplace design. 

Espen Office Chair | Shop Home Office Furniture

6. Hamptons Home Office Retreat  

Timeless, coastal and cool – it’s hard to fault the allure of the Hamptons style. In keeping with its simplistic, yet elegant comforts, keep your home office relaxed by adding accent furniture in different textures and materials to build a layered look. To create that holiday feeling, always have a place to put your feet up and a drink down after a long day. The Diana Armchair adds a stunning focal point to the room, paired with the Greta Desk and Alex Ottomen for your very own luxe Hamptons escape, you can thank us later. 

Greta Desk | Home Office Furniture

7. Curved Home Office Furniture 

Curved desks and high-back armchairs in gorgeous rich fabrics give instant glam to your productive workspace design. When it comes to style, the gorgeous Zoe Office Chair oozes glamour. Finished with simple brass studding – who knew corporate could be so cool?

Shop Office Chairs | Shop Office Furniture 

8. All About Art – Home Office with a Gallery Wall 

Picture walls have become a staple part of any living room set up, so why not your home office? Any design lover knows that art adds indisputable character to a home, and a gallery allows for maximum personal expression. More of a minimalist? Hang a group of black-and-white photographs. We love the on trend arrangement of the Monstera Print, The Downtown Print and The Yellow Crested Cockatoo Print. 

Shop Prints | Home Office Styling

9. Bold Bookshelves

Lined with reads to evoke, inspire and motivate, a book shelf is the perfect addition to your productive workspace. Not only a space to show off your book collection, bookshelves act as a place to display artwork, personal photographs and other décor. With the right design, you can breathe new life into your home office. Opt for the stylish mid-century modern Frank Open Bookshelf which can be coupled for a larger shelving unit. 

Frank Open Shelf Bookshelf | Shop Home Office Furniture

10. Storage Savers 

Your home workplace can never have enough storage. Unlike corporate offices, most homes don’t have enough cupboard space to put things in without them spilling into your living space. What and how much storage you need is personal. If you prefer soft decor that compliments trendy home office furniture, the Emily Storage Ottoman is a beautiful alternative to shelving. For traditional storage with a contemporary twist, look no further than the mid-century modern Artimus Sideboard. 

11. Contemporary Home Office Nook 

Don’t think you have the extra space for a home office? Odds are that you do. A little creativity and perhaps some rearranging is all it takes to carve out more room. Changing your bedroom or dining room layout will often give you enough space to design a productive home office nook. Pair the sleek and leggy Frank Small Study Desk with the Frank Dining Chairs to really ramp up your contemporary workspace design without overpowering the existing decor. 

Frank Collection | Shop Office Furniture 

12. Comfort is Key 

Does the couch look more appealing than another hour in your home office? If you answered yes, we may just have the solution to your WFH woes. A contemporary couch or armchair can add comfort and style to your home office design, boosting productivity by giving you a comfortable place to work when the desk gets too much. The stylish and cleverly designed Stockholm Sofa Bed also transforms into a modern bed for guests. It’s a no brainer!

Stockholm Sofa Bed | Shop Furniture Online at Brosa

Brosa delivers to Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and beyond. 

Have you been inspired? Curate your dream home office and start shopping for your furniture online at Brosa.