Try These 30 Best Shelf Décor Ideas | Effortless Tips & Tricks

If you want your office to look and feel like a place where you can easily spend all day working in, one thing you have to make sure of is the office décor. At Autonomous, you will find a wide range of shelf décor ideas that will give you the inspiration you need to make your office the ideal place to be. 

Research has shown that how you choose to decorate your office will not only impact how you feel but also has a huge effect on your productivity. A few office accessories and shelf décor items can boost the way you and your colleagues approach your work. 

If you are looking for great, affordable, and easy-to-implement shelf decorating ideas, you are in the right place. This article will explore the various aspects of office storage and organization to help you come up with the ideal shelf decoration ideas that are suitable for your needs. 

How To Decorate Your Office Shelves

Decorating your office does not have to be an impossible task, especially if you have several empty shelves to try out your ideas. However, when it comes to decorating shelves, ideas are not the only important things to consider. 

Shelf décor ideas are part of a list of four important things you need to consider carefully, such as: 

Affordability

Never forget that your shelf decorating ideas will come at a cost. This means you must have a budget that will not strain your pockets. There is no need to go for the very expensive shelf décor items when you can choose many other cheaper options that are just as effective. 

Functionality

It’s all well and good to implement some radical shelf decoration ideas that will make your office look unique, but remember that your office shelf décor ideas have to be part of a functional office where people need to get some work done. 

If your decorations end up causing a distraction, taking up some essential workspace, or otherwise getting in the way of normal work productivity, they are simply not worth it. 

Trends

There is a constant change in the shelf décor ideas that people are implementing these days, and if you want to stay ahead of the curve, you have to pay attention to the latest trends in the industry. If you do not know what is currently hot in interior decorations, you risk spending a lot of money investing in a dated look that you will need to change again in a few months.

Taste

Last but not least, you need to think carefully about the kind of shelf decorating ideas that feel good to you. If you simply choose whatever most people are going for, you may end up with a beautifully designed office that you hate working in! 

You are the one who spends the most amount of time in your office, so your needs and tastes should be the most important thing when picking out shelf decoration ideas. 

Ready To Get Started? Try One of These 30 Options

When you are ready to try out a few ideas, take a look at the following great suggestions from Autonomous: 

1. Get a Desk Shelf

A desk shelf is a great way to combine both a workstation and a shelf. When you are done doing your work, simply clear up your desk and make room for a few decorations without having to do a lot of rearranging.

FinerCrafts Desk Shelf

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2. You Can Never Go Wrong With a Standing Desk

If you are health conscious and are worried about how spending long hours seated in front of your computer will affect your posture, you need to invest in an adjustable standing desk. Just like a desk shelf, you can still use it for displaying some shelf items when not in use. 

SmartDesk 2 (Standard)

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3. Organize Everything Perfectly

Taking time to carefully consider your office desk organization will go a long way in making sure that everything you need is close at hand while you work. You do not want to constantly have to reach far into the shelf to get some important accessories. 

The Office Oasis Magnetic Desk Organizer

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4. Make It Part of Your Cubicle Décor

With the popularity of open-plan offices, a lot of people find themselves working in a cubicle rather than an office. However, even here, with the right cubicle décor ideas, you can install a couple of shelves for your items. 

5. Get a Shelf With a Drawer

Storage is a huge problem in most offices, which is why you have to make the best use of every bit of available space. Combining your desk or shelf with a swivel drawer is one way of making sure you always have a place for your paperwork. 

Northread Standing Desk with Drawers

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6. Place Your Monitor Stand on It

If you plan on using your shelf as a makeshift desk, then you better make sure there is enough room for a monitor stand on it. You can even put a two-tier monitor stand on your shelf with the right organization.

Mount-It! Two Tier Monitor Stand

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7. Use Your Metal Cabinet as a Shelf

No office is quite complete without a place to store files, such as a metal filing cabinet. If you find that it is taking up a lot of space, why not make use of the surface area above it to place a few flowers or books? 

Filing Cabinet

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8. Go Minimalist

The minimalist way of decorating interior spaces has become hugely popular as a way to save space and money while at the same time creating a functional work area. Employ this technique when organizing your shelf décor items. 

9. Wood Looks Classical

You can’t beat wooden shelves and office furniture when it comes to the classical look. Instead of painting your wooden shelf, leave it bare, with just a coat of varnish to allow the natural wood grains to pop and add some style to your office.

10. Try the Retro Look

Some shelf designs may look dated, but with the right placement and organization, the retro look can make your office look amazing. Some styles are very old but have a timeless look about them that will give your workstation an air of sophistication. 

11. Kuwaii Is Definitely In

If you are a fan of colors, flowers, and animations, the Japanese Kawaii sense of décor will appeal to you. By mixing up different Kawaii ideas on the shelf décor ideas you go for, you can create a very unique look that will catch the eye of all your visitors. 

12. Two-Tone Color of Black and White Is Awesome

Simplicity can work wonders with the right application. Rather than scratch your head over which colors go well together, just use black and white as the overall theme for your shelves and the rest of your office furniture.

13. How About Some RGB Lighting 

Nothing quite brings an office alive like a good set of RGB lights. Depending on how much you want your shelf to stand out, there are many different tones of RGB lights you can choose, from subtle to bold and bright. 

14. Choose the Rustic Look

The rustic look is not for everyone but it certainly has its charm. When applied delicately, a rustic-looking shelf can look great even when mixed with other types of modern-looking furniture. 

15. Add Some Flowers

There are many different types of office flowers you can place on your shelf to give your office a natural vibe. Whether you believe office plants have meaning or not, you can never go wrong with a few strategically placed flowers around the office.

16. A Good Book Shelf Goes a Long Way

The primary purpose of having a shelf in the office is to hold books. If you want to stick to the basics, then a few popular books with well-made book sleeves can be the perfect addition to your office. 

17. Family Photos Are Cute

Nothing brings a smile to your face than glancing up and seeing the faces of the people who you are working so hard for. No matter the type of office décor you choose, a few family photos on your shelf will always look good. 

18. Add Some Hobby Accessories

Are you into miniature cars or some other interesting hobby? Your shelf can be the best place to display it! Not only will it give your office a unique look, but it is also a great conversation starter when your guests spy on your awesome hobby collection sitting on your shelf.

19. Display Your Achievements

Do you have some certificates, trophies, or other accolades you are proud of? Don’t be shy to put them on your shelf for everyone to see because you worked hard for them after all. Academic achievements are also a great way to give you some credibility when dealing with clients. 

20. Get a Foldable Shelf

When space is an issue, you might want to consider getting a foldable shelf. You can use it to store your books, flowers, or other office accessories when you need to. Once you are done with it and you need to create some extra space, simply fold away the shelf until next time. 

21. Place Your Gadgets

If you are a big fan of gadgets then odds are you take a lot of them everywhere you go. Gadgets such as laptops, tablets, phones, headphones, and Wi-Fi routers can all be neatly kept on your shelf, within easy reach whenever you need them.

22. Keep Your Desk Organizer There

Although some people think desk organizers are outdated, a lot of office workers still use them. There are some great-looking organizers available here at Autonomous. If you are one of these people who still use a desk organizer, your shelf is a great place to keep it. 

Swivel Desk Drawer

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23. Movie Themed Accessories

What is your favorite movie? Wouldn’t you love to think of it once in a while at work? A lot of the big movie franchises sell merchandise from their films and you can get some to place on your shelf. 

24. Add a Bit of Nature

Some wildlife pictures on your shelf are a great idea to bring a bit of nature into an otherwise modern office environment. There are a lot of awesome and affordable wildlife photos that you can try out.

25. Invest in Some Artwork

The art that you choose for your office shelf doesn’t have to be worth millions of dollars. You can get a lot of authentic replicas online that look just as good at a fraction of the price. 

26. Pay Attention to Color Choices

If you are going to paint your shelf, make sure that your color choice is in line with the rest of your office. The last thing you want is your shelf to stand out like a sore thumb when the rest of your office is blending well. 

27. Stagger the Heights of the Shelves

You can stagger the heights of your shelves to break free of the uniform look that makes a lot of offices look very dull.

28. Mix Up Different Materials

If you can’t settle on the type of material you are going to use for the shelves you can simply choose not to make that decision at all. Mixing up some wood, metal, and plastic material is a great way to make your shelf look bold and different. 

29. Try Some Glass Shelves

Glass shelves are fragile, which is why most people avoid them. However, if you can afford the much stronger tempered glass, you will enjoy how glass captures the natural light in your office. 

30. Less Is More

Do not overcrowd your shelf with too many décor items because they will easily look untidy and poorly organized. Pick a few of your favorites and go for those instead. 

Final Word

It is amazing how just a few well-thought-out shelf décor ideas can turn an otherwise dull office environment into a place where you enjoy spending time in. Feeling good and a boost in productivity are some of the many benefits you will have if you take the time to choose the right shelf décor items for your work area.