Shelves can be a beautiful way to display decor and create easy-access storage, but they can quickly look cluttered without a thoughtful approach.
Our home organizing experts are here to reveal exactly what's causing your shelves to look chaotic – plus how to overcome these common clutter culprits.
Armed with our top tidying tips professional organizers swear by, you'll have tidy, aesthetically-pleasing shelves in no time.
1. Overcrowding
Packing shelves to the brim can make them look chaotic. To fix this, embrace negative space by leaving gaps between items, allowing each piece to stand out.
Jon Christensen, CEO of home improvement hub Bidmii, says, 'It’s easy to keep adding items, but shelves packed with decor and books can make even the nicest room feel cramped and visually chaotic. To counteract this, embrace negative space – leaving some shelves partially empty or lightly decorated. This gives the eye room to breathe and creates a more intentional look.'
Eryn Donaldson, professional organizer and founder of The Model Home, says, 'When every inch of a shelf is filled, the space lacks breathing room, causing visual overload and making it hard to appreciate individual pieces. Aim to leave some negative space around objects, ideally leaving 25-30% of the shelf free. This will give the eye a place to rest, making the shelf look curated and balanced.'
For more tips on how to avoid overcrowding, check out our guide on how to make living room shelves look less cluttered.
2. Too many trinkets
Small items can add personality, but too many become clutter.
Donaldson says, 'Small items, especially when varied in color and shape, can overwhelm the eye. Their lack of cohesion creates a busy look, making shelves appear disorganized. Group smaller items together in a decorative tray or bin to create a unified look. This helps them read as a single visual element, bringing order and balance to the shelf.'
Donaldson recommends this Ramsey Calacatta Gold Marble Vanity Tray, available from CB2, adding, 'This marble tray is neutral, so it won’t overpower, and it’s perfect for grouping smaller items, adding elegance and cohesion.'
Karina Toner, operations manager at Spekless Cleaning, recommends this KIBAGA Decorative Wooden Tray from Amazon. She says, 'A tray like this keeps trinkets or other small decor items contained for a more curated appearance.'
Try to group trinkets in odd numbers, like threes or fives, for a balanced look.
This smooth, marble tray gives a spa vibe in soft white, with naturally occurring swirls of grey. Also available in black.
Crafted from posh porcelain, this baby blue eye trinket tray is perfect for corralling small treasures on your shelves.
Handwoven from natural palm leaf, this sustainable, versatile tray adds a touch of nature to your home.
3. Busy color schemes
A jumble of colors can overwhelm the eye. Donaldson says, 'A mix of bright, clashing colors or textures on a shelf can create visual chaos, preventing the eye from focusing on any single item. Instead, select a simple color palette, choosing two or three complementary colors. For books, try grouping by color or covering them in neutral-colored paper to create a cohesive look.'
Donaldson recommends these Floating Shelf with Led Lights from Höfina. She adds, 'These wooden shelves have a neutral finish that complements a variety of color schemes, making them ideal for showcasing a more unified color palette.'
Check out these color schemes to boost your mood.
4. Too many mementos
Shelves packed with souvenirs or keepsakes look cluttered.
Toner says, 'While a few personal items can add character, too many can overwhelm a shelf and reduce the space available for other items, making it look overly busy. Choose a few favorite items to display and store the rest in a keepsake box, like this Livememory Memory Box from Amazon.'
Rotating mementos seasonally, keeping only a few out at once, can help maintain a cleaner look on your shelves. Store valuables in plastic bins with lids, available at Walmart to protect precious items from pests or accidental water damage.
5. Open storage bins
Open bins can spill over and create a messy appearance.
Toner says, 'Open bins and baskets can quickly become catch-alls for random items. Since you can see everything inside, it gives the impression of chaos, especially if the items aren’t neatly organized within.
'Use bins with lids for a cleaner, more streamlined look that hides clutter. Opt for uniform bins in neutral colors to create a sense of cohesion. I like these Hipiwe Wicker Shelf Baskets from Amazon, which come in five different sizes, but with a consistent look.'
Check out how Homes & Gardens' Head of Solved used clear storage bins to banish household mess.
6. Mismatched organizers
Mismatched bins and boxes can disrupt a cohesive look.
Toner says, 'When organizers vary in style, color, or material, the overall look becomes fragmented. This disrupts the flow and makes the space feel cluttered even if it's organized.
'Stick to organizers in similar colors, materials, or design styles, choosing clear or neutral-colored organizers for a more cohesive, streamlined look.'
Toner recommends these Whole Housewares Premium Glass Apothecary Jars and these Qcold Store Storage Baskets. Both are available at Amazon and come in a set of three.
7. Loose papers
Loose papers make shelves look messy and disorganized.
Toner says, 'Loose papers and mail can quickly pile up and create an overwhelming look, especially when placed openly on a shelf. This type of clutter is visually distracting and often spills over.
'Instead, use a designated mail organizer to keep papers and mail in one place. Set up a regular routine to go through and file or discard papers each day or week.'
Toner recommends this wishacc Desk Mail Organizer from Amazon, which has three compartments, and these Simple Houseware Clear Wall Mount File Holders, also from Amazon.
Check out our detailed guide on how to organize mail.
8. Too many books
While books can add warmth, too many create a crowded appearance.
Ben Soreff, professional organizer at House to Home Organizing, says, 'The biggest category that clutter shelves are books. But the things is: people who tend to have a lot of books really love them, and that makes letting some go challenging.
'We like to focus on the category. Books that go on the shelf are either ones you actually still need to read. Ones you have read and really loved. Ones you will never read again but just need to keep (I call this the To Kill a Mockingbird category). And books that are decor. perhaps antique or vintage books that just look cool.
'Keepsake books should be kept more remotely with your other sentimental items and not on the bookshelf. Reference books basically have no value. We focus on how hard to get and how expensive. Airport novels like the Da Vinci Code typically do not need to be kept. For children's books, many might be childhood keepsakes and should live with sentimental items.'
Soreff recommends keeping books flush with the edge of the shelf. He says, 'If not, random items tend to just accumulate.'
Arrange books horizontally and vertically to add interest, using book ends to contain them. Intersperse with decor to break up rows of spines. Soreff adds, 'A good rule of thumb is for books to take up no more than 40% of a shelf with the rest being decor, photos or plants.'
Learn more about stylishly decorating with books.
Equal parts organizational tool and accent piece, this set of bookends is sure to draw the eye. Crafted to look like hands, these resin bookends are available in your choice of white, gold, or silver, ensuring any color palette can be complemented with ease. Plus it has a non-scratch protective cover that ensures its sleek look will stay intact.
Keep your collection of books neatly displayed with bookends. This white marble set brings a fresh look to your decor, and makes a lovely addition to your bookshelf, fireplace mantel or other flat surface. This functional bookend will help organize your shelves in style.
Made of high-quality acrylic material, these transparent bookends blend seamlessly into your shelves. Each bookend is equipped with four anti-slip pads to aid sturdiness and protect the bookshelf from scratches. The smooth, curved edges further ensure that your bookshelves remain free from scratches – and that your hands do too.
9. Scattered collections
Collections look best when grouped together.
Toner says, 'Displaying an entire collection without a dedicated case can look like scattered clutter. Individual pieces can lose their impact and often create a busy look.
'Instead, invest in a display case for collectibles to keep them contained.'
This Homein Curio Display Cabinet from Wayfair is a great way to display larger collectables like trophies, while Toner recommends this Snail Store Shot Glass Display Case from Amazon.
Check out our decluttering tips for collectors and hoarders.
10. Too many plants
Plants add freshness, but too many can overwhelm.
Toner says, 'While plants are great for decor, having too many on a shelf can make it look crowded. Different shapes, sizes, and planters can also create a busy look if they don’t coordinate well.
'Limit to one or two larger plants instead of several small ones. Group plants in similar pots – like these Gepege Beaded Ceramic Planters from Amazon – or use this AUGOSTA 3-Tier Plant Stand from Amazon to add height and variety without overcrowding.
For more tips, check out our guide to the best indoor houseplants.
11. Too many photos
Family photos are lovely, but too many frames can look cluttered.
Will Cotter, owner of HappyCleans, says, 'A shelf overloaded with frames can look busy. It also makes it hard to appreciate any one photo. Plus, it’s tough to dust around each frame, too!
'Narrow down your collection to a few key photos that mean the most to you. It’s even better if you use thinner frames or a single-shelf frame for a sleeker look. If you have money to splurge or want to gift someone, get a digital picture frame. You can rotate photos (as many as you want!) without the clutter. Other family members can even add theirs, too.'
Cotter recommends these Mantello 5x7 Picture Frame Set from Amazon for slick, thin frames, and this Skylight Digital Picture Frame from Amazon, which has touch-screen technology.
12. Dirt and dust
Dust instantly detracts from even the best-arranged shelf.
Steve Evans, owner of Memphis Maids, says, 'Believe it or not, having dirty shelves makes them look cluttered and smaller, especially after months of not being properly cleaned.
'Once you clean and even polish them, they will look bigger and reflect more light. You can use a slightly damp cloth with 1 – 2 drops of dish soap, dry with a clean cloth, and wipe again but with a tiny bit of beeswax for extra shine.'
Evans recommends this Howard Products Feed-N-Wax Wood Polish from Amazon, adding, 'I’ve found using a tiny bit goes a long way, protecting wood as well as adding extra shine.'
Check out our guide on how to dust open shelves without damaging your belongings.
So there you have it – 12 things that always make your shelves look cluttered, plus what to do instead. By addressing these common clutter creators, you’ll transform your shelves into a clean, attractive display that enhances the room rather than detracting from it.
Next, check out these 10 things professional organizers wish we would stop doing.
