Shelf Decor: How to Style a TV Wall with Pretty Bedroom Shelves
In this post: Shelf Decor | Have you got a wall TV that seems to be floating in the middle of nowhere? Here’s how to style a TV wall with pretty bedroom shelves.⇒
I have a secret in my bedroom.
Well, if you were standing in our bedroom, it would actually be the opposite of a secret because you can’t miss it. But I never show it on the blog.
Until now.
Because it’s really ugly. And seems to be floating on it’s own. And it really should have something underneath it to look right.
On the wall opposite the bed, pretty much hanging in the middle of nowhere, there’s a big flatscreen TV.
Yep. I know, you probably have one too. If you’re lucky, you’ve set it up in a nice entertainment unit. That way, it looks like it belongs and has a sensible home.
That’s typically what most of us do in our living rooms and such. But not everyone has space for that in the bedroom. We certainly don’t. And we have a sizable bedroom!
The wall opposite our bed is divided in the center by a small hallway that leads to the closets and master bath. So on one side of the wall break I have my secretary desk and on the other side we had this big blank wall with the huge ugly TV hanging smack in the center of it.
Oh sure, the wires are all hidden and the components are neatly stored in the closet behind the wall. But there’s still this big eyesore hanging conspicuously on the wall.
I’ve know for a while what I wanted to do was to put something beneath it as a way to anchor it.
And while we have plenty of space to walk between the wall and the bed, this is right by the entry and I had to be careful what we’d be walking into. I was also concerned about adding another bulky piece of furniture, as I didn’t want the space to get heavy and out of balance.
I considered a faux mantel and I researched a bookcase, but both would compete too much with the other furniture nearby.
So I found the perfect piece of furniture to solve what turned out to be 3 problems that I had!
The piece I selected is a charming console table with clean lines and a delicate footprint. It’s the ideal size with a shallow depth so it doesn’t get in the way, yet it’s wider than the TV which provides the correct balance. The height is perfect, as well, allowing room for decorative items to be placed on the top shelf.
Most importantly, the open feeling of the gold and glass offers a light enough presence to be placed opposite the imposing desk a few feet away.
Problem One solved: find a piece of furniture to anchor the TV without taking up too much space and appearing too heavy for the room.
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Styling Shelves
The real fun, of course, with adding bedroom shelves is styling them. There is certainly an art to decorating shelves and the same principles can be used regardless of your home decor taste. Whether modern or vintage or somewhere in between or mixed, shelf decor can be approached in the very same way. Following are some tips I’ve learned over time.
- Be cognizant of the room you’re styling for. Plates are great in the dining room but not so much in the bedroom
- Pick an accent color to assort throughout to tie everything together. I went with purple but use whatever strikes your fancy. Change it up seasonally or as the mood hits. Remember it’s just an accent. No need to take it too far.
- Be very aware of balance with a mix of heights and number of pieces grouped together. Books make great risers.
- Be sure to leave open space and don’t overcrowd. Some shelves should have only one item per section.
- Repeat certain elements such as books or vases.
- Use the opportunity to store something you had nowhere else to put.
This last tip was Problem Two solved: We love to keep chocolates in the bedroom but our bedside tables were full. It became a golden opportunity to add a lovely little luxury to our bedroom retreat in simple apothecary jars.
To suit my design style I used lots of French antiques, with a liberal mix of silver and gold patina. But I also blended them with cleaner modern objects including faux white marble to lighten up the look.
I was insistent on including a bouquet of fresh flowers, in this case comprising the heavenly scent of pink hyacinths. Along with the kitchen, this is one of my favorite places to keep fresh flowers which I find at the grocery store and include in my weekly budget.
This brings me to Problem Three solved, which I will admit was completely serendipitous. For years I’ve wanted one of those long narrow vintage class photos and I’ve considered buying one at various antique shops over the years. The older and more sepia-toned the better, so you can imagine my surprise and delight when I found one in my parents’ garage of my mother’s middle school graduating class. I immediately had it framed but could not find the right place to hang it.
What a lovely perk that it fits perfectly between my console table and my wall TV. For now I just leaned it, but it will likely be hung soon.
And now for a fun little bonus! My mom is in the second row up, sixth in from the right in the section of photo, below. But also in her graduating class is Woody Allen! Can you find him? Post your guesses in the comments… 🙂
There’s no question the TV is still pretty ugly and my charming bedroom shelves would look better with artwork above them. But this is how we live in our home and our house is meant to serve our lifestyle, so I’m delighted to have found a solution I can happily live with!
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I would guess Woody Allen is in the 1st Row, 3rd boy in from the right. Love your flat screen solution!
Thank you! And you are correct!!
Actually, I just read that again – he’s the third in from the left, not the right… 😉
Woody Allen is in the third row, he is on the left at the very end
That was a very popular choice, but it’s not him. Woody is in the first row, third from the left.
I have a similar situation in a guest cottage and may use your suggestion. I’m wondering where you placed the cable box? Thank you!
Our master bedroom closet is right behind this wall. The TV was already wired when we bought the house and the cable box and other components are on shelves in the closet. Even without the closet, you could still put the cable box on the shelves beneath the TV. I have plenty of cable boxes in view throughout our house and like the TV, it’s a fact of life. Just make everything around it look pretty, keep the wires as controlled and out-of-sight as possible and enjoy! 🙂
I would guess you don’t have a toddler
Haha! Well, if we use my mom’s class pic as a clue, the fact that she graduated from middle school in 1949 makes it very unlikely that I would have a toddler… 😉
I am however, looking forward to grandchildren some day.
Is it the glass that made you ask or having anything on low shelves? Because we did keep decorative items out when the kids were small and we had a glass coffee table.
Or was it the chocolate?
In the back row, sixth from the right wearing a lighter sit.
Nope. In fact he’s in the front row, 3rd from the left. But thanks for playing… 🙂
Third row up, left side, first boy with glasses??
No, but that was the same choice several people guessed. Woody is in the bottom row, seated, third from left.
Gorgeous shelves. Have you thought about setting up a screensaver on your tv so it shows pretty pictures or even family photos. You need a smart tv, but you already have internet connection. I have it on my computer and it displays my photos from the recent Monet exhibit at Denver Art Museum. Stunning. My bedroom tv has other photos.
I actually thought about that after I did the photoshoot… lol!
So fun!! I think Woody is the only guy wearing glasses. 3rd row from bottom, 1st on the left.
Several people picked that kid, but in fact Woody is in the first row, 3rd from left. The glasses apparently came later… 😉
I think he is in the 1st row, third from the left. Fun challenge!
You are right!! That’s him… 🙂
I think he is seated in the bottom row, third boy from the left.
Thank you for continuing to be a constant source of inspiration!
Indeed he is!! And you are most welcome!
I refuse to hang a TV on a wall or over the mantel. Maybe I’m selfish but I don’t even like to watch TV! I have allowed a medium flat screen in the Great Room’s cabinets Where it is inconspicuous. So now about Woody! He has to be the kid with glasses on the 3rd row, the first one on the left! I know you squealed with joy when you found something of your Mom’s that you can display in your lovely bedroom.
Haha! I’ve made my peace with the TVs, although I would prefer them hidden. Yes, I squealed with joy, and Woody is in fact in the first row, 3rd from left. No glasses. Looks SO different!
I would guess Woody Allen is in the bottom row, third boy from the left.
Your guess is correct!
Shirley is right! Woody is first row, 3rd from left!
You’re both right!
Woody Allen…bottom row, third from left 🙂
Correct! So here’s a question. Could you tell that from looking at him, or did you have to Google what he looked like when he was younger? Because I really think he looks so different!
That looks perfect below your t.v. Love how you styled the shelves too! Perfection!
Thanks so much, my friend!
Your shelves are perfect Lory! You’ve done a great job of making the TV feel like a pretty part of the room. ❤️ I’m thinking that lovely bed is a wonderful place to watch movies – especially with chocolates! 🙂
Isn’t everything better with chocolates? Thanks for your sweet words, Barbara!
Front rower. Third from left.
Yes, that’s him!
Third row up on left?
Nope. Bottom row, 3rd from left… 😉
Wondering about how hard it would be to pull some of the gold up the wall by gilding the narrow frame around the TV…. Maybe that would just make it stand out more though? Like the idea of the screen saver, but we live off grid and cannot afford the power. Oh how I hate the BIG BLAAAACK BOX, except when I am actually watching it.
I do agree, but in this case I was more concerned with the idea of it floating on the wall with nothing anchoring it, than the ugliness of the TV itself. (I should have taken the photos with the TV on, even though I do not keep it that way… ;-)) Think of it this way – even a horizontal painting would look odd on the wall without something beneath it. (Not the same for a large vertical piece of art, though.)
Woody Allen is on bottom row, 3rd from left, in the darker suit.
Yes, that’s correct!
Lovely room. Big fan of glass tables. I saw something interesting online. They made a frame and put shutters on it to cover the TV. You open the doors when you want to watch it.
Yes, I’ve seen those and I love the look. Hubby, however, wants immediate access to his TV… lol. It’s the one concession he asks for, so I’m ok with that… 😉