Accessorizing Tutorial for Ledges and Potshelves

Builders have fallen in love with ledges, sometimes called potshelves. Newer houses have them everywhere. When adding the higher ceilings, I guess they couldn’t leave well enough alone and figured we’d all want dust collectors up high where we can’t see the dust.

So what the heck do you do with those ledges up there – the ones you need a ladder to even reach?

Do NOT just stuff them with silk green plants – that’s dated, ordinary, and you can do lots better.
Do NOT ignore them and leave them empty. It makes the room unfinished and looks like you just moved in.

DO create a lively vignette to capture the attention of your guests and wow them with your ingenuity. Whenever you’re pulling a room together there’s a temptation to run out and buy everything to finish it all at once. If you’re lucky enough to find the right things, good for you. However, it’s often better to wait for just the right pieces and let the room evolve – especially when dealing with the accessories.

CREATE A CAPTIVATING LEDGE DISPLAY

I’ll lead you step by step through developing a shelf vignette. This works for ledges, bookshelves, kitchen cabinet tops, or even a dresser top – any flat surface. Adjust the volume and height of the accessories to suit the space you’re filling.

A typical potshelf decor beginning.

A tall plate on a stand, a couple of finials and a stone ball, the colors all neutral and everything spread apart – it fills space but that’s about it. It’s visually unbalanced with the 2 taller items overpowering the smaller ball and the pieces don’t seem connected. Here’s how to improve this display.

Alternate potshelf arrangement.

A stronger accessory arrangement is created when you group the items together. This makes an asymmetrical grouping – the visual weight is uneven.

Alternate grouping.

This more compact version tucks the pieces closer together for an even stronger presentation. Overlapping the elements lets your eye see them as one unit. Now let’s pretend you’ve gone shopping and have a few more things to add to this grouping.

I've added a few more elements and a touch of color to increase the impact.

It’s time to add a little color to these neutral accessories - the big rust vase will anchor the left side. A small wood box holds a ceramic planter and ivy. Greenery plays an important part in accessory groupings – just be careful not to overdo it. You want to soften hard edges and add life, but use the greens only as accents. This grouping is starting to look really complete. However, I’m feeling like there needs to be something layered in front of the big rust vase - that side is a little visually ‘empty’ compared to the detail on the right side.

Finishing touches on the potshelf decor.

To complete the look, I’ve balanced the greens by placing a similar pot and longer ivy on the left, but at a different level. I’ve added a touch of whimsy and texture with the duck and I like how they cover the base of the rust vase. On the right, one more ceramic pot to bring the rust color to the right side of the grouping.

As a final picture, here’s the same grouping but changing the plant shape on the left – instead of something trailing, I found this great upgright grass with the rust color to play up the other rusts. Which do you prefer? There’s no right or wrong, it’s what you find more pleasing.