TIPS The Best Decorating Tip No One Really Mentions

A white, arched bookshelf with five shelves stands empty against a wall with navy blue backing. To the left, a basket holds a vibrant orange and yellow faux plant. To the right, two framed blue prints hang on the wall, and below them is a cushioned bench.

Just in case you were wondering?

I am not a fancy decorator.

Not. Even. Close.

I’ve made more decorating mistakes than all the hairs on my head (which is a lot because I have a giant bunch of BIG HEADED TEXAS HAIR).

Like yesterday.

I decorated this little built-in that’s in the corner of the living room. I had an idea in my mind of how I wanted it to look and when I finished and stepped back?

It looked LAME.

Extra lame with disappointing on top.

I didn’t look like anything like the idea I had in my mind.

And then?

A lightbulb went off.

I forgot something basic. Something that you probably already know about. Something that every bookcase decorator and every hutch decorator should know and understand and make sure to do every time they decorate.

It’s the best decorating tip that no one really ever mentions.

And it really, really works. Because now? The built-in looks like this.

A white arched shelf filled with blue and white porcelain dishes and vases, accented by small orange pumpkins. To the left, there's a vibrant autumnal plant with red and orange leaves. A cushioned bench with pillows is positioned to the right.

Can you guess what it is?

Can you guess what I changed?

Can you guess what makes the decorating in this built-in work?

Close-up of a textured, circular wooden object adorned with several small, evenly spaced round wooden beads along its outer edge. The varying wood grains and tones create a rustic, natural appearance. The warm hues range from light beige to medium brown.

A round wooden cutting board with a smooth surface and bead-like embellishments around the edge, placed on a plain white background. The wood grain is visible, adding texture and pattern to the board.

A set of three round wooden trays with beaded edge details stacked on top of each other, arranged on a white surface. The trays vary in size, with the smallest on top and the largest at the bottom. The beads are evenly spaced around the edges of the trays.

// set of three wood bead risers //

HEIGHT.

I know, right?

Hello Captain Obvious.

It’s something that’s so simple, but varying the height of things you are displaying is the secret that takes the display from ho hum to HELLO BEAUTIFUL.

With my first display that I tried to create in this built-in, I thought I did everything right:

  1. I grouped everything in groups of threes
  2. I changed up the color on each shelf.
  3. I added vertical display elements with the plates in the back
  4. I added texture
  5. I added a little symmetry

And I so wish I could show you a picture to see what it looked like, but it wasn’t good. It just felt flat. It felt not cozy and welcoming and that’s when I analyzed it and remembered that I needed to vary the height of the pumpkins on each shelf.

I had this set of three wood bead risers and they were PERFECT for adding a little bit of height. This set is kind of next level for a fall display. It comes in a set of three with the cutest wood beads, looks so high end and in amazing news?

THE ENTIRE SET IS UNDER $16 right now.

You can see it here.

A display of decorative plates and various pumpkins, including white, blue-and-white patterned, and orange, arranged on black shelves. The plates feature intricate blue designs, and the pumpkins vary in size and color, creating an elegant and festive arrangement.

// set of three wood bead risers // blue and white fabric pumpkins //

See how adding the riser under the pumpkin automatically elevates it?

If it was flat on the shelf, then the entire display just feels flat.

You could also use books or mini pedestals or even bowls (like I did with the white pumpkin on the left).

Let me walk you through the entire process of the hutch in 10 steps.

Are you ready?

LET’S GO.

Quick note: If you have a hutch like this and want to add plates to the back? These are the best invisible plate holders. You can see them here. )

I wrote a whole post about my love for these plate holders here.

A white, arched bookshelf with five shelves stands empty against a wall with navy blue backing. To the left, a basket holds a vibrant orange and yellow faux plant. To the right, two framed blue prints hang on the wall, and below them is a cushioned bench.

// fall ficus tree // hooked pumpkin pillow //

A decorative pillow featuring a hooked design of an orange pumpkin with a brown stem and green vines on a white background. The pillow is placed on a light-colored surface with dark pom-poms along the edge.

// hooked pumpkin pillow //

Here’s where we started.

The back of the built-ins is painted SW Naval.

There’s a fall ficus tree on the side and there’s a stack of pillows on the yard sale bench on the other side with this hand hooked pumpkin pillow.

An arched built-in bookshelf with a navy blue interior is sparsely decorated with a few small items. To the left is a potted plant with vibrant red and yellow leaves. To the right is a cushioned bench with a white and black pillow and some wall art above it.

// fall ficus tree // hooked pumpkin pillow// set of three wood bead risers //

1. I start off the entire process with placing the wood risers on the shelves.

I knew where I needed height and I thought this was a great place to start.

A built-in arched bookshelf with white shelves displays blue and white porcelain plates against a dark navy backdrop. To the left is a large plant with red and yellow leaves in a basket, and to the right, a cushioned bench and two framed artworks are visible.

2. Next I added vertical interest in the back with blue and white plates.

I didn’t add the plates to every row because it felt like too much.

3. I added a focal piece on the top shelf in the arch with this yard sale platter on a wood easel.

A white arched shelf set against a dark blue background displays various blue and white ceramic plates, bowls, and vases. To the left, a potted plant with vibrant red and yellow leaves. A cushion-topped bench sits on the right. The floor is wooden.

4. Next I added in some blue and white pieces so I could mix it up with the pumpkins.

I used bowls, planters, and plates.

5. On the top shelf, I added two yard sale urns to create symmetry next to the center platter.

A built-in white shelving unit with an arched top, displaying an assortment of blue and white porcelain dishes and decorative white pumpkins. To the left, there is a vibrant orange and yellow autumnal plant, and a cushioned bench with pillows is to the right.

6. Next I added white pumpkins and blue and white pumpkins.

The pumpkins were all mixed in together and I chose pumpkins with different textures and sizes.

Here you can see how raising the pumpkins and giving them height makes such a difference.

A white arched shelf filled with blue and white porcelain dishes and vases, accented by small orange pumpkins. To the left, there's a vibrant autumnal plant with red and orange leaves. A cushioned bench with pillows is positioned to the right.

7. And then? For the final layer?

I added orange. I added larger pumpkins and smaller pumpkins and stacked the orange pumpkins on top of other pumpkins.

The orange (and adding the height) makes it all work.

A white shelf adorned with blue and white ceramic dishes and vases, interspersed with a variety of white, orange, and black pumpkins and gourds, creating a festive fall display. On the left, autumn leaves in vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow cascade down.

A close-up of a decorative shelf displaying various fall-themed items. An orange pumpkin sits in a small white dish, surrounded by a white ceramic pumpkin with blue floral patterns and a dark blue velvet pumpkin with a twisted stem.

A display of decorative plates and various pumpkins, including white, blue-and-white patterned, and orange, arranged on black shelves. The plates feature intricate blue designs, and the pumpkins vary in size and color, creating an elegant and festive arrangement.

An arrangement of decorative pumpkins on a shelf. Two large pumpkins feature intricate blue and white patterns, while a small ceramic pumpkin in blue and white sits beside an orange mini pumpkin. White plates with blue designs are displayed behind them.

A display shelf featuring decorative pumpkins in various colors and textures, including a small orange pumpkin, a black velvet pumpkin, and white pumpkins. In the background, blue and white patterned plates add a contrasting backdrop to the autumn-themed decor.

A white arched shelf filled with blue and white porcelain dishes and vases, accented by small orange pumpkins. To the left, there's a vibrant autumnal plant with red and orange leaves. A cushioned bench with pillows is positioned to the right.

I’m hosting Bunco tonight at my home and I’m so happy that my built-in is ready.

All it needed was a few pumpkins, a little bit of texture, a little height.

And a little bit of decorating advice.

PS I put together all the similar sources to create this exact look on my Amazon storefront.

You can shop all the sources here.

disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post

Want to know how to decorate your home for free?
Click here to get my FIVE BEST secrets.

Posted On: September 23, 2024

Written By: KariAnne Wood

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