The Overlooked Styling Trick That Can Refresh Your Space For The New Year — Without Spending A Dime

We've all been there — the new year rolls in, you look around your home, and suddenly your interior decor looks stale and totally uninspiring. You crave a change, but you don't necessarily want to spend a chunk of change on switching up your aesthetic. We often assume that it takes a complete overhaul of our current decor to satisfy this urge to update our space. But you'd be surprised at how much a small change can shift the energy in a room. In fact, you can even vamp up your space without spending a dime. Simply restyling your shelving with items you already have in your home can make a world of difference.

"I love to empty all the bookcases, shelves, coffee tables, etc. I place all the items in one central location and then completely restyle each space from scratch, moving things around," founder and principal designer at Eralyn Interiors Erica Davis shared with The Spruce. You already have all the decor you need to achieve this style revitalization right at your fingertips. With a bit of creativity, a collection of meaningful trinkets, and perhaps some quirky vintage decor items to fill empty spots, you can infuse your home with fresh energy this new year. Wondering how to pull off this shelving revamp? We've compiled some tips to get you started.

As Erica Davis suggested to The Spruce, start your redesign process by taking down all the decor from your shelves and side tables. Don't be afraid to pull from other areas in your home as well. You have more decor in your house than you may think. Seemingly uninteresting items such as books, small baskets, or lamps can be excellent pieces to sprinkle into your shelf design. Don't worry about these items being too matchy-matchy. This common shelf styling mistake can lead to a flat, uninspired effect. Instead, seek out contrast when restyling your shelves. Your design will actually flow better if you pair objects that vary in size and texture on each shelf.

Take your time trying out different configurations. Stack books horizontally on one shelf and vertically on another. Bring in objects you usually store away, like cameras or novelty bottle cap openers. Layer your items together, placing them on the shelf in small clusters. Just be sure to include some empty space to prevent your shelves from looking cluttered. If you are willing to put down a small amount of money, thrifted items like small figurines, crystal bowls, or vintage brass pieces make for great space fillers on a shelf. Plants also look lovely styled on a shelf, so it might be worthwhile to buy a small vining plant to include in your design if you don't already have one. But, of course, buying anything at all for this project is completely optional. You can work with what you have for an entirely free home upgrade.