I always loved how other people styled the tops of their bookcases, decor and artwork just resting neatly up there like they'd planned it in five minutes flat. With my IKEA Kallax shelves in the study I was finally in a position to try it myself, except for ages I had no idea what I wanted and the frames sat empty for months. In the end I went mostly monochrome, with a few pops of green from the plants and some other small touches.
The Marilyn Monroe poster has been mine for years, I only recently cut it down so it would fit my square frame and I have never been happier about it. The Scarlett Johansson print took a lot longer to track down, I had wanted that photo for ages before I actually got my hands on it. Those two prints were the starting point for everything else on the shelf.
From there I just kept collecting, some pieces I already owned, some I bought specifically to sit up there. On the left, a faux plant in a white pot from IKEA, a reliable pick for a spot that never gets enough light. Then a ceramic black and white owl, a gift from Josh's parents.
There's a timber and white ceramic oil burner for when life gets too much, and my favourite blend for it is a mix of orange, lavender and patchouli. Heavenly stuff, genuinely.
Right in the centre sits Josh's clock, which I am fairly sure has been out of batteries for a while now, but I like the shape of it. In front is an ampersand cut-out from Typo that somehow matches everything else without trying.
Then there's my beautiful clear quartz cluster from Feel Crystals, which I adore. I think crystals are amazing and I keep meaning to read up on them properly. Clear quartz is supposed to be full of positive, cleansing energy and good for emotional healing when you're stressed. I feel a bit calmer just thinking about it.
There's a small candle in a Parisian Pear scent that makes the whole study smell like cinnamon and pear, like a pie left out to cool. At the far end is my bird's nest fern, who probably needs to move because I do not think he gets enough light where he is, but he looks good regardless and I have not worked out where else to put him.
Finally there's Geoffrey, my faux plaster stag head from Typo. He used to hang in my study back when I lived at home with my Mum, and these days he has a much more relaxed lifestyle sitting on the shelf instead. I would not be surprised if he ends up back on a wall one day.
It took me embarrassingly long to get there, ages of staring at empty frames before any actual decorating happened, but I am happy with where it landed. It might all change again eventually, it usually does, but right now I think there's just the right amount up there.
This post contains items I was given for review. All opinions are my own.
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> this was back when you found new blogs through bloglovin instead of an algorithm deciding for you
> geoffrey, if you're reading this, you will hang again one day
> # signing off