Chic and Practical Guide to Styling a Shelf

Over the past few months, and especially during the holidays, my office became an unorganized disaster! Shelf organization was something I was in desperate need of...  There was junk everywhere, and zero organization. Wrapping paper and ribbons were scattered all over the floor, boxes were piling up and I could not see my desk surface. Seriously I let things go... haha I knew that after the holidays I needed a serious deep clean. Once I got this beautiful lucite shelf all the plans fell into place. I love that it is lucite, so it keeps the room looking large, and it has plenty of shelves. I headed to HomeSense, aka my holy grail for stylish home goods, and picked up some essentials to get it all in order. Storage boxes? Check. Trays and containers? Check. And, obviously, a few pretty additions!

Styling a shelf can seem intimidating. What do you want to display? How can you utilize the space without it feeling crowded? And how can you actually use it to store things... and not just act as a decor piece. I took a weekend to tackle the project and I am already feeling so relieved and organized! It's amazing what a fresh, clean space can do. Here are 5 ways I styled the shelf to make it functional and stylish.

I grouped like colours together to keep my colour palette clean and fresh. Pinks, gold, whites... you know me! Then I started placing them on the shelves in different ways. Styling the shelf with books first is a great starting point because it allows you to layer other items on top and around. And, keep in mind, you don't need to stick to the traditional stack or row! Turn some on their side, put some on an angle, display one of your favourite covers, and turn some around so you have a stack of all white spines. Create some interest with the pieces. Think about how you want it to look. Do you want the pile to gradually get smaller or do you want them all the same size?

I had to play around with a few different set-ups. I had too much black beside each other, then too much pink. I kept the colours balanced by spacing the items out and taking a step back after I placed a few of them on the shelf. Keep in mind you don't want to overcrowd the shelf but you want it to be functional. Try bringing some objects closer to the front of the shelves, while having some higher objects in the back. Try layering necklaces over books, candles on top of trays, and photos in front of boxes.

I had a bunch of blank papers, ribbons, and cards that I use for crafting but wanted to hide away. I bought some great storage boxes (glass for the things I wanted to display, and coloured to hide away some objects) to store and organize random things. Inside the box may be another story, but on the outside, it looks fresh, organized and de-cluttered. Also, using trays helps to keep things in order and looking organized. Since I was looking for practicality, I got some cute filing folders at Target to file away important documents. It looks good but it's serving a purpose, ya know? Since I pretty much reach for my camera daily I now house it on my shelf, in its bag. Right where I can see it and grab on the go!

This is your space and you want it to be a reflection of you! Add some meaningful objects, like souvenirs, personal trinkets and anything that brings a smile to your face (i.e.: makeup, sunnies, etc.). Photos are another great addition. Whenever you look up you are reminded of beautiful memories. Add prints or quotes for whenever you need a little jolt of happy motivation! 

A printer is a necessity for most offices. I'm not going to put it away and bring it out every time I need it. It's just not practical! I now display it on the bottom shelf, which is actually perfect for me to whip around in my chair and grab the document! No time wasting here!

Do you have any tips for styling a shelf? I hope these help! Remember all spaces can be beautiful, and practical, too! If you have any questions for the items on my shelf, leave me a comment! 

*This post was in collaboration with HomeSense. 

How to Beat The Winter Blues

Holy moly, it's cold out. The past few weeks have been just extreme. I know it's winter and I live in Canada, but wow. Doesn't it just make you want to curl up in a ball and do absolutely nothing? It does to me... But that is so not productive, and it can make you feel extremely isolated and down! So I am not about that. I may have given in for a day or so but I am vowing to not let it continue! There is still life to live and stuff to get done. I know it can be tough but here are some tips on getting out of that winter funk and embracing winter:

3 Ps for 2018

Twenty seventeen was a pretty intense year for me. Without getting into the nitty-gritty, it was filled with extreme loss of self, denial, shame, and death.

Heavy right?! Well, I must say it was also an amazing time for self-discovery, balance/wellness seeking, and love.

The end of 2017 was much more positive for me. Thank gosh! Heck, we traveled to Europe and got engaged so I'd say that was pretty monumental! But it's safe to say I have serious hopes for 2018. I want excitement, spontaneity, and fun. I want to travel, grow (both professionally and personally), and embrace new experiences. Resolutions don't do it for me. Do you really need resolving? No way. You are strong, capable and powerful. And you can be the best version of yourself by setting goals and intentions for the year without putting negative pressure on yourself. I totally stole these 3 Ps from the ultimate boss babes around, the girls from Tone It Up. They are so positive and inspirational and I love following them and their wellness tips! So I couldn't help to not share them with you, but by adding my own insight, of course!

This year I am focusing on 3 Ps:

Purpose
I want to embrace purpose. I want this blog to have a purpose. Sometimes we get carried away with just sharing our own snapshots that we forget how we can help and inspire others. In 2017 I made it a goal to share with purpose. That meant for my blog posts to give more insight and value, and that is something I vow to continue to do so that it may inspire you constantly. I started sharing ways to inject the topic I was discussing into your own life and I think it's such a powerful tool to do. Also, one huge accomplishment for me was launching my newsletter to generate more purpose. To give tips and tricks and share my findings through another means. I don't plan to stop!

Positivity
Sometimes I can be pretty negative. We all can. But I know that I have a tendency to fixate on this from time to time. Constantly reminding myself (literally-- I mean speaking to myself) to change my thoughts/outlook and focus on the silver lining has been so helpful for me. Self-talk and self-care have huge powers.

Passion 
It's time to follow my dreams! I get so excited by possibilities but sometimes have a hard time carrying them out. I have to say... when I do, it's like a surge of joy, energy, and renewal! This year I am going to focus more on my passions and not feel guilty for it. In other words: "you do you"!

So now you tell me. I let you in on some of my inner thoughts but I want to hear yours. What are your intentions  and goals for 2018?