How to Decorate a High Ledge in Living Room

If you have a high ledge in your living room it can be difficult to know what to do with it. Should you leave it and not draw attention to it? Or should you decorate it and if so, how?

No matter the kind of ledge, be that a high mantelpiece over the fire, a window ledge or shelf, there are exciting ways to decorate it. 

Not only can your ledge be toned in with the room but it can also become a unique talking point when you have guests. So consider your space and pick a gorgeous way to decorate your high ledge.

Take a Look at the Space

The first thing to do is look at the overall shape of the room, including the height of the ceiling and the height of the shelf. What you want is for your decorating to be in proportion with the room.

In a room with high ceilings and muted decor, large ornaments are a good choice for your interior decor. So, as well as having these placed on the floor and at mid-height, you can place vases on a high window ledge and some pictures on the ledge at the top of the picture rail. 

This will add interest and accentuate the height of the room while keeping a feeling of warmth. Leaving too little on display could leave the room feeling stark. It’s all about balance.

Lofty Living

If you have a shelf at the apex of the ceiling then you can create a loft living atmosphere with careful styling of a high ledge.

Framed photographs or art prints can be rested against the wall. And a stack of books has a homely appeal. Tie in the colors you choose with the decor in the rest of the room.

Pictures on the Ledge

For a high, slim shelf in your living room, you can arrange a collection of art and photos. The way to get the designer touch is to tone in color and theme without matching too much.

Also, use different sized frames and experiment with the frame material, mixing wood, metal and plain white or black frames. 

The way to make a picture look professionally framed is to use a mount. Many frames these days come with a mount included so have a look for this style.

About Time

A high ledge can spark interest with a collection of objects and a clock will not only provide interest but also be a practical addition. 

You can add a variety of other ornaments and objects, like a vase or a neat plant. And carry the display fully to either end.

Less is More for Simple Ledge Decor

For a simple off white room you can have lots of designer appeal by getting the decor of your high mantel right.

Enhance the feeling of peace by using natural materials, like a wood framed mirror and picture frame. Then choose metal candlesticks that match in color. And a simple textual artwork will finish the collection. 

Don’t feel the need to balance your arrangement. Keeping objects on one side will show you have contemporary style.

Large Living Room Ledge

If you have a large house with an open floorplan living room that beautifully incorporates your entry way then you have some scope to go big in your ledge display.

Use the rest of the room’s decor for your theme. If you have a beach house you might like to incorporate some large shells, an ocean artwork or a ship’s lantern. If you have the space, be bold and have fun creating your display.

Reclaimed Items on a High Ledge

If you don’t like to buy too many new items and prefer the character of antiques, then take a look at your local thrift store to see what is on offer.

A mirror with coordinating picture frames with nothing in them is intriguing. You could add a candelabra or some candlesticks and perhaps some dried flowers in a pretty vase. This look is both sustainable and attractive.

Eclectic Ledge Arrangement

If you have a living room with a high ceiling don’t be afraid of using the entire wall space. You can add shelves almost to the top of the ceiling.

A sophisticated way to decorate is to use a mixture of items and materials in a way that looks effortless.

Place a lamp lower down the wall, then add books to the shelf above. Find ornaments that tone in with your decor, sticking to neutrals if that’s your color palette. 

Finally, for a little drama, place a large trailing plant on the top shelf. This will add a rich freshness to the overall display.

A Row of Plants

For an apex ceiling with a high ledge, a way to enhance your beautifully decorated living room is to run pot plants across the ledge.

Choose coordinating pots, perhaps a woven basket style and plant with similar plants. The uniformity of the look is what provides the interest here. 

Lighting Up Your High Ledge

However you have decided to create your beautiful ledge display, there is a simple way to transform the area that needn’t cost much.

If you add lighting to your arrangement, this will add interest and illuminate your gorgeous ornaments and objects. You don’t need a complete rewire. 

Simple battery or rechargeable lights will do the trick. Many come with remote controls so you won’t need to climb a ladder to shine on some light.

In Closing

If you have a high ledge that can be a characterful part of the room that you can enhance with an arrangement of items. 

Look at the proportions and decor of your living room for inspiration, so if you have a large room with high ceilings, you can use large vases or lanterns in your display.

For smaller rooms, you might want to add some pictures and books, or perhaps some candlesticks. Antique stores are a great place to find unusual collections of items so take a trip to your local store.

Plants will add a freshness to any display. And to enhance your high ledge arrangement, add some lighting for full effect!