I truly enjoy arranging the surfaces of my home—bookshelves, tabletops, sideboards, even windowsills. I think of them like micro-exhibitions: little moments of beauty, memory, and meaning that reflect how I live, how I see, and how I want to feel in a space.
This impulse comes from years of visualizing museum exhibitions—but it’s also just how I live. It’s part art, part instinct, part ritual. And I promise, you don’t need to be a curator (or even particularly organized) to do it yourself. Here are some of my favorite ways to make surfaces special:
- Start with the story you want to tell.
Every surface is a stage. Are you feeling nostalgic? Minimal? Celebratory? Seasonal? Think about the mood you want to create. Then let that guide what comes out of the cabinet or off the shelf.
- Mix materials.
Play with contrasts: glass next to wood, metal next to fabric, matte beside glossy, a rough ceramic next to a delicate flower stem. Visual texture brings energy—and keeps things from feeling too perfect.
- Use books as anchors.
Art books, novels, poetry, whatever speaks to you. Stack them. Fan them. Open one to a favorite page. Books add height, meaning, and that irresistible feeling of a life being lived.
- Bring in the personal.
A photo. A seashell from a beachwalk or a trip. A paperweight from your grandmother. Objects with stories ground the space in you. That’s the magic—when aesthetics meet memory.
- Leave space to breathe.
Not every inch needs something on it. Negative space is part of the composition. Give your eyes (and your objects) a little room to rest.
- Change it up.
Just like a gallery rehangs its walls, you can shift your surfaces. Regularly try something new. Rotate pieces. Swap in a fresh flower or a recent find. Let your home evolve with you.
- Take pictures as you go.
Use your phone to photograph different arrangements. It helps you see balance, spacing, and mood with fresh eyes—and if you preferred an earlier version of your scapes, the photo lets you go back to it. It’s like sketching with objects.
- Think in extremes—eclectic or singular.
Sometimes the magic is in a wild mix of textures and stories, and sometimes it’s all about just one thing. A row of vessels. A stack of stones. A table full of blue-and-white ceramics. Collections can be striking when seen together. Don’t be afraid to go all in.
In the end, it’s about creating little moments that make you feel more connected—to your things, your history, your senses, and your space. Living artfully isn’t about perfection. It’s about intention.
And a well-placed bead necklace!
Photography by Shawn Chavez
