An open shelf with breathing room

Group by what you reach for

Put the things you use together near each other. Leave enough room to lift one without moving every neighbour. Objects that are only occasionally needed can sit further back, provided they remain visible and stable.

Look from normal height

Check the shelf while standing or sitting where you usually use it. An arrangement that looks balanced from across the room may hide a useful object behind a taller one. Adjust for your own reach and sightline. A shelf can be pleasant to look at and still behave like a working part of the home.