Cozy Chaos Shelf Tour: How I Styled My Overgrown Shelf

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It helps fund my book hoarding, plant collecting, and maybe a fourth cup of chai. Thank you for enabling me.

My current shelf setup: featuring some of my favorite plants, Junji Ito manga, and more chaotic cozy energy than I know what to do with.There’s something wildly comforting about a slightly overgrown shelf; where plants tangle into your books, trinkets stack themselves, and everything feels alive (in a good, probably-not-haunted way).

How to Build Your Own Overgrown Shelf:

Mix books and plants: Stack your favorite manga with trailing plants and bold leafy greens.

Layer textures: Add ceramic pots, wood tones, old framed art, and random cozy objects (like that little dino watching over my shelf).

Let it breathe: You want it cozy but not suffocating — leave little gaps where light can sneak through.

Add something unexpected: Like a vintage instrument, a funky old clock, or even a random board game. It keeps the chaos personal and fun.

Your shelf doesn’t have to be perfect.

It just has to feel like you.

Go ahead and spiral into decorating, and let the chaos grow.

(P.S. If you’re looking for the shelf I used, it’s this one from Amazon — affiliate link!)