The Velvet Hour Living Room · 5 min read
Styling a ceramic handbag object on a shelf or console
The Clutch, a high gloss white ceramic handbag object and coin bank, 10 inches, and where a playful piece like this belongs.
By The Dana Studio ·
A sculptural object with a sense of humor
The Clutch is a 10 inch ceramic handbag rendered in high gloss white, doubling as a coin bank, which is exactly the kind of piece that keeps a styled room from feeling too serious. Sculptural novelty objects like this work best in small doses; the glossy white finish keeps it looking considered rather than kitsch, since the surface reads more like a piece of tabletop sculpture than a literal replica.
Its functional side, coin storage, means it is not purely decorative even in a formal living room, which gives it a reason to sit on an open shelf rather than being tucked away.
Where it reads as clever rather than cluttered
A single console, an open bookshelf, or a bar cart are the natural homes for a piece like the Clutch, ideally grouped with one or two quieter objects rather than several other playful ones. Placing it beside a plain ceramic vase or a stack of books lets its shape stand out as the surprise in the vignette.
Avoid grouping it with other figural or novelty objects in the same view; one playful piece per shelf reads as personality, three starts to look like a collection without a point of view.
See The Clutch Ceramic Object — photos, pricing and delivery →
Color and material pairing
The high gloss white finish pairs cleanly with matte and textured neutrals nearby, linen, wood, brushed brass, since the shine of the ceramic needs a duller surface around it to actually read as glossy. Set against another glossy white object, it loses definition, so the strongest placements give it a matte backdrop.
Living room placement ideas
On a console behind a sofa, the Clutch works well positioned slightly off-centre, balanced by a taller object like a vase or a small stack of books on the other side. On a bookshelf, letting it sit alone on a shelf with visible negative space around it keeps the piece from getting lost among spines and other objects.
Common questions
- Is the Clutch purely decorative or does it have a function?
- Both. It's a sculptural object finished in high gloss white ceramic that also works as a coin bank, so it earns a spot on an everyday surface, not just a display shelf.
- How many novelty objects like this should I display together?
- One per shelf or console is usually the right amount. Grouping several playful, figural pieces together tends to look cluttered rather than curated.
- What should I pair it with on a shelf?
- Matte, quieter neighbors, a plain ceramic vase, books, a wood tray, so the glossy finish and shape of the Clutch stand out clearly.
Shop the categories in this guide
- Decor — Small pieces with weight to them. Resin floor vases, porcelain sets and mouth-blown glass.
See it styled in a room
The Clutch Ceramic Object appears in The Velvet Hour Living Room, styled with the rest of the pieces it was chosen alongside.
Shop The Velvet Hour Living Room