Or paint the outer edges a solid color and and use a nice gingham or floral curtain to compliment it. Accesorize the top shelf with some of your craft accomplishments such as a personalized picture frame, a hand painted flower pot, a dried floral arrangement or a decorative basket. Many of the items that you will store are unsightly and are better off not being displayed. The use of clear plastic shoeboxes would be beneficial, as well as smaller containers for the tiny items associated with sewing and crafting. The use of baskets is always recommended, hidden or not.
Baskets are much easier on the eyes than a plastic container.
The possibilities here are endless. You can use the fabric curtain method with a frilly edge for a little girl's room, or a nice solid navy for a boy's room. There is the option of not using fabric here as it is so flexible. Paint the outer edges a solid color to match the room decor and use a small paint brush to flick on a secondary color to give it the splatter effect. You can store toys in a plastic basket, books in milk crates or with book ends, dolls, cars, the list goes on.