Beautifully styled bookshelves are more than just a place to store your books; it is a reflection of your style. In addition, bookshelves can be used as attractive display cases. A little planning and time spent arranging your beloved books, collectibles, and art objects can be very satisfying, with the double win of getting things organized and beautifully displayed.
But how to style bookshelves, so you strike a balance between careful styling and clutter when you have so many items to display?
If you’re looking for book storage ideas that are as well-curated as the rest of your living room, these styling tips will help you get there.
How to Style Bookshelves in Living Room: The Ultimate Tips
Do you know that reading reduces stress? So, it’s time to add some new books to your home library and relax while enjoying them. And when it comes to styling, with a few simple tricks and tips, you can take your bookshelf styling game from average to fabulous!
Put Your Books by Weight and Stacked in Piles
When styling a bookcase, it’s best to put the most extensive tomes on the bottom and the smaller books on top for a balanced look. Also, you can put organic-shaped pottery or glass vases to contrast the bookcase’s vertical lines.
In addition, you can style a bookcase by arranging your coffee table books in piles by theme or color, so they look visually attractive. Try to leave space around each pile so they appear neat and deliberate rather than messy.
Using accessories as bookends is one of the best ideas for decorating bookcases. But no more than two ornaments per bookshelf to maintain a styled and spacious look.
Make it Personal
A few sentimental pieces or picture frames will keep your bookshelves authentic. Include at least one or two meaningful objects for you. Things with special meaning to you that bring back memories make unique bookshelves decor. Perhaps it’s a small piece of art or photos of friends and family.
In addition, collect treasured collectibles, flea market artwork, and souvenirs from memorable travels you cherish because they will make excellent decorations. Put the small objects on your stacks of horizontal books to achieve a more dynamic display.
Smart Bookshelves Decor
The best way to decorate a bookshelf is to use the items you already own. Look around your home for any accessories that are all in the same color palette or style. Place the largest ones on the bookshelf, with objects evenly between shelves. Fill in the rest of your space with stacks of books and potted plants for texture and color.
Whether your bookshelves are in your living room or home office, it’s best to maintain a clean look by using a tone-on-tone or one-color scheme for figurines and vases, but try to mix up shapes. Take a step back now and then to evaluate the overall balance of the arrangement. Place accessories off-center, or experiment with size to get a picture-perfect bookcase decor.
Add Plants
Indoor plants add a splash of color and provide many health benefits. And there is a wide selection of stylish pots where you can place your favorite plants — it’s a simple way to add more dimension and materials to your living room shelf decor.
To display the plants on the bookshelf, you can use a large brass pot, a terrazzo pot, and a few other vessels. Greenery is always a fantastic way to add earthy elements and depth to your decor.
You can use trailing plants since they’re an excellent way to draw eyes down to the next bookshelf. If you don’t have a talent for growing plants, you can get the same visual effect with artificial plants or hard-to-kill plants like succulents.
Layer in Artwork
Artwork is an ideal way to style built–in bookshelves, so try to layer a few pieces alongside a books stack. You could, for example, put a vibrant abstract on one bookshelf and a framed black and white photo on another.
Small paintings at the back of the bookshelves add pattern and depth. Also, you can hang art directly on the shelf frame in front of your books. You can’t go wrong whether your artwork is DIY or from the local makers.
Place your chosen artwork between books to create a symmetrical effect. Of course, you don’t want to put artwork on every bookshelf, or your setup will look cluttered, but adding prints to about one-third of your bookshelves is a good idea.
It’s also a great idea to place the most eye-catching artwork and titles at eye level for everyone to peruse.
Don’t Stuff it Full
A common bookshelf decor mistake is to put all your ornaments and books together. “Less is more” applies here, and if you have a lovely color-painted wall behind your bookshelves, you want people to be able to see it, right?
Keep on display only the books and trinkets you genuinely love. If you have a lot of things and not enough space, consider changing them out every season. It’s not about minimalism but rather restraint.
Or you can use decorative baskets or boxes to conceal and organize small, valuable items. The baskets and boxes add texture and a space to store items such as tech accessories, votive candles, writing supplies, and more.
Don’t forget to leave some white space when mixing books and decorative items. If you fill your bookshelves with many items, they’ll look cluttered. And you want the items on your bookcases to be noticed and appreciated, not overlooked.
Wrapping Up
Learning how to style bookshelves so they become an elegant part of your living room rather than a distraction is crucial for a gorgeous home. Bookshelves serve two functions: storage for books and display space for your favorite accessories. Bookshelf styling is a great way to personalize and style our homes.
Use our tips to decorate your bookshelves to be visually appealing and functional. Our decor ideas can assist you in transforming an empty set of shelves into a well-curated arrangement.
