Show Off Your Living Room Style With Our Favorite Bookshelf Decorating Tips
Your bookshelves can be so much more than just storage for books. With a little creativity, your shelves can become a stylish focal point that expresses your personal taste and brings visual interest to your living room.
Decorating your bookshelves is an easy and affordable way to give your space a mini makeover. The right styling turns boring shelves into an artful display. Follow our favorite decorating tips to create a bookshelf arrangement you can't stop showing off.
Get Shelves Ready for Their Close-Up
Before decorating, it's important to declutter shelves and give them a deep clean. Here's how to prep your bookshelves for their starring role:
Clear Away Clutter
Take everything off the shelves and sort through the items. Donate or store any books you don't love to pare down your collection. Give away trinkets and objects that no longer bring you joy. Only keep displayed items you truly cherish.
Clean the Empty Shelves
This is the perfect time to give shelves a thorough cleaning. Use a duster to remove dust buildup. Then tackle stuck-on dirt and grime with an all-purpose cleaner and microfiber cloths. Make any needed repairs before returning items.
Gather New Decor Items
Raid your home for potential bookshelf decor. Look for objects with visual appeal like vases, frames, baskets, and figurines. Shop thrift and dollar stores for inexpensive accessories. Collect more items than you need so you have lots to choose from.
Design Principles for Styling Bookcases
Follow these fundamental design concepts as you decorate shelves to create an eye-catching display:
Balance Heights and Visual Weight
A balanced composition is key. Mix tall and short items, and combine small and large objects. Place heavy items on lower shelves and lightweight decor up high. Creating balanced vignettes prevents the shelves from looking cluttered.
Apply Color Theory
Use color to create a cohesive theme. Coordinate all cool tones or warm tones. Or, opt for contrast with bright pops of color. You can also color block shelves or gradually transition color. Just be sure the color scheme enhances your living room's existing palette.
Use the Rule of Odd Numbers
Styling with odd numbers creates more visual interest than lining things up in even rows. Style vignettes with 3, 5 or 7 items. Or, fill shelves with varied groupings instead of displaying objects evenly spaced.
Repeat Textures and Elements
Tie the shelves together by repeating textures, shapes, hues, or materials throughout the display. For example, incorporate the same metallic finish or reoccurring geometric shapes. Echoing certain elements creates cohesion.
Books and Everyday Items for Styling Shelves
Now for the fun part: decorating the shelves! Use books plus common household items to create one-of-a-kind arrangements:
Books Showcase Your Taste
Fill shelves with books you love reading. Arrange by color, display face out or stack horizontally. Or, turn classic book sets spine out to highlight gorgeous bindings. Let your books reflect your interests and show guests your reading tastes.
Tell Your Story Through Meaningful Objects
Turn shelves into a storyboard displaying cherished photos, souvenirs and keepsakes. Sentimental objects that spark nostalgia are perfect for decorating. Arrange in small vignettes to provide glimpses into your life.
Add Warmth With Houseplants
Incorporate life with greenery like succulents, snake plants or air plants. Place smaller plants on shelves, or add height with floor plants. The natural hues of plants offset the materials of shelves for a welcoming look.
Highlight Artwork and Wall Decor
Draw the eye upward by placing framed prints, paintings and wall hangings on higher shelves. Sculptures also add artistic flair. This draws attention to your walls while decorating the cases.
- Balance heights and visual weight for a pleasing display
- Apply color theory to create a cohesive color scheme
- Style in odd numbers rather than even rows
- Echo colors, textures, and elements for visual harmony
Clever Display Ideas for Stylish Shelves
Ready to amp up your bookcase with creative display ideas? Try these fun styling methods to show off your living room style:
Stack Books Creatively
Skipping boring rows, stack books flat, upright, sideways, or at angles. Use bookends to corral uneven stacks. Or, lay books flat and stack decor items on top. Varying book orientation adds intrigue.
Dedicate Shelves to Collections
Turn shelves into mini galleries for your collections. Display favorite framed photos together or showcase meaningful souvenirs from your travels. Devoting shelves to hobbies expresses your interests.
Add Unexpected Household Items
Raid the kitchen, craft room and office for unique decor. Repurpose mugs, jars, baskets, and boxes. Line them up or stack items of varying heights. Everyday items become artful with clever arrangement.
Use Meaningful Memorabilia
Surround yourself with nostalgia using personal mementos. Display cherished childhood books, old family photos, antiques inherited from grandparents, or vacation souvenirs. Sentimental pieces add character.
Incorporate Practical and Decorative Items
Include functional objects needed in your living room. Arrange coffee table books, coasters, candles, and remotes attractively. Combining practical and pretty items reduces shelf clutter.
Edit and Fill Empty Spaces
Once shelves are decorated, step back to review your work. Make sure items are spaced evenly and corners aren't cramped. Edit out pieces that don't enhance the overall look. Fill any gaps by rearranging or adding objects. Refine until you're fully satisfied!
Inspirational Bookshelf Styling Ideas
Looking for more bookshelf decor inspiration? Here are some gorgeous looks to recreate:
Color Coordinate
Sort books by color and arrange the spectrum across shelves--the effect is eye-catching! Start with dark hues on the bottom and light shades up top. Include decor in corresponding colors.
Organize by Category
Devoting shelves to categories creates a streamlined look. Try arranging by subject, author, size, or color. Use bookends labeled with categories to divide sections.
Make a Bold Statement
Command attention by styling shelves in a single vibrant hue like teal or sunshine yellow. Paint the back wall the star color for added pow. A punchy color makes the shelves pop.
Your bookshelves can become a stunning accent wall or eye-catching focal point with imagination. Have fun and get creative with different looks until you design a display that wows. Show off your living room style by making those shelves shine!