How to Style a Bookshelf
Bookshelves have come a long way from their original intention, and they aren’t just for books anymore. Instead, they’ve become a staple piece of furniture in your living room, office, hallway, or maybe even your bedroom. I personally love a good bookshelf for many reasons, but mostly because it’s an easy way to add a creative flair to an otherwise simple space.
But with that often comes an “intimidation factor” of styling or dressing up bookshelves. Here’s the good news—it’s not as scary as you might think. And with a few guidelines, tips, tricks, and pointers, you can easily style your bookshelf yourself. So, let’s dive in!
01. Blank Space
I think I need a T-shirt that reads “blank space” because I find myself needing this (and emphasizing this) in graphic design and interior design. Blank space is actually a critical decorating tip and a necessity. You don’t want to overwhelm your bookshelf with too many items. Leaving blank spaces can enhance the overall look of your bookshelf, it’s easier on your eyes when visualizing the space, and it keeps you from turning your bookshelf into an unintentional junk drawer.
02. Height
Various heights can add significant depth to your bookshelf. It’s important not to group all tall items and all small items together but instead mix and match to create a unique look. A tip for uniquely creating height is to stack books of like size on top of each other, rather than side by side on a traditional bookshelf. Then, place another object on top of the books for a little boost.
03. Color Palette
What type of style are you looking for in your bookshelf? It’s essential to align the aesthetic of your bookshelf with the room it is located in. So, if your room is decorated farmhouse style, rust and wood tones, rustic metals, and golden florals would match the best. Pinterest can be a great place to search for inspiration to fit any room theme.
04. Décor
We said that bookshelves aren’t just for books anymore, right? But take a bit of time to think about the décor you want to add to your bookshelf. Haphazard decorating never helped anyone. Ha! My biggest tip is to shop your space before you head out to buy new pieces. Pull together all the items in your home that would go well, and you’d like to add to the shelf potentially. Lay them out on your dining table or even in a pile on the floor in front of you. Think about baskets, small potted plants, candles, small signs, bookends, and of course, BOOKS.
05. Odd Numbers
Now that you have the items you’d like to display on your bookshelf, it’s time to think about grouping. Grouping items in odd numbers (or sometimes I refer to this as the “Rule of Three” or “Rule of Odds”) is almost always more aesthetically pleasing because people feel more comfortable with balance. A group of one or three elements is more striking than a single pair.
06. Put it Together
You have your groups; now it’s time to put it up on your bookshelf. Look at your groups or standalone items, and look for the items that are heavy. Not necessarily weight, but a stack of books take up more visual space than a single faux stem of lamb’s ear (that got really specific). Take those heavy elements and space them out on your shelves, working in a Z-pattern (exactly how we read). Fill in the gaps with the rest of your items.
You’ve got this! But, if you need a little extra help, this is where a 1:1 video consultation really shines. Yep, you can use your time to get help styling your bookshelves, a console table, or just bounce ideas around. To book yours, click here.