Style Your Bookshelf Like a Pro!

When it comes to the public library, café, or bookshop, styling a shelf is a breeze. Just add books and…done! In a living room, bedroom, or home office, the to-do list is much longer.

First, think of your shelves as a blank canvas and yourself as an artist ready to create a masterpiece. Whether you choose to display a chick lit, a family photo, or a stained glass lamp vintage set, each item should express your personality.  

Below, we have some tips and tricks on decking up your bookshelf so it demonstrates who you are, where you’ve been, and where you are going.

Instead of lining up your precious items in never-ending rows, stack them up. When you mix horizontal and vertical stacks, you create a collected look. Try to mix different heights, using a couple of books on some shelves and loads of those on others. 

Displaying volumes only is boring. Add objects that mean something to you. While the volumes are stacked horizontally and vertically, blend them with something personal you’ve collected over many years. Small figures and sculptures, picture frames, pottery, and vases create visual interest that no impersonal object can. However, before you decide to show off something, don’t overdo it to make sure the space doesn't look cluttered.

You take your past and present and make them part of your interior, while still leaving room for what comes tomorrow. Quite a philosophy!

For a curated look, we recommend grouping items by color families or mixing tones that complement each other. Using different textures like metal, wood, fabric, or glass is a nice tactic for those who do not want to end up with some sections that look empty while others feel stuffed. If you’ve got a heavy ceramic vase, place it beside a hardcover with a linen cover. At the same time, a glass paperweight becomes a star next to a wooden sculpture. 

It’s crucial to leave some breathing room. You definitely want to adorn the bookshelf with things that are dear to you. However, empty sections are as important as what you want to show to the world. Thus, your eyes have an opportunity to rest while your guests understand what artful display occupies a special place in your heart.

Whenever you feel like it or just seasonally, rotate items on the bookshelves to keep the space fresh and engaging for you and your visitors. Plus, it’s always a nice excuse to show off new treasures.