If you’ve been around our corner of the www for a while, then you know that we love bookshelves and love showing others how to style a bookshelf.
It’s books, really. We love old books. We love new books. We love the idea of having a generous place in one’s home to store all the books. We also believe in hoarding two things: books, and craft supplies. {Sometimes, this gets us into trouble with all things organization} And what we love the most, is a nice cozy nook, in which to showcase all your favorite things. So today, we wanted to share a little bit on how to style a bookshelf.
How To Style A Bookshelf – Our Favorite Tips
Melanie wrote in and asked: …”Do you have some of your favorite tips on styling a bookshelf? We just moved, and have a giant one in our living room. It’s a little awkward and I’m not sure where to begin with making a little more cohesive with everything else. It all just seems overwhelming. Any advice?”
We’re right there with you Melanie, and know that a big bookshelf in the middle of a main living space can leave a lot of potential design hazards and angst. Here’a few of our fave guides to stick with, when it comes to how to style a bookshelf.
1. Start With The Books – How To Style A Bookshelf
I think that people are scared of books. In the age of the technological boom, I’ve found that books are a bit of an investment that the younger generation doesn’t make until later. For us personally, books were not something we invested in, until later. We started collecting them for our children and older books for us. And we never looked back.
We walked into a client’s home recently, and were COMPLETELY in awe by their library. We were talking about their new design {Coming up- we can’t wait to share this one!} and I was so distracted, I may as well have been playing with a puppy, because books. It was incredible – a lifetime supply of a collection, on well-curated shelves with the perfectly cozy feel you would come to expect from a real live home library. It’s kind of a life goal and it’s honestly, a rarity to find in a home. We think there’s so much to be said about flanking your shelves with actual books. Old and new, colorful and neutral.
Collecting them doesn’t take long, and they can honestly be paired up with other practical solutions on your shelves. You really can have the best of both worlds. It’s actually a lost art to decorate with books, and we say they’re essential. DO IT. It’s the one thing you really never will regret collecting,
2. Make It Useful – How To Style A Bookshelf
While it is absolutely fantastic to pretend that we’re Belle with the Beast in his library, sometimes those shelves really need to offer a practical side, too. That would be making it useful. Too many homes are short on storage space, so while you’re actually using them to store your wonderful book collection {so that it feels genuine, adds so many more dimensions of color and character, and oh so many more benefits} make it work hard for you, too!
We almost always have baskets on our bookshelves, for lots of reasons. 1. We have children. That means there are lots of toys still lying around, and this is where they can go. 2. We have children. Which means there are lots of odds and ends still lying around, and this is where they can go. 3. Did you guess it? We have children. Which means they play video games and have ipads, which also means that these can corral all the things.
Bonus: We also find that a well-placed basket can really bring balance to a bookshelf, insuring that it doesn’t become too overwhelming or crowded. We love pairing them to keep a nice contrast, and bring in a natural element as well. All while making sure they work hard for you… ya just can’t lose.
3. Add The Sentimental – How To Style A Bookshelf
Part of what we love so much about styling bookshelves, is bringing in the things that we love to showcase the most. We’re still growing our library as our children grow, and reading is oh so important to us, But from their art, to sweet remembrances of toys they’ve outgrown, to elements that we find special and hold a memory for us, we add them to our bookshelves.
You’ll be amazed at how much style and quirk you can add to a space just by adding something that’s meaningful to you. It’s your home. Let those special elements tell a story and illustrate who you are.
4. Cover It – How To Style A Bookshelf
Two things.
Y’all. Bookshelves are not meant to house your router. They’re also not meant to showcase your power strip. Okay. Fine. They can. But let’s cover them up. This can also be what baskets are for, if they’re essential to every day functioning. We understand that sometimes, things need to go where things need to go. But find a way to cleverly disguise, and you will be so glad that you did!
Having trouble with those big bulky books that you just have to hold on to? We had a client who had some fabulous {and gigantic} photo albums of her family that she’d loyally kept all these years. The only problem? They were very burgundy circa 2000. So, to lighten and brighten, and to bring balance and unity to their space, we covered them. All the fun paper patterns you see in the photo above? Those are her photo albums. Cleverly dispersed but still in plain sight. She’s no longer fighting them, but able to embrace them as part of the decor. And when that burgundy comes back around in ten more years {please no} no harm, no foul.
5. Keep It Versatile – How To Style A Bookshelf
From colorful arrays of collections, to varied texture and interesting things, you don’t have to be married to your style. Keep it versatile and you’ll appreciate it even more. I don’t think there’s anything more satisfying than a growing bookshelf, that inadvertantly turns into a library. It shows that you’re growing as a person, so you should let it evolve with you. Use those bookshelves and let them reflect who you are, alongside who you’re becoming.
Bookshelves are meant to be used, and so are yours. Style them in a diverse way and then change it up again in a few months. The ones that change the most, bring the most satisfaction.
We hope this little round up of thoughts on all things styling a bookshelf helped! As always, let us know if you have any questions. What are some of your fave tips? We’d love to hear!
To see the above spaces in their entirety and original glory, be sure to check them out here: basement renovation, studio reveal, home office makeover, and 10 foolproof decorating tips
Have an inspired day!
Michelle says
Great idea thank you! We move into our new build in 3 weeks and 6 days (but who’s counting?? 😂).
Janet says
This is SUCH a great post!!! ❤️
June says
I love your ideas. My husband is forever telling me to clear up my books which i do but icollect more than ican get rid of. The only thing stopping me from collecting more is money but i also like looking into used books which cost much less sometimes. Now with my children grown, they give me books and tell me to keep them.
Eva says
We have so many books! And a ton of bookshelf space. But the books fill up the majority and DVDs fill up the rest. Any ideas on where to put DVDs?
ashley @ the handmade home says
I’d use baskets to store the DVD’s. Decorate with your books, and break them up with baskets. Make them the right size so that you can pull them out and see their spine at a glimpse, and organize by genre via specific area on the bookshelf, so that you know which basket holds which kind of DVD. It’s what we would do anyway. Over the years, we’ve eliminated all our DVDs for the sheer clutter factor. ;} So I get it. I hope that helps!