Bookshelves are a huge focal point in a room. They marry storage with style. However, they can quickly turn into a cluttered mess if you just randomly throw in things. There is an art to creating a perfectly styled bookshelf, and we have some simple pointers to help you up your bookshelf styling game:
Pull everything off the shelves. Starting with a blank slate is way easier than trying to move stuff around. And while your things are out, use this as a chance to declutter. Recycle magazines, get rid of old college textbooks, dog-eared paperbacks, or any book that you no longer love.
Start with your books. Decide how you want to sort your books - by subject? genre? size? Or consider one of our favorites, by color, because it looks so darn professional and pretty. Vary the placement of books on left, right and center of shelves. Try a mixture of vertical and horizontal arrangements, like using a vertical stack to buttress a horizontal one. A general guideline is to organize 60% of books vertically and 40% horizontally to create balance.
Mix in accessories. You want to balance the mix of books and objects. Add some taller, eye-catching, sculptural elements, like vases, candlesticks or plates. This will ensure your bookshelves feel nicely full and will help to anchor your arrangements. Place smaller objects, like paperweights or small animal figurines, on top of stacks of books.
Create groupings of alike items. Creating groupings of alike items will give the space interest, but make sure you vary up the scale so it doesn’t look too uniform. For every surface you style, add something vertical, horizontal and sculptural. To achieve a balanced grouping, one trick is to overlap some objects while placing some at a slight angle. The result will be a more natural-feeling, less-fussy look. Another popular trick designers use to style bookshelves is to arrange objects in odd numbers. As a general rule, three is the magic number.
Mix shapes, textures, and natural materials. A careful mix of these elements can make a space feel well rounded and expertly curated. Add in a plant, coral or driftwood. Natural stone, like amethyst or marble bookends, help break up the rigid, linear lines of a stack of books. Try to balance dark with light, matte with shiny, round with square. If things start to look too overwhelming, limit the number of colors and textures but vary up the shapes.
Layer in personal items. Small, framed items can be propped against the back of shelves to add depth. Or you can hang art right on the bookshelf frame, in front of your books. Framed photos look great on a horizontal stack of books. Adding personal and whimsical touches, like souvenirs from your travels or your children’s artwork, will also make the bookshelf feel more approachable.
Integrate storage. Chic storage options, like seagrass or wire baskets and decorative boxes, will hide and organize smaller, utilitarian items like tech accessories or votive candles. Besides keeping these items out of site, they add needed texture and visual interest to the space.
Create a backdrop. Consider painting or adding wallpaper to the backs of shelves to add depth as well as a pop of color. Using darker colors or grasscloth as a background can make objects come alive. If you want a super easy way to change up your look, cut pieces of Foam Core the size of the back of your bookshelf, and then cover it with peel and stick wallpaper.
Don’t go too far. Leave some breathing room so your shelves don’t look cluttered and overstuffed. The basic rule of thumb for decorating bookshelves: one-third books, one-third accessories, and one-third empty space per shelf. If you’re short on storage, fill the bottom shelf with identical boxes or baskets. When creating your shelf vignettes, keep balance in mind.