My 3 Simple Rules for Bookcase Styling

It can be tricky to get bookcase styling just right! I like to make sure my bookcases look pretty and aren’t cluttered, but I also don’t want them to feel impersonal. I think sometimes when shelves are styled too perfectly with purchased objects it can look beautiful, but also sterile. Here is how to style a bookcase in 3 easy steps to create a beautiful and functional display.

3 Simple Rules for Bookcase Styling

First, you should shop and collect things from around the house that spark joy! Find travel mementos, photographs or trophies. Even old letters look lovely in a frame! Don’t overthink it and worry about how everything will work together at first. Just collect the items you love.


Next, find books. I like to collect books about design, astrology, and self-help! If travel is your thing find beautiful travel books. If you love fashion collect those etc… And if you love fiction, or you find that the jackets of your books aren’t visually cohesive you can always cover them. I like to use linen or kraft paper. And you can always hand letter or add pretty labels so you still know which book is which!

Once you’ve created a collection of objects and books that you’d like to display it’s time to start arranging. I like to place larger pieces like framed art, oversize objects or stacks of books first and then fill in with smaller pieces around them.


3 Guiding Principles

I am mindful of 3 guiding principles when arranging my shelves:


Unity
Balance
Space


UNITY
Go through the items you’ve gathered and assess which ones work well together. Is there a colour palette or style that really stands out to you when you look at what you’ve chosen? Maybe everything is very neutral so you choose to put aside one or two colorful items. Or maybe everything is colorful and eclectic so you put aside a few more rustic items. It’s an exercise that can help you narrow down what your preferred style really is! Bonus!


BALANCE
Make sure your shelves are balanced by grouping objects in a purposeful manner. I usually alternate shelves when stacking books and also I switch up stacking them vertically or horizontally. And I add in smaller objects with each large piece… again to create balance!


SPACE
Remember to leave empty space to allow the eye to rest. You don’t want to create clutter. You want to create visual interest. Resist the urge to keep adding more items to your shelves, especially smaller pieces. You can quickly turn curated into crowded! Less is more!


Stack books both vertically and horizontally to create interesting visual contrast.


Tip: This is one time that I would say the rule of 3 or the rule of odd numbers does not apply! I actually like to add books horizontally in stacks of 2 or 4, or vertically just a couple at a time.


Even on the kitchen window ledge, I like to lean a couple of pretty cookbooks against the wall to add some interest to the space.

Pretty cookbooks double as decor propped on the kitchen window ledge.

It doesn’t need to be an overwhelming task to style your shelves. Just follow the simple principles I’ve laid out and remember it doesn’t have to be perfect! You are styling your home, not a store display. Make it personal and make it something you love to see!