8 Easy Steps to Decorate & Style a Bookshelf

Styling and decorating a bookshelf can feel a bit intimidating and overwhelming.

Bookshelves are as varied and full of personality as their owners. There’s no right or wrong way to fill them. But a few easy tips can help you to decorate them and make the most of your shelf-styling.

So, let’s jump in—

1. Take everything off the shelves and start with a blank canvas

It really helps to begin with a clean slate.

Gather and lay out all the things that you potentially want to use. This helps you to see where you can go. And what all you have to “shop” from.

Think about your books in terms of the color, design, and look of the spines. (unless the book is on top of the stack or at the end of the row, only the spine will be visible.

Consider removing the dust jacket if the book cover suits your design look better.

Before you begin the process of placing items on the shelves, give thought to the weight distribution. As you’re placing items on the shelves be sure to balance large items (items that take up a lot of visual weight) throughout the shelves.

2. Start with large books

Layer horizontal stacks of large coffee table type books.

How large your shelves are will determine how many different stacks you should have. For smaller shelves, one stack is enough. But large shelves could benefit from a couple of stacks.

Styling tip—Pull objects to the front of the shelf. Resist the urge to push everything to the back when you have deeper shelves. For a more polished look, bring the pieces to the front. This helps them to catch light and show up in all their beautiful glory.

3. Add boxes, baskets, and large vessels

Keeping balance in mind, add in larger boxes, baskets, and ceramics to the shelves. Think in terms of a zig zag pattern. If you put something that has a lot of visual weight on the left side of the bottom shelf, add something of a similar visual weight to the right side of the shelf above it.

Here’s a couple of graphics to help you visualize what I’m saying.

Continue this pattern throughout as you’re styling the whole bookshelf.
4. Bring in smaller books
Layer in smaller books. I love to stand books upright in vertical rows, AND then use a stack of horizontal books as bookends at the end of my row. This adds interest, texture, and movement.
Another great option is these slimline bookends. They can be slipped in the front or back leaf of the outer book. When you use them in this way they’re invisible, and they hold up the row of books and allow the end book to shine.
Using a variety of bookends keeps the eye moving around the shelves. Aim for balance more than symmetry.
- Using horizontal stacks as bookends
- A slimline metal bookend becomes invisible when slipped inside the cover of the end book

5. Layer in art and pictures

Art and pictures are such a fun way to bring in character and color as you are styling your bookshelf. They also add texture and form. I love the personalizing touches art brings in.

For those deeper shelves where propping the art against the background isn’t an option, this art easel is great to use for better placement.

I’ve pulled together a selection of some of my favorite affordable art pieces later in the post.

6. Add smaller decor pieces and personal mementos

Consider layering small pieces on top of your large stack of books and lidded baskets.

Like in these images—

Place a few key pieces in open spots throughout the shelves. Really small items tend to get lost and clutter up the look of a shelf, so use those sparingly and with intention.
If you have a collection of like-minded items group them in odd numbers. A group of 3 or 5 is easier to display in a eye-pleasing way that an even number.
Styling Tip—
Leave negative space, or don’t. Just realize the difference in the look and then make the choice that suits your taste.
For those of you who are bibliophiles you probably will have very little negative space on your shelves because you have so many books. And that in and of itself is a lovely thing showcasing your own personality!
Here’s an example of some bookshelves on my upstairs landing where I’ve filled the shelves up completely with books (and plants, of course!).
But if you’re going for a more “styled” look with an airy feel to the shelves, keep in mind that negative space allows the eye a breathing space. Like margins on a page. Think about how intimidating a book or paper is when the margins are miniscule. Just as larger margins on a page allows the text room to breathe and not overwhelm the eye, the same rule applies to styling a bookshelf.

7. Top it all off with plants

If your shelves get natural light adding plants is a way to bring in the outdoors. Their organic shapes and green fronds give life to the design.

Not only do they help to clean the air, they also boost the mood of the room. And if real plants aren’t an option, there’s some really nice faux ones out there these days.

And then, after you’ve followed all these steps—

8. Walk away, and come back later

There’s something about letting it sit and simmer a bit that helps. When you walk away you give yourself a break from it and allow your brain to see it in a new light.

When you return, your first look may make your heart sing! OR you may immediately see a way to tweak it.

Either way a break from it will help you to view it with a fresh perspective.

I’ve put together some of my current favorite for styling bookshelves. Some of these I currently own. And some of them I’m currently crushing on!

Here’s a few large coffee table books I have a fancy for—

Here’s some of my current crushes in of art to use while styling shelves. Number 13 Abstract Cowgirl is my favorite!

Check out this selection of cool boxes and baskets.

Aren’t those nesting baskets in number 3 so fun?! And the #4 gold-trimmed black oval box has such nice form. Also, that #12 teak bowl brings in organic shape and rich teak color.

Here’s an assortment of decor accessories. I’m swooning over so many of these, but that Pink Speckled Watering Jar is just too cute. It has such a graceful, yet fun-loving shape. and the Blue Cedar Fig candle is one of my favorite candles. I currently have one burning while I’ve been working on this post.

Please share your personal tips for styling a bookshelf!