20 Bookshelf Ideas That Are Stylish and Well-Curated

white wall of shelving wooden coffee table sofa and chair — Photo:
Amy Bartlam

While bookshelves are designed to keep your favorite reads organized and on display, they are also a great way to show off your personality and sense of style. Whether you're an avid reader with a library's worth of books or only have a small collection, there are plenty of ways to style your bookshelves so they're more than just utilitarian. From a piece of pottery you got on a family vacation to eclectic vintage treasures, these designer-recommended bookshelf ideas will give you plenty of inspiration and make your shelves feel more complete.

01 of 20

Organize Books By Color

white wall built in bookshelf with dark blue background — Amanda Reynal

There are many ways to organize books, whether you order them alphabetically or group by genre. For a little more pop, trying grouping your tomes by color. "Sometimes what I'll do is organize the bindings by color, which can be very effective," says Amanda Reynal, interior designer and owner of Amanda Reynal Interiors. "If there's three books with pink bindings and three books with green bindings, I'll dot the different stacks of colored bindings throughout the bookshelves and that helps to create consistency for the eye and a sense of organization."

02 of 20

Add Wallpaper

green wallpaper background green bookshelf — Rick Lozier

Another fun way to play up your bookshelves? Try wallpaper. Consider adding a fun print or pattern to the back of your built-ins. Incorporate a color that's in your current design scheme or featured somewhere else in the room, such as a piece of furniture or artwork, to help tie the room together, says Reynal.

03 of 20

Curate Décor by Theme

dark blue gray wall bookshelf — Rick Lozier

When selecting objects for display, consider curating around a theme or collection. "Maybe you have a collection of picture frames in different sizes that all kind of relate to each other," says Reynal. "It could be a collection of objects from travels, whether they're sculptures or vases—it's really nice to try and find some sort of consistency."

04 of 20

Style With Larger Objects

double built in bookshelf on either side of fireplace — Rick Lozier

Bookshelves are also a great place for larger objects, especially if you don't have room to display them on an end or coffee table. Put lamps on the lower shelf to add a personal touch and then fill in the rest of the space with slightly larger objects, like vases or pottery, says Reynal.

05 of 20

Find Harmony Between Books and Keepsakes

Living room with fireplace, couch and chair seating — John Merkl

It's important to find the right balance of books and objects—not just one or the other, says Reynal. "Decorative items can look a little contrived if you've got some pretty things on the bookshelves but not a lot of books," she says. "If you have too many books, it can get kind of cluttered and claustrophobic-looking, and sometimes a little bit messy. I think it's important to be very judicious when making your selections of how you're going to style your bookshelves to use a combination of both."

06 of 20

Get Personal

Home library corner with bookshelf and cozy chair with blanket and plant to the side — Andreas von Einsiedel / GETTY IMAGES

When styling your bookshelves, make sure your collection isn't just pretty but also personalized. "If they love novels, biographies, whatever it is, we'll mix in their personal collection with additional books if needed, but I really like to make sure the books are indicative of who the people are so it doesn't feel like they just had a designer come in and make something pretty for them," says Reynal.

07 of 20

Lean Into Bookshelf Wealth

Wall lined with bookshelves — Martha Stewart

If you're an avid reader who can't imagine narrowing down their collection to a shortlist of favorites, bookshelf wealth is the trend you should lean into. Less about styling and more about surrounding yourself with books, this aesthetic seamlessly blends form and function.

08 of 20

Consider Layout

Bookshelf with dining room in the background — Michael Wiltbank

If you're styling bookshelves with no back, utilize pieces that will look great from all angles. "We faced a unique challenge for this project because the bookshelf acted as a divider between two spaces," says Bryan Yates of Yates Desygn. In this instance, we focused on connecting the spaces by honing in on items that would make the shelves beautiful on both sides, as there was no back."

09 of 20

Style With Coffee Table Books

Living room with arched bookshelves — JoAnna Robertson

Coffee table books add height and dimension to bookshelves, serving as the ultimate styling detail. "Coffee table books can be used to add color and can be changed out as desired when looking to refresh the styling of the bookshelves," says Christian Ladd of Christian Ladd Interiors.

10 of 20

Edit Your Collection

Bookshelves in reading area — Kerry Kelly Design Lab

Make room for a few personal keepsakes when decorating your bookshelves. "Showcase personal mementos, photographs, or artwork to infuse your personality into the display," says Kerrie Kelly, FASID, NKBA, former ASID National Board Chair. But keep in mind that less is often more when it comes to styling bookshelves, so edit your display periodically to keep it fresh and curated, she says.

11 of 20

Layer Pieces Horizontally and Vertically

Dark room with bookshelves — Nathan Schroder

Create dimension on your bookshelves by displaying pieces both horizontally and vertically, as Morgan Farrow of Morgan Farrow Interiors did in this space. Smaller tomes are stood straight up, while larger coffee table books are laid flat—a theme that is carried out with decorative items, too.

12 of 20

Create Symmetry

Living room with blue couches and two reading chairs — Dan Piassick

To keep your bookshelves from looking cluttered, work on creating symmetry between your pieces. "Typically, I start with a high-level approach and then create each shelf individually to achieve the desired style," says Cheri Etchelecu Martin of Cheri Etchelecu Interior Design. "If I have large pieces that will overpower one shelf, I work to create symmetry in the collection of shelves, placing them in the same row to maintain balance while using them as anchors for the bookshelf as a whole."

13 of 20

Add Seating

A green sitting room with full book shelves — Kip Dawkins Photography

You'll need a place to read all of the books on your shelves, of course. Whether it's a built-in love seat—like the one in this room—reclining chair, or a cozy settee, adding seating close to your shelves is a no-brainer.

14 of 20

Go Neutral

white tall shelves with bead board behind and objects — Photographer: Peak Visuals / Styling: Kristen Alcorta

If you prefer a more minimalist aesthetic, opt for a neutral color palette and simple décor when decorating your shelves. Here, earth-toned pottery and coffee table books create a curated vibe.

15 of 20

Use China As Décor

Room with shelves and brown furniture — AMMOR Architecture

If you have china you love, put it on display rather than hiding it away in a kitchen pantry. In this home, beautiful bowls in different patterns were displayed on acrylic stands and flanked by the owner's favorite books.

16 of 20

Create a Warm Color Palette

fireplace with wooden and white shelving grey sofa — Amy Bartlam

Choose décor that complements your bookshelves' finer details. When accessorizing the shelves in this living room, Kate Lester of Kate Lester Interiors took inspiration from the wood detailing and chose pieces that felt complementary, like a wicker basket, wooden picture frame, and books in warm colors.

17 of 20

Add a Vibrant Color

lime green shelving with books and objects — Mehreen Baldoni Interiors

Paint your bookshelves in a vibrant color for a welcome pop that brings the entire room to life. For these shelves, Mehreen Baldoni, founder and creative director of Mehreen Baldoni Interiors, chose a daring chartreuse shade that felt playful but elegant when paired with thoughtful décor.

18 of 20

Contrast Light and Dark

black curved marble fireplace — Emily Minton-Redfield

Create dimension by painting your bookshelves a dark color. The moody black shade of these shelves contrasts with the sky blue of the walls for a focal point that really draws the eye in. The space is tied together with white books and décor, which complement the neutral furnishings and wall art.

19 of 20

Choose Complementary Colors

Choose book covers in colors that complement other shades in the room, like Kristina Phillips of Kristina Phillips Interior Design did here. Blue window treatments, furnishings, and artwork tie together with the blue books displayed on the asymmetrical floating shelves.

20 of 20

Add Gallery Lights

navy fireplace surround and shelves — Sarah Stacey Interior Design

Give your bookshelves a museum-like quality by installing gallery lights above each section. Not only do they draw attention to your books, but they also add ambience to the entire room.

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