Effortless Shelf Styling; Our Secrets to Curating Beautiful Bookcases & Shelving

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Start With a Clean Slate

The best way to visualize the bookshelves is to first start with an empty, clean starting point. Next, collect items you 100% want to display on the bookshelves. Then, select books that fall within the same color palette with those items. Consider taking inventory of what items you already have and what decor pieces you might want to incorporate that you don’t have yet.

Round Up Intentional Decor & Books

The decor you place on your bookshelves needs to vary in size, texture, and shape but try to stick with a consistent color palette. There are a few variations for incorporating your decor pieces with books. In addition styling decor pieces without books can break up the bookshelf and make it look less cluttered.

Some items we recommend including in a bookcase display are:

  • Books
  • Candles & Match Cloches
  • Sculptural Objects
  • Framed Art & Photos
  • Stylish Bookends
  • Vases & Bowls
  • Plants
  • Small Baskets

Visualize Display Configuration

Ensure a solid combination of shapes & sizes as your arrange items. You want to break up the space with plenty of variety. Start with larger objects first and then fill in with smaller ones. Here are some simple display configuration ideas to get you started.

Consider Negative Space

Double check negative space. To avoid the bookcase looking too cluttered, make sure there’s ample space in between displays and shelf surfaces. Make sure you not only check for negative space up close but also step back and double check as you move further away from the bookshelf.