Decor Tips: How to decorate a bookcase

Design by Phoebe Howard

I love bookcases! I am currently on the search for two really nice, classy & chic white bookcases to add to my living room on both sides of my white fireplace.  It's not easy, so I may just purchase ones that aren't white that I like and paint it myself to match the fireplace.  I thought I would share tips on decorating bookcases without having it look like, well, a bookcase.

Does your bookcases look a bit crowded (with books)? Need a fresh and free update? The highly ordered bookcase with books stacked neatly from left to right is a thing of the past because, lets face it; it’s not that interesting to look at. Bookcases are not just furniture for storing books anymore, it’s a blank canvas for us creative people to decorate till we drop! Let’s learn from the professionals:

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The fabulous (and free) online design magazine Lonny featured this beautiful bookcase. All books and magazines are stacked horizontally. On the top two shelves each stack is topped with decorative accents. The two bottom shelves are further from your eyes so you’d want to use larger items here for balance, like framed art, family photos and your favorite books. TIP: Lean books, artwork and framed photos against stacks of magazines and books to cover them up!

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Emily Henderson, the winner of Design Star decorated this built-in bookcase in a white, royal blue and turquoise color palette, and added a touch of glamour using gold accents. Notice how she plays on layers and proportion. TIP: Group small objects together to increase the impact!

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This bookcase is part of Interior Designer Anthony Gianacakos’ masculine bedroom featured in Lonny Magazine‘s second issue. An epitome of beautiful AND functional at the same time if you ask me. TIP: Pretty boxes and baskets are perfect for organizing magazines and hiding clutter!

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Can’t remember who designed this, please email me if You do so I can add proper credit.

The designer of this beautiful bookcase centered all the items in this built in bookcase in little A-type vignettes (learn what they are here). She combines books with accents of interesting shapes, and sticks to a color palette of black, white, blue and silver. TIP: Open a book to a page with pretty images and use it as part of the decor!

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Another beautiful yet functional bookcase, photographed by Julian Wass. Numbers, letters, and a pop of red is key here. TIP: Keep functional to the bottom shelves and beautiful to the top!

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A wonderful bookcase decorated by Domicile ID. Very simple and interesting. TIP: If your books don’t have gorgeous jackets like these, wrap them up with pretty wrapping paper!

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Ashley Whittaker pairs books with organic objects and pattern in this bookcase. I love how she uses the black contrast and the pops of color. TIP: Incorporate natural elements like shells, corals and crystals with interesting shapes and beautiful texture.

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After redoing my own bookcase a while ago, I was amazed by the fact that books stacked horizontally appeared to take up a lot less space. This of course depends on the height to width ratio of the shelves in the given bookcase, see for your self by drawing a few figures on paper. So what’s your take on the bookcase decor trend? Have you jumped on that train yet? Or are you planning to?