11 Beautiful Ways to Style a Bookcase

Discover tips, tricks and techniques for showcasing your favorite reads and treasures

Michelle Gage 8 February 2016

Michelle Gage is a Philadelphia-based interior designer with an affinity for playful prints and whimsical designs. Her career began as a buyer for Anthropologie Home where she was tasked with selecting everything from art and antiques to decorative textiles. In 2015, Michelle embarked on her own and founded Michelle Gage Interiors. *** Please note, as of 2019, we have stopped sharing our new work here. To view our recently-completed projects, please visit michellegage.co.

Michelle Gage is a Philadelphia-based interior designer with an affinity for playful... More

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Bookworms, rejoice. The options for lining your walls with books are nearly limitless. Whether you are a stacker, sorter or color-coordinator, we’ve got you covered. Learn how to leave your mark and create your very best “shelfie.”

Vicki Simon Interior Design

1. Maximize space. Fit a bookcase wherever you can. If the wall is slender, as pictured here, you’ll gain some shelf space without giving up too much square footage. This is one of the best ways to take advantage of overlooked or hard-to-decorate spaces.

Chloe Warner

2. Go all the way up. If you want to add dramatic floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, make your dreams a reality. Add a library ladder to reach the highest levels while creating a classically cool look.

Kim Scodro Interiors

3. Mix your media. Built-in bookshelves are a great way to frame a flat-screen television. It says: “Sure, I watch TV, but I also like to read too.” They’re also a great way to add functionality to an often wasted space.

4. Pair it with paint. Try painting the back of your bookcase to provide a hit of color. If you’re still building your book collection, use the (for now) available space to add a letter for your initial, vases or your favorite knickknacks to give it a personal touch.

Transitional Home Office Transitional Home Office

5. Integrate a desk. A desk and your books in one place make for a great pairing. By leaving a flat surface in your built-in bookcase to set up a computer and space below to slide in a chair, you can deftly create a home office.

Cory Connor Designs

6. Add a reading nook. A window seat between two bookcases makes for an easy reading setup. For extra storage, choose a window seat that can be opened as if it were a large trunk.

Webb & Brown-Neaves

7. Add a splash of color. If you prefer white walls and furniture, you can still add some color to your room by filling a bookshelf with colorful books. Switch out the books for more or less color depending on your mood.

Whitten Architects

8. Highlight the hallway. If you have a wider hall, lining it with bookshelves frees up walls in other rooms. Try filling all the shelves with only books to reinforce your bookworm status.

Design Manifest

9. Remember that sometimes smaller is better. If you don’t have the money or space for a large built-in bookcase, a small, low shelving unit can do the trick. Style it with your favorite vintage treasures. Stack books both vertically and horizontally for an effortless sense of style.

Lucy Call

10. Be open to the possibilities. If you want a less traditional look for your bookshelves, consider a series of open shelves. They provide just as much space for storing books, but feel lighter and tend to work well in modern homes. Color-coordinating your books is strictly optional, of course.

Lori Paranjape

11. Get the best of both worlds. Why choose between a bookshelf or art on a wall, when you can have both? Leave an opening on the wall and display art in it to add dimension and visual interest.

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Get More Bang From Your Bookcase

Love to Read? Built-In Bookcases Are for You

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Nelida Mejia

I love the library with the built-in lighting. I would love to add to library. Can I possibly add to my library?

1 Like 19 September 2018 at 12:31am

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NE Broe

I love arranging my books by color. I collected (and read them) over many years and appreciate the serendipity of sorting them this way. It's a great way to see them in a new light! So don't assume people don't read just because they don't store their volumes according to the Dewey Decimal System or alphabetize them.

1 Like 11 November 2018 at 9:48am

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