The do-it-yourself guide to styling the perfectly balanced bookshelf

Right now, I’m reading “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore” by Robin Sloan which, in addition to being extremely clever and making me laugh out loud, contains accounts of giant, dusty, three-story-high-only-reach-by-precarious-ladder bookshelves. Unless you are the eccentric owner of a mysterious bookstore in downtown San Francisco, this type of bookshelf is probably not going to work in your home. However, the bookshelf definitely has a place in the decorator's toolkit and can work double-time to create an inviting atmosphere and compact storage area for small spaces.

Often underrated, the right bookshelf can give you the best “bang for your buck” when it comes to storage options, and nothing else can be styled in quite the same way. Using vertical space is key when decorating walls, and when damage-free living (in case you are a renter) requires creative solutions, it can be easy to forget about the obvious ones.

That all said, no shelf will look its best without intentionality when you’re adding your items to it. To ensure your home looks fabulous, don’t forget these shelf styling tips.

Create Some Balance

This rule is not only about stability (an obvious benefit for your head if something falls from the top shelf) but is also an aesthetic requirement. Remember that bulky storage boxes or baskets should rest on the lowest shelves, forming a solid-looking foundation with which to build your decor variety upon.

If you find that you have a lot of baskets or boxes and primarily are using your shelf for storage, opt to keep the eye level shelves free of bulky items. Pair books with photo frames and knick-knacks to round out the space where your eyes will naturally rest. This will prevent your shelf from looking cluttered, even when being used primarily for storage.

Mix It Up

An avid book-lover can tell you there are a lot of ways to go about styling books on a bookshelf (just ask Mr. Penumbra). Get creative and don’t rest your books on each level in the same manner. Laying a few books on their side to form a tower can be a visually appealing way to create space and eye-catching variety on an otherwise boring display.

Work in Layers

Styling shelving well requires thinking in layers and using depth to your advantage. While every bookcase will vary in size, the principle will ring true. To truly have a display that wows, layer smaller objects in front of one another. This prevents against aesthetic stagnation that does not allow your eyes to travel dynamically around the objects on your shelf.

Bring Outside In

No properly styled bookshelf is complete without small additions from nature. Carefully placed seashells, greenery in the form of small plants, or even decorative rocks can warm up an otherwise sterile display. Furthermore, these–often small–items are easy to add in front of or on top of other arrangements to create more depth.

Let Your Personality Shine

When attempting to style a room or even a bookshelf, it can be tempting to get caught up in the latest trends and techniques only to realize that you’ve created a generic display worthy of a magazine. While this might seem like a good thing, at first glance, your space should reflect your personality and interests. Don’t forget to add art, photos, and trinkets that you will enjoy looking at daily. After all, you (and those living with you) are the person who will see your decor more than anyone else. Avoid merely decorating for your guests’ approval, but instead, pick what will bring joy to you.

Everything in its Place

We all know the old adage “a place for everything and everything in its place” but we often don’t process the first part of the phrase. The words might be cliche, but the message is imperative for creating an organized and well-styled aesthetic.

Create a spot for everything. For your shelving, this can mean using stylish photo boxes, magazine organizers, or wicker baskets to hold miscellaneous papers, pictures, and memorabilia. Finding a place for those items you just can’t part with but don’t use every day is an essential part of keeping your shelves looking nice and clutter-free.

Styling your bookshelf can elevate your whole space, turning it into a refined haven. Making the effort to invest your time and skills into creating a visual focus point can create an anchor for your space. Let’s all give the bookshelf its due praise, and benefit from this seemingly simple solution. Now, I’ll get back to reading my book and maybe when I’m done, I’ll find a place for it on my bookshelf...or maybe not.