Decorate with books: 13 stylish ways to store and display your collection (2023)

Decorating with books is a beautiful way to add character to a living space, giving it a warm and timeless feel. As a ubiquitous feature of the home, books can be easily overlooked and often stacked on a shelf without much thought, but with the right style and treatment, books can really enhance an interior.

Whether you are looking for opportunities, yourBookcase ideasor to display the covers of your favorite books, we've rounded up a number of creative book organization decorating ideas for you to get inspired.

Book Decor: 12 ways to display a book collection in style

When it comes to decorating with books, there are several approaches; So before you organize your collection, you should first think about the style you want to achieve.

Are you a book lover looking for ways to bring harmony into your life?Book storage ideas, or looking for inspiration for youreading corner? Traditionally keeping books on shelves and arranging them by genre is a great way to keep books organized, especially if you have onehome library, but it doesn't necessarily result in an attractive display. However, if you're willing to forego the conventional, there are many ways to organize books to enrich a space beyond the shelves.

1. Create a book wall

When it comes tohow to design a bookcaseand book storage, it can be great to dedicate an entire wall to a bookshelftraditional decoration idea, which give rooms a structured backdrop and a timeless feel. A custom bookshelf to match your architecture is the best way to make the most of the space and achieve the look.

"A big advantage of a custom bookcase is that the size of the shelves can be adjusted to fit the collection," says Simon Tcherniak, Senior Designer atNeville Johnson(opens in a new tab). "A custom-made bookshelf can also fit perfectly into the space, which means there are no gaps around the bookshelf, no dust collecting, and no space wasted."

If your collection is likely to change over the years, adjustable shelves might be worth considering, but adjustable holes in shelves don't look good in light-colored surfaces. So if you want adjustable shelves, you can influence your choice of finish. ', he added.

Why not highlight your shelves with a bicolor?Malideeas shown on the bookshelf here with its brown backs and terracotta frame.

2. Decorate with coloring books

Bring visual harmony and a fun element to a large book collection by arranging the books by color to create a gradient effect. As well as being decorative, the look is easier on the eye than a mishmash of books, which can help spaces feel more relaxed - perfect if that's what you're looking forBedroom shelving ideas.

“We love using customer objects to create fun decorative elements in their homes. Books are a brilliant way to add interest, and whether by pairing them with colors or using a more natural method of organization, they always manage to bring a wide range of tones to a space," says Nicole Salvesen, co-founder ofPomade Graham(opens in a new tab).

3. Design books together with decorative objects

Turn bookshelves into eye-catching displays by incorporating decorative objects and playing with book arrangement. While books standing upright are easier to find, decorating with stacks of books is a great way to create mini podiums.

When it comes to designing shelves, Simon Temprell, Interior Design Manager atNeptune(opens in a new tab)suggests "starting with books...then placing small works of art and decorative objects at various heights, bearing in mind that odd-numbered groups always work better than even-numbered groups."

"Create a traditional row of books that takes up a third of the shelf, and then support it with a small stack of books that are flattened and topped with a small ornament or plant," she adds. "It's important to consider the gaps you leave as much as the gaps you fill."

4. Decorate a coffee table with books

Informal reading, perfect for guests, large books with beautiful pictures are very nice.Coffee table style ideaPlus, those with attractive covers can help brighten up a living space. Choose themes that reflect your personal tastes and make sure you don't make too big a batch; Clusters of one or two of a similar size work well.

5. Show off the covers of your favorite books

Many book covers are true works of art, so why not display them like a favorite painting?

Whether on shelves or on a narrow picture ledge behind the sofa, books with bold covers can make a beautiful focal point in a living room, and unlike a fixed shelf, the display can be easily restored to give it a new lookgallery wall.

6. Exhibit book sculptures.

Stacking books on a coffee table can be a useful way to display decorative items, especially in rooms where wall-mounted bookshelves are limited.

In this living room, books stacked at different heights serve as pedestals for the stone sculptures that form an ornate coffee table.

7. Decorate with books and plants

Nothing elevates a room likeDecoration with plants, and when it comes to designing shelves, many interior designers and stylists consider them indispensable. Not only can plants help us reconnect with nature and provide a range of health benefits, but they can also be a beautiful decorative tool.

“Plants bring a soft and fresh element to any shelf, especially the trailing ones. Succulents have an architectural flair and require very little attention, so they can be useful for filling spaces where items look a bit odd. Starr,” he adds. Simon Temprell, Head of Interior Design atNeptune(opens in a new tab).

8. Match the books to your color scheme

Having too many books displayed in a living room can be confusing. If you want to keep spaces quiet and peaceful, consider limiting books to a small number of carefully chosen spines in colors that complement your space.

a lovingSideboard Decoration Idea, these smooth spine books add delicate texture and interest to the wholeneutral living room.

9. Choose a book background

If you like color and pattern, why not add a fun element to your living room with a trompe l'oeil book?wallpaper ideas?

A design from Cole & Son's Fornasetti Senza Tempo collection, this Libreria paper looks great on topRoom panels, but it would also work well in a study or you could alternatively use it to create a fun talking point in a study.Wardrobe.

10. Flipbooks for a minimalist look

Book storage can be a challenge when it comes to itminimalist living room, but there are some tricks you can use to keep spaces clean and streamlined.

“In a contemporary interior, arrange your books in blocks of color for an abstract effect. Alternatively, you can flip your books so the spines are upside down for a textured effect that works best for books you don't need to find quickly. suggests Simon Temprell. "If you're looking for something sleek and modern, you can cover your books in white kraft paper and create a chic antidote to the traditional library."

11. Add texture with old books

Old books are perfect for adding traditional flair and decorative interest to any room. With their leather-bound covers and faded canvases, faded lettering and weathered patinas, vintage books have a beautiful texture that can really enhance a room.

12. Use books to add color

If you're thinking about using books to create, choose colors that complement your existing decorating and color choices - shades that are opposite on the color wheel can work particularly well together, as shown in this project.Sims Hilditch(opens in a new tab).

“Books are a great way to personalize a space. A selection of stylized coffee table favorites on an ottoman or vintage classics tucked away in a wooden bookshelf work well,” says design director Louise Wicksteed.

“You can also use books to add pops of color to a room. We use terracotta spine books in the north facing study of our Regency housing project. These contrast well with the smoky blue color we use for the woodwork.'

13. Get creative with shelving ideas

Why not. Add a fun element to your book storage ideas by swapping out the traditional bookshelf for ready-made repurposed shelves?

An old ladder can make a long, characterful shelf perfect for a country kitchen, as shown here. Alternatively, mounting old apple crates on the wall would also add a rustic feel.

How to stack the books as decoration?

Stacked books are a brilliant decorative tool for shelving and a great starting point for a display as they add structure and provide mini pedestals on which to display decorative objects. For best results, arrange the stacks in odd numbers and in order of size from largest to smallest.

“I love stacking books in different directions, horizontally and vertically. First, I fill the shelf or shelves with all the books, in different directions, arranged differently, in some groups,” says the New York-based interior designer.Tina Ramchandani(opens in a new tab), "Then I fill it with all the fun stuff: props, frames, art and plants."

“I always leave after designing and come back after a while to evaluate my work. I tend to take off a few things before I'm done. Less is always more! She adds.

How to decorate with many books?

When you have a lot of books, it can be difficult to make them visually appealing. A custom floor-to-ceiling bookshelf is a great way to organize books, but it can also be a decorative element.accent wall, which also give texture and a warm touch to the interiors. Consider arranging the order of size and color of the books so that the shelves are more visible.

Alternatively, "mixing plants and decorative objects with your books will help create a more informal feel and bring lots of interest to the shelves," says Simon Temprell. Or, "If you're short on space and your shelves are already cluttered, try adding artwork that can be hung in front of the books and treat the shelves like wallpaper," she adds.

Making large collections of books look visually appealing can be difficult: To make them more visible, try covering the books, the interior designer suggests.Johanna Holz(opens in a new tab).

"I've been known for wrapping books in cassette paper so they all fit together, but it takes a lot of organization as to what goes where and you need a really good memory! Every time I do this, I color novels, reference books, and historical books in different colors.'