Easy Tips & Tricks For Styling A Bookshelf

Hi everyone!  Mary from Lily & Marigold Home + Design here!  Welcome to our first ever blog post!  Isn't this exciting?!?!  For our first blog, I'm going to be sharing some easy tips and tricks for styling a bookshelf!

Styling a bookshelf can be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.  Bookshelves are great areas to be playful and add creative and personal touches to any space in your home.

The main goal is to have fun and remember that at the end of the day there are endless combinations you can create, and you can constantly change things up to give your shelves a fresh look.

1. Declutter and evaluate your inventory: Start by removing everything from the shelves. This allows you to start with a clean slate and choose what items you want to keep or display.  I personally love to group similar items together.   Organize your books by genre, color, or size to create visually appealing groupings.
2. Work from Biggest to Smallest: Start with your largest items.  I like to start with the biggest items as a way to anchor the shelves and really kickstart the layering process
3. Layering:  Create depth and dimension by layering items with different textures and materials in front of each other. Place artwork or framed photos in front of books or lean larger pieces against the back of the shelf to add depth.  Adding pieces with varying heights is a great way to create visual interest when layering. Incorporate tall items like vases or sculptures to add height, and fill in gaps with smaller items like candles, decorative objects and picture frames 
4. Use books and bookends: Bookends not only keep your books upright but can also add style and personality to your shelves.  (I also like to flip my books do the spine doesn’t show for a cleaner look.). 
5. Add greenery: Adding plants or flowers to your bookshelves brings life and freshness to the space. Choose low-maintenance plants like succulents or small potted herbs.  Even faux plants are a great option for bookshelves 
6. Consider lighting: If your bookshelf is in a dimly lit area, consider adding small LED lights or a battery-operated light fixture to illuminate the shelves and highlight your display items.
7. Personalize it: Don’t be afraid to showcase items that reflect your personality and interests. Whether it’s travel souvenirs, vintage finds, or family heirlooms, incorporating personal touches adds character to your bookshelf.
8. Step back and edit: Once you’ve styled your bookshelf, step back and assess the overall look. Remove any items that feel cluttered or out of place, and make adjustments as needed until you achieve the desired look!

There you have it!  Now you can start playing around with a bunch of combinations and styles on your bookshelves!