The Collected Bookcase

Books, art and personal objects come together to create shelves that tell a story.

A beautifully styled bookcase should feel collected rather than decorated.

Books are only the beginning. I like to layer them with art, sculpture, ceramics, photographs, and objects gathered over time—the pieces that give a room personality and make it distinctly your own.

Start With a Clean Slate

Remove everything before putting anything back.

It is much easier to see the composition of the shelves—and what deserves a place on them—when you begin with an empty canvas.

Create a Rhythm

Varying scale and height keeps shelves visually interesting. Stack some books horizontally, place others vertically and leave enough space around objects to allow them to stand on their own.

Grouping pieces by color or material can also create a stronger visual statement.

Group Similar Items

Once all the items  are off the shelves, start grouping them either by theme or color. The book case below styled by Evars & Anderson Interior Design team groups large vases in green and white color scheme together for an impactful display. This is perfect for a living room area.

Add Something Unexpected

The back of a bookcase is an opportunity.

A deeper paint color or patterned wallpaper can transform simple shelving into an architectural feature. Your original post used Schumacher's Imperial Trellis as an example, which is still a great illustration of this idea.

Add a Splash of Color or Geometric Pattern

I love using either a bold splash of color, a darker shade of color or a patterned wallpaper at the back of the bookshelves for visual interest. This gorgeous bookcase by decorator, Samantha Pynn is backed with Schumacher’s Imperial Trellis.

Make It Personal

This is what matters most.

Family photographs, original art, travel finds, decorative boxes and small sculptures keep a bookcase from looking staged.

The best shelves aren't perfectly styled. They reveal something about the people who live with them.

Make it Personal

Adding objects such as shapely ceramics, decorative boxes, small sculptures, family photos and original artwork makes your bookcase more visually interesting and personal. Here is an example of beautiful bookcase in a family room that showcase more decorative objects than books.

MBellished Tips

Mix books and objects. Neither should overwhelm the other.

Vary height and scale. It creates movement across the shelves.

Leave some breathing room. Every inch doesn't need to be filled.

Group with intention. Repeating a color, material or shape can create cohesion.

Include something personal. It's what separates a beautiful bookcase from a showroom display.

Mix Heights

Add objects of different heights for visual appeal and make sure to arrange your books vertically and horizontally to break up a monotonous look.

This book case style by Tim Barber Interior Design Firm showcases this well.