10 Ways To Organize (and Decorate) Bookshelves

Tell all ya friends and neighbors!

These bookcase decorating ideas are super helpful to get you unstuck on how to decorate those shelves!

I’ll go ahead and say it.

Not many things irritate me more when I stumble across a “how to style a shelf” post or video that shows gorgeous shelving and ZERO books.

If you’re new around here, I very much like to read.

So much so that we created some built ins using the Ikea Billy Bookcases so that I could house mine (and Charlotte’s) growing collection.

But when it comes to styling bookcases with actual books on them, it can get a little tricky so I want to share with you some bookcase decor ideas to help you get “unstuck” and have the styled bookcases of your dreams even if you have….I don’t know…ACTUAL BOOKS on them!

Organizing Bookshelves Ideas

Use layering techniques

In our own built ins around our fireplace, I have my books that I want to read, but then our other books that are more “coffee table” type books or my reading journal, I use them to stack decor on top.

Think outside the box when it comes to what you want to use as decor. It can be literally anything.

I mean it. Literally anything. Like this white ceramic hand vase with Christmas tree picks in it.

I promise this vase is white, but because the bookshelves are painted black, it made it look gray no matter how I edited this photo. Super annoying.

Add some greenery

I’m not saying you have to become a full blown plant person, but adding some greenery is a great way to bring your bookcases to life. Literally.

This may be tricky if your bookcases have glass doors on them like ours do, but in my case, I just found some faux greenery that I had laying around and stuck it in a vase that I have on the top row.

Mix purely decorative books with actual reading books

If you’re looking for more of a neutral vibe, you can always mix in purely decorative books with the ones you want to read.

Add in your more neutral books with the spine to the back of the bookshelf at high level and higher and then put the books that you love and have on your list to be read towards the bottom.

Think outside the box (aka. living room)

If you don’t have space in your home for giant built ins or even a separate bookshelf, utilize a space in your kitchen!

You can mix and match with decor pieces and functional pieces (like dishes or glasses) so that it makes sense for your space.

Get creative with artwork

If you don’t want to put your art on the shelves individually, take a cue from this stunning built in bookcase and stick a frame on the front of the book shelf itself. (Say that 3 times fast)

I love that these are painted the same color as the wall so everything just blends right in and the added baskets at the bottom make for a great bookcase organizing solution.

Use baskets or something else to organize smaller things or the “not so pretty” stuff

On the bottom where the doors are solid, we have a total of 18 of these black baskets which acts as toy storage for us.

On top, I found some cute woven baskets that allow me to store things that we need, but don’t use that often like batteries, tealight candles, or extra glow in the dark Roku remote cases.

Group like colors together

Of course if you want to be totally neurotic, you can organize your books by color and I’m not gonna lie – it always looks great.

However, I like this less subtle color organization of bookshelves that groups like colors together and then adding a decor item that either coordinates or is the same color.

Let the books speak for themselves

If you have a giant book collection or are clearly working your way towards one, there is no need to have a ton of extra decor.

You can let the books be their own decor and organize them to your lil’ heart’s desire.

By alternating the way they lay (horizontal vs. vertical) you can create enough visual interest that you won’t need a ton of extra decor on your shelves.

Alternate the books orientation

Like we saw in the previous example, the changing of directions of your books, some being horizontal and some vertical, can create a lot of visual interest, especially when you add in the different colors and sizes you have on the spines.

Then you just add minimal decor when you have a more empty spot. Bam. Organized bookshelves.

Another play on the book position is to allow some to lean up against the shelves.

Staring at a bookcase with a uniform flow can seem neat and organized, but it can also present as cold and impersonal. Let’s not be about that life here.

Don’t leave out the littlest readers

We have done this in our house too, but it’s hidden behind the bottom of our built in doors.

Make sure the littlest readers in your fam have access to their books too!

Especially with board books, they’re often really fun and colorful so you can have fun with organizing the bookshelf with their books.