Styling bookshelves is one of those things that seems really easy (insert books, add a few decorative accessories, call it a day) but is a strangely difficult art to master (take one step past sad and empty, and suddenly you’re in clutter central).
Serene Neutral
First up, we have a classic, neutral display. “One of the easiest ways to get a professional-looking bookcase is by editing the color palette,” says Ross, who chose a mix of whites, creams, tans, and some black for contrast. That said, when sticking with a limited range of hues, “it’s really important to make sure that you bring in accents in different materials—ceramic, glass, leather, inlaid bone or stone, matte, shiny—to keep things interesting.”
Where you place the books themselves is also important. Alternate shelves of standing and stacked books, and focus on symmetry, with larger books on the outer ends and smaller ones towards the center.
Colorful Eclectic
Want to create a bookcase that’s the star of your space instead of the backdrop? Bring on the color! When you’re working with a lot of color, you want to think of your bookcase as a room. Layer color from back to front, propping up colorful pieces of art in the back, then adding your books, and finally accessories. Make sure to disperse colors evenly throughout the shelves—and that doesn’t just go for your decorative items, but for your books, too.
Tiki Chic
In small spaces, big bookcases can work extra hard . Corral glassware, cocktail supplies and bottles on trays so you can easily move the party from room to room. To play up the festive feel, Ross went with an island-inspired palette of greens, metallics and earth tones, mixing in natural materials and whimsical accents like animal figurines and an ostrich egg.
