Bookshelves. Sure, they can be functional, and ya know, hold books. But they can also be a lot more than that. If styled well, shelves can also be a central design element in your home.
-via @jcrew / People who work at JCrew are just cool. There's no gettin' around it.
Sometimes, just the act of filling an entire wall with books can be decorative....
-via Pinterest / Who ARE these people? That's a very impressive collection of literature!
But in most cases, it's the balance and combination of interesting objects, plants, art AND books that really make a statement.
-Styled by Emily Henderson - the master of bookshelf styling.
-via Desert Domicile / This is a very quirky and fun collection of things.
Sometimes the use of a color palette connects all the objects...
via refinery29.com / I love the neutral palette in this display. Very soothing.
-via Camilla Styles / This one is all about pastels.
If there's room on the floor underneath, using baskets or boxes to store things looks great, and visually adds balance.
via stylemepretty.com / I love how pops of color are spread throughout.
-via Apartment Diet / This one is a little too sparse for my taste, but there's a nice mix of quirky objects on display.
Some people like to style their shelves in a very organized and monochromatic way:
-via dreambookdesign.com / You can't go wrong with black and white. These shelves hold functional objects for everyday use, and yet are still visually pleasing.
Or use a common theme throughout, as seen in this nicely-styled store display:
-via ciaonewportbeach.blogspot.com / The ocean-themed objects are nicely balanced with vintage books and a large, wooden box.
Even if you have more books than objects, there's an art to displaying them beautifully...
via onegoodthingbyjillee.com / Notice the vertical and horizontal stacks of varying heights, as well as the subtle color-coordinating.
Adding a fun background is another way to pull the space together:
-via alamodemaven.com / The wallpaper takes center stage.
-via onegoodthingbyjillee.com / I love the bright yellow backdrop and the nicely curated objects.
-via Amber Interiors / This one is a work in progress, but coming together nicely. Succulents are always a nice touch.
As I mentioned up above, I think Emily Henderson is the absolute master of styling bookshelves. Every time I come across an image of shelves that truly makes me stop and stare, it turns out to be styled by her. Crazy pants.
-via hgtv.com, styled by Emily Henderson
She's just so talented at mixing high and low, vintage and modern...and curating to perfection.
-styled by Emily Henderson
Floating shelves can be a fun alternative to a traditional bookshelf:
-via indulgy.com
-via feedly.com
And sometimes you are working with an existing nook:
-via cushandnooks.blogspot.co.nz / Such a simple, clean way to fill the oddly-shaped space.
-via milkmagazine.net / I love the casual look of this one. The wood underneath is great, and the rug plays off the objects and books perfectly (imperfectly)!
I hope you're feeling inspired to make the most of your shelves. I know I am. I'm ready to ditch my entry table and go shelf-crazy. Just have to get the hubby onboard. Please send me pictures of your styled shelves. I'd love to see them!
