Styling Tips for Bookshelves Behind a Couch
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Today, I’ll show you how to style bookshelves behind a couch and share my tips for rearranging books and decor.
Because you can mostly see the top shelves, arrange what you love most in that area and what you like least down below.
Rhonda finished assembling the shelves yesterday. There were so many pieces it boondoggled me! But little by little, she got it done. Thanks, my friend! And thanks, Kendra and Kasi, for the birthday gift.
I managed to get every single book I own in these shelves, except the book I’m currently reading. It sits on my nightstand. Books are important to me, and I like to see them all at once in one space. I find it pleasing, like a small library.
I used items from the kitchen, decor, storage, and old favorites to style the shelves. There is a little bit of everything arranged in them.
I ordered another print, the same size as the one at the very top, far left, of the vintage woman framed in wood.
This is the one I ordered.
I’ve had my eye on this one for a long time, and it is under $20 for a 12×16 painting. I love the deep burgundy reds and the gold urn. It is moody and fits right in, opposite the one at the other end.
My Tips for Styling Bookshelves Behind a Couch:
1. Mix and Match
If you want, you can just arrange books on your bookshelves. But if you have room, add a few accent pieces to make things more interesting.
Alternate between stacking books vertically and horizontally. This creates visual interest. Incorporate decorative objects like vases, sculptures, or framed photos to break up the rows of books.
I don’t have anything fancy, just decor I’ve had for a long time that was stored away. Obviously, I have more mix than match in these bookshelves!
2. Color Coordination
On Pinterest, Instagram, and decorating blogs, I’ve seen people color coordinate their books. But for me, that’s just a little too perfect. In a few spots on these bookshelves, I used lighter colors so the books wouldn’t stand out as much against the items on top.
Some people prefer to organize books in neutral tones to make them look more sophisticated. I think that’s pretty, but it’s not how I decorate.
3. Use Varying Heights
I like to balance books of different heights so the shelves don’t look so bland and uninteresting. It gives your eye a place to land, both upward and downward, within all the texture and color on the shelves.
4. Layering
I like to use the back of shelves as a backdrop to cover the back and add interest. Place larger items at the back and smaller items in front to create depth.
5. Leave Space
Don’t overcrowd the shelves. Leave some empty space to let items breathe and keep the look clean. I tend to add too much and edit later.
6. Personal Touches
Include personal items, such as travel souvenirs or family photos, to make the shelves uniquely yours. I plan to add more family and pet photos at some point.
Add things that you simply like, that accentuate your personality. This might be souvenirs from a family vacation, or something else you particularly like.
7. Textures & Baskets
To add texture, I like to utilize wicker baskets. I have one on top of the bookshelves with a faux Boston fern. There is a cutting board at the back of one of the shelves. I added flat plates here and there to decorate the back.
Using baskets helps you organize items on your shelves and make things look more cohesive.
8. Lighting
I really don’t need lighting where my bookshelves are, since there are table lamps nearby. But I’m charging a small lamp with a glass shade that I’ll add. This highlights the areas you especially want to emphasize and creates a warm ambiance.
I’m currently charging a small lamp with a glass shade I found in a drawer earlier today. I’d forgotten I had it, and I haven’t used it in this house.
Funny, how when you go looking for one thing, all these other things you forgot you owned turn up!
This is the lamp I have charging. I looked, and they still sell it, though I got mine some years ago, before I lived here. It will be nice to have just a small glow in that area.
9. Refresh & Edit
As I mentioned above, I like to edit. When you edit, you can refresh your bookshelves by styling them slightly differently. That’s always fun to do, and gives the room a slightly different look.
You might want to go with a cottage, farmhouse, vintage, or bohemian theme. I think my decorating style on these shelves includes all of those themes.
10. Add Greenery
It’s always nice to add greenery to your bookshelves when styling them. It brings a touch of nature into your space. I have faux plants on top of the bookshelves right now.
I plan to add real houseplants to a table against the wall near the window facing west. I’d rather not have them within the shelves, so I don’t damage them when watering. I’ll get around to that when I figure out how to kitten-proof them!
There’s Simon licking his paws on the floor near the side of the couch. Daisy and Ivy are off sleeping somewhere in the house.
When Ivy was their age, I knew she’d get into my plants, so I always used non-toxic ones. And after a couple of years, she was no longer interested in them.
I’m not finished styling the shelves. Well, you know I’ll never be finished styling the shelves! I’ll always want to move something or rearrange the books.
It’s fun to style your shelves to suit your taste or mood. It doesn’t have to look perfect.
Sush a cosy room! I found this post really helpful as I’m trying to organize my study space better. A well-styled bookshelf not only makes the room look nice but also creates a calming environment that can boost focus and productivity. As a student, I believe that good organization and a cozy space can also help in maintaining a healthy work-life balance, which is essential for effective studying. It’s great to see tips that can make our rooms more functional and inspiring. If anyone is looking for ways to improve their study setup, I also came across some useful resources and mysupergeek review which might provide some insights on helpful tools and accessories for organization.
Now, in the evening, I sit and look at this cozy background and realize how relaxing it is when everything around you breathes calmness. But in order not to get too caught up in the interior, I sometimes switch to something more dynamic — I open https://paybis.com/bitcoin-calculator/ and quickly check how much my dream of a new coffee maker would cost in bitcoins. It’s like a contrast: the shelves provide stable comfort, while crypto reminds me that life is moving forward and that I can still invest in the future.
Love the way you have the shelves decorated! You have a really good eye!
You have SUCH a knack for decorating. I love the look of this room and the bookcase is really well-done. I need to re-do my bookcase for sure. Question: where did you get your coffee table? Thanks for sharing this post.
beautiful!
Thanks!
Very nice. I look at each section/shelf as its own separate vignette. And then balance everything as a whole picture. It’s fun to do.
That’s how I looked at it too.
Oh Brenda,
the bookcases look amazing… every shelf is its own vignette; yet all put together a pleasing cohesive flow. I have been looking at different bookcases in magazines and how they were styled. There are a lot of creative ideas out there. One theme that I found, had all the book’s spines turned around! Making a neutral statement, the caption says. I thought that was strange. I have seen a long rectangular mirror on the top shelf, behind a plant/ floral arrangement. It gave a unique dimension as a focal point.
I love the moody floral picture you have ordered. Your living room is wonderful and I love your quilt on the back of your sofa. I remember you hanging different quilts at your other homes. I sure enjoy your creative journeys …
I’ve seen a lot of photos with the book spines turned around. But that is a little too neutral for me. And you have to turn them around when you’re seeing which book is which.
Oh my gosh, Brenda, this is gorgeous!! Not only how you styled the bookshelves, but the entire room in general. And kudos to Rhonda for putting the bookshelves together. I certainly don’t have that talent!
I don’t have the talent to utilize instructions either. That’s why I’ve gotten lost in my car somewhere, because directions and I don’t do well. Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!
Wow, Brenda, they look great! You’re looking room looks so relaxing and inviting. Rhonda is the best for putting them together for you, and your girls knew the perfect gift to give you! Enjoy your book shelves!
Living room! Autocorrect! 🤦🏻♀️
They knew because they asked what I wanted, and I told them bookshelves. And I picked them out.
You did such a great job! Curating bookshelves is such a hard thing to do. I tend to overdo also and I do some editing later too, but probably not as much as I should. I think if I were you, I’d just sit and look at the bookcase all day.
My chair basically faces them, so that’s pretty much what I do. Which leads me to want to get up and tweak something!
You have created a beautiful home with so much personality and character. I love that you have used so much of the decor from your own collection. Remember the old HGTV show Decorating Cents? They always had a short feature called Interior Redesign using only things already in the home. So nice to reuse and recycle what we have and you out did yourself putting together a winner in the bookcases. I look forward to seeing you change items for the season!
I remember that show! I loved it, and now I don’t really care to watch HGTV, except in doctors’ offices and waiting rooms. I don’t have that channel, and nothing could beat Decorating Cents in my book.
Really adds so much to the room! Some of your treasures on the shelves compliment the colors of the pillows and the quilt, which by the way, did you purchase the quilt from Wayfair? Enjoy Brenda, everything looks lovely.
I can’t recall where I purchased it, but I finally found the bedding at Wayfair. I have the full/queen size. In the pic, it’s turned to the back. Here is the link.
https://www.wayfair.com/Greenland-Home-Fashions–Andorra-Medallion-Cotton-Reversible-Quilt-Set-GL1304AMS-L1221-K~W000345045.html
One word description of your home: serene!
And serene makes me happy…
Brenda, it looks beautiful! I know it will bring you a lot of joy. ❤️
It does.
Looks very lovely and inviting, Brenda!!
Thanks! I like it.
This looks wonderful! You’re really good at decorating these shelves!!! I love it.
It’s fun to play around with the look.
So pretty! So much room, but you styled the shelf perfectly. Some space to rest the eye, but enough interesting things to make you see different things each time you look. A surprise each time. (If that makes sense).
Yes, it makes sense. Each shelf is kind of its own design.
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