Styling Tips for Bookshelves Behind a Couch

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through links on my site, I may earn a commission at no cost to you. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.

Today, I’ll show you styling tips for bookshelves behind a couch and share my tips for rearranging books and decor. You see, I’d been wanting to create a little cozy nook library somewhere in my home for a while.

I considered the wide hallway, but then landed on the idea of putting them on one wall in my living room. And that’s where they ended up.

Because you can mostly see the top shelves, arrange what you love most up top and what you like least down below.

this Idea

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 books and dishes on the backs of shelves as backdrops to cover them and add interest. Place larger items at the back and smaller items in front to create depth.

5. Leave Empty 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, but then I 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 in the area 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 west-facing window. 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.