Styling Bookshelves with Books, Pictures & More

Here are some tips for styling bookshelves with books, pictures, and other things you already own.

GENIUS tips for styling bookshelves with books and things you already own! #bookcasestyling

I’ve got an awesome method for you to try using for styling bookshelves with books, pictures and more.

There are indeed methods to decorating which is something I’ve learned over the years after becoming a blogger. Before I was a blogger I would eyeball my decor, as I think most people do, but now I actually decorate using a method.

When I first learned to decorate bookshelves in the early stages of my blog, my decorating process went something like this: remove everything from the shelves, gather all decor with similar colors, add decor back onto the shelves in groupings while varying the height of decor throughout each grouping.

That bookshelf styling method worked for me for awhile but usually took a long time, and I never actually achieved the look I was going for when I used that method to decorate.

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More recently, I decided to change my method of bookcase styling. I wanted to decorate them differently, more simply. And by more simply, I don’t mean that I wanted the shelf decor to look simple, but rather I wanted a simpler process of decorating.

I also wanted to be able to show off my collections. Instead of buying new decor all the time, I wanted to use things I already owned.

Here’s the new method I’m now using for styling bookshelves with books, pictures, and other items I already own:

Step 1: Remove all items off shelves.

Step 2: Gather collections of items you own.

Step 3: Place collections together on each shelf.

Step 4: Add in random decor items afterward.

On the left side of my bookcase, I used four different collections I own: silver, mason jars, books, and handle mason jars. Each shelf has a different collection.

This is a much different method for decorating bookshelves because my items are not spread around. I used to place my silver in random different spots all over my bookcase. Now, they’re all together, and I love how they look together.

Similarly, my books are placed together. I used to have books sporadically placed throughout, grouping two or three books together at a time. This method of grouping all the books together was so simple to do, and, again, I love the way it turned out.

On the right side of my bookcase, I used the same approach except with different collections of items I owned. I used my glass vases, picture frames and other random decor I owned.

If I would’ve had more, larger collections, I probably would have used those on the bottom right shelf as opposed to the more random-style decor, but I ran out of collections so I filled the space with what I had.

It’s easy styling bookshelves with book, pictures and other items you already because lumping large quantities together doesn’t really take much technique. Styling these shelves took me maybe twenty minutes, and that’s not much time at all in comparison to how much time I usually spend decorating. I’m also more pleased with the results of using this method. I think by grouping larger quantities of items, you get a bolder, cohesive, and more organized look.

This method for styling bookshelves with books and other items also allowed me to make room in my storage spaces for other items. I love that I’m able to show off my collections, like my glass vases, even when they’re not in use.

There are tons of budget-friendly collections that could look great on your bookshelves. If you have tons of books already, you can achieve a similar look of mine by wrapping them in white wrapping paper. I bought some at the dollar store and wrapped them up in very little time.

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Pictures are also a great go-to because often times, you already have them.

Good luck styling your bookshelves! I hope you love the way they turn out using this method as much I love how mine turned out.