How to Style Your Bookshelf: Styling Tips Like a Design Pro

Aug 08, 2025

Here’s the thing about bookshelves — most of us treat them like a dumping ground. Half-read novels, a candle from three Christmases ago, maybe a plant that’s just hanging on. And then one day you notice… it’s not cute. It’s not giving “design pro.” It’s giving “forgotten corner.”

The good news? You don’t need to gut the whole room or buy a bunch of fancy décor. You just need a few bookshelf styling tips that actually work in a real house, with real life going on around it.

Also, if you’re in the middle of home staging, don’t skip the bookshelf. People look at them. Even if they’re not consciously thinking about it, it’s one of those little details that makes a space feel polished.

Bookshelf Styling Tips: Start with Nothing

Take. It. All. Off.

I mean everything. The books. The plant. The dust. That coaster that somehow made it to the second shelf.

There’s something about an empty shelf — it’s like a fresh haircut. You see the shape again. You see the room it’s in. And if you’re prepping for home staging, this is where you decide: do I want it to blend in, or be a little showpiece?

Bookshelf Styling Tips: Play the Height Game

A flat row of books? Snooze.

Mix it up — stack some horizontally, keep others standing. Add something tall, like a vase or a skinny lamp. Toss in something squat and solid, like a ceramic bowl. And please… don’t line up ten tiny knick-knacks in a row. That’s not style, that’s a yard sale.

This is one of those bookshelf styling tips that’s almost too simple to mention, but it works every single time. In home staging, that variety catches the eye without making the buyer feel like they’re intruding on someone else’s stuff.

Bookshelf Styling Tips: Leave Space (Seriously)

Here’s the trap: you think, “Oh, I’ll just add one more thing…” and suddenly the shelf is choking.

Leave gaps. Let there be empty spots. Negative space makes the nice pieces stand out. It’s the difference between “cute styling” and “my aunt’s overstuffed curio cabinet.”

In home staging, that breathing room is even more important — it makes the home feel bigger, calmer, and less… personal.

Color Is Your Secret Weapon

Look around your room. What’s the vibe? Warm and cozy? Cool and airy? Your bookshelf should play along.

If your living room is all soft neutrals, maybe add a deep green plant or a stack of pale blue books. If it’s already colorful, tone it down on the shelf so it doesn’t look like a carnival.

And yes — in home staging — even these tiny color choices can make the whole space feel intentional.

Keep It Personal… but Not Too Personal

Look, I get it. You love that chipped mug from your first apartment. But when you’re styling — especially for home staging — keep the personal stuff to a minimum.

You’re going for “this looks like a life I want” instead of “this is someone else’s life.” Think candles, abstract art, a couple of plants… not your collection of themed shot glasses.

Light Makes Everything Better

Even the best-styled shelf looks blah in bad lighting. If it’s in a dark corner, add a lamp nearby, or clip on some little LED lights. It’s amazing what happens when the shelf actually… glows.

Pro tip for home staging: buyers love a warm, bright space. A lit-up bookshelf can literally pull their eyes to the best part of the room.

Step Back, Squint, Edit

When you think you’re done, walk away for five minutes. Come back and look at it like you’ve never seen it before.

Does it feel balanced? Is there one shelf that’s way busier than the rest? Take something off. Honestly, most shelves look better after you’ve removed the “extra.”

Your bookshelf can be more than just… a bookshelf. With the right bookshelf styling tips, it becomes part of the room’s personality. And if you’re gearing up for home staging, don’t skip it. That one corner might be the thing that makes someone fall in love with the space.

Need help pulling the whole look together? Bring in a home staging expert. We’ll make sure your shelves — and every inch of your home — tell the exact story buyers want to hear.