Your Books Can Be Decor (Yes, Really)

When you think of where to put your collection of books in your home, the first and sometimes only location you think of is a bookshelf. Of course, it makes sense- “books” is quite literally in the name. However, if you have an excess of books, a shortage of accessories, or you’re simply bored with a crammed bookshelf, you can rehome them to complement the aesthetic of a room.

If you’re working with a more monochromatic color scheme in a space, the first step is to remove the book’s sleeve. Hardcover books are typically solid black, blue, or red without the sleeves- about two-thirds of the time, they’re black. Adding a small stack of black books to a side table, coffee table, or console table in a room that features a lot of greyscale aspects is a unique and tasteful way to add decor without overflowing these surfaces with other accessories. If you’re feeling crafty and want to stay away from all-black books, consider wrapping a few books in a textured, neutral colored paper.

Having your solid stack of books also opens up the option of putting a small, warm-colored accessory on top to add an eye-catching splash of color and to give the accessory a little bit of height.

Instead of trying to cram your bookshelves with as many books as possible, take a few out to use as decor, then observe the spacing you’ve created by removing some books. Use that space to put small plants, florals, or other accessories to make the bookshelf more pleasing and less overwhelming to look at. Another underrated strategy for these empty spaces is to stack a couple books horizontally on the shelf and top the stack with an accessory. Stacking books vertically and horizontally in a bookshelf is an unexpected way to draw the eye to a unique pattern.

Rethink your books as tools for vignettes. You’ll be genuinely surprised how pretty a stack of books can be when added to gaping, empty spaces.