Do you think your living room is too tedious? Well, let’s try to find some cool ideas to decorate it. What about a bookshelf décor? Read on to find 7 bookshelf décor ideas to make your living room become more inviting.
1. Rustic Bookshelf Ideas
Adding the touch of rustic look in your living room does not have to make you short on cash. You can begin with a rustic bookshelf made of boards and galvanized industrial piping.
Once you have got your bookshelf, the next step is thinking about how you want to decorate it without banishing the rustic look.
If you do not have many books, do not store them all in the same section of the bookshelf and let the other sections stay unoccupied. Store them in two or three sections and vary the way you display them like storing them vertically or horizontally.
Try adding pictures and decorative ornaments to fill in the remaining space so the bookshelf will look more attractive, but do not go overboard. Just stick to neutral and earthy hues like black, white, brown, and beige would be nicer.
2. White Built-in Bookshelf
The most important thing about decorating your bookshelf is by occupying all the space you have. Do not let any section stay unoccupied. You can do this by placing all the books you have in all sections.
To enliven the bookshelf, try adding decorative ornaments that vary in sizes and shapes. This will enrich the look.
Investing in some decorative bookends will be your greatest bet as they are not only functional but also aesthetical just like those ivory and horse-like bookends. They anchor the books in place while accentuating them.
As the centerpiece, you can hang anything deriving from nature just like these antelope horns. They make a perfect finishing touch that will be able to draw people’s eye.
Pro:
- The antelope horns provide a more dramatic look to the bookshelf.
Con:
- You will find it hard to get the books stored behind the horns.
3. Embellish it with Anything You Actually Need
The one that is supposed to be pleased by the look of your bookshelf is you, not your guests. Therefore, your bookshelf is supposed to be adorned with something that shows who you are.
To achieve this ultimate goal, you can try displaying your collections or even photographs. The photographs can tell many stories in spite of being static. And your guests would love to be entertained with those stories when staring at the photos.
Besides photographs, you can also add something that you really need like a clock or a decorative small chest to your bookshelf. They will fill in the empty space in an epic way.
4. Make Them Symmetrical
Televisions are usually acted as the focal point of a living room. And, as a focal point, it deserves accentuating.
This living room features a TV set and LED fireplace as the centerpiece. Each side of the TV is built-in bookshelves that highlight the centerpiece. Since the bookshelves are not the main actors here, the homeowners decided to keep them simple by making them look symmetrical.
Placing two identical table lights on each shelf is the first thing that you can notice here. The lights look as if they were the gate of tons of entertainment provided by TV. They also bring harmony and balance to the living room.
To personalize the shelves, some photographs are displayed above the table lights, showing off the beautiful memories you have.
5. Vintage Bookshelf Décor Ideas
Vintage styles would never be too outdated to decorate your living room. The combination of pop colors and accessories that belong to the previous era can bring classic ambiance to your house just like this bookshelf.
Using the baby pink wall as the backdrop, this bookshelf looks feminine and cute. A blue clock that looks like a classic phone and a jar with cactus embellish the lower section. To play with the composition of height, a small crystal ball is placed between them.
In the middle, you can find a stack of books arranged horizontally. And you can also find a classic Polaroid camera standing on them. Next to the books and camera is a clear jar with cactus supported by a plant stand.
At the top section are a photograph with a classic frame, big candle, and a mug that holds colorful pens.
To make it look dramatic, try placing a copper pot along with vine plant swinging over the bookshelf.
Pro:
- Adding plants can enliven your bookshelf.
Con:
- Plants need regular maintenance.
6. Keep it Simple and Minimalist
Less is more. That is the key point of decorating a bookshelf in a modern living room. Avoid using fancy adornments with curvy lines and sophisticated designs.
These bookshelves are simple with only books stored on them. Some books are stored upwards while some others are stored horizontally. And the others lean against the dividers.
Since modern style tends to be simple, you do not have to find decorative elements like clear jars, ornamental bowls, or classic photo frame to fill in the remaining space.
Try investing in some file boxes to tackle this problem, instead. Find the ones that fit your shelves perfectly. If you cannot find one, you know you can make them yourself, don’t you?
You can go with neutral color schemes like black, white, or grey. But if you want to add pops of colors by investing in some colored file boxes, please do. Do not hesitate to personalize your bookshelves to your liking.
7. Consider Simplifying the Color Schemes
Decorating a bookshelf is not just about throwing all cute and pretty things to it and creating a haphazard look. You also need to pay attention to the balance and composition especially the color schemes.
Sticking to certain colors and repeating them is not an atrocious idea. You can also apply it to the shapes, just like this bookshelf.
Although it is filled with various kinds of books, jars, and boxes, you can still figure out the patterns. The use of rectangular and round accessories is the key. You may also find orange hues rule this shelf.
There are many ways to decorate your bookshelf. And I hope those 7 bookshelf décor ideas can make your living room look epic and functional at the same time.