Bookcases & Wall Units: Turning Your Books and Collectibles into Art
Custom bookcases and built-in wall units provide the perfect canvas for displaying books, cherished collectibles, and artwork. Your shelves offer a glimpse into who you are. As such a crucial element in your home’s interior, choosing the right furniture to display your favourite items can be challenging, especially if you want them to be stored in style.
While flipping through interior design magazines and scrolling through Instagram for inspiration is always a great idea, it’s equally important to consider the atmosphere you want to create with your bookcase styling. Do you want your space to feel sophisticated or relaxed? Inspiring or adventurous? Is it in a formal living room or a cosy reading nook? Do you host book clubs or prefer solitary reading sessions? You may want to match your bookcases to other interior elements, like your home office cabinets.
While there are many decisions to make when getting in touch with an installer experienced in custom bookcases built in wall units, be assured that by the time your new furniture piece is built, you will have found the perfect decoration style that reflects your personality and harmoniously ties your living space together.
Things to Consider When Styling Your New Bookcase
Once your custom pieces of furniture have arrived and you are still unsure which kind of décor would best complement the rest of the room, start by identifying the colour palette you’re using and the type of accessories you like in other spaces, whether in your home, a friend’s house, or something you’ve seen online. Knowing which interior elements you like makes designing your custom bookcases and built in wall units much easier!
If you’re uncertain whether your living space gives off Mid-Century Modern, Minimalist, Scandinavian, Bohemian, or Coastal vibes, browsing through Pinterest often helps to identify and determine your interior style. Once you know your taste, you may find it easier to choose which of your collectibles match the elegance of your new custom bookcases and built in wall units and reflect your aesthetic.
Bookcase Styling Ideas
Styling a bookcase is a quick and easy way to tie a room together or combine two rooms to make them seem larger. By visually creating a focal point, with your custom bookcases and built in wall units, you can also create a separation within a room and give the space a decorative flair. Bringing together the overall colour scheme of your home without jeopardising the aesthetic can add a dynamic energy to the overall space.
Try these bookcase styling ideas:
- Group books by colour for a vibrant, eye-catching display
- Create a monochromatic look with books of similar hues
- Use the ‘backwards books’ trend for a neutral, textured appearance
- Alternate vertical and horizontal book stacks for visual interest
- Incorporate plants to add life and freshness to your shelves
- Display collectibles or travel souvenirs among your books
- Use decorative boxes to hide clutter and add style
- Create themed shelves based on book genres or topics
How To Style Large Custom Bookcases and Built-In Wall Units
Facing large, empty bookcases can be intimidating. But rather than thinking of them as a bare space that needs to be filled, think of them as a blank canvas offering many possibilities to showcase your creativity and interior design skills! If you’re unsure how to style those big units and want to keep things feeling fresh but curated, try these ideas:
- Create a feature shelf with oversized art or a large mirror
- Use a console table at the base for additional storage and display
- Position a large plant that takes up vertical space
- Hang a tapestry or rug as a backdrop
- Display oversized coffee table books
- Make a statement with sculptural objects
- Use bold, large-scale accessories as focal points
Accessories
A bookcase with nothing but books can feel monotonous and uninspired unless your home’s interior follows a minimalistic design. But for Bohemian, Mid-Century, and Coastal interiors, these styles offer many solutions for incorporating art among your books. Choose pieces that represent who you truly are to make the bookcase a true reflection of your home.
Here are some ideas on how to arrange bookcase accessories:
- A mix of horizontal and vertical book stacks
- Decorative bookends
- Framed photos or artwork
- Sculptural objects or keepsakes
- Plants or succulents
- Decorative boxes or baskets for storage
- Candles or small lamps for ambience
- Vinyl records for music lovers
Practical Tips for Bookcase Styling
When styling your custom bookcases built in wall units from scratch, groups of items by size or purpose. Larger items – whether books, storage baskets, or your collectibles – go on the lower shelves, with visually lighter and smaller items being placed higher up. Alternate displays so that accessories sit above and below rows of books to create space in your bookcase staging.
Styling with Classic Furniture Pieces
If you’re fortunate enough to own classic furniture like an exclusive leather lounge or a prominent club chair, you’ll want to carefully consider your bookcase styling to complement their elegant look. Stick to a neutral colour palette with muted tones that allow furniture pieces to take centre stage and keep your bookcase decor simple and elegant. Perhaps add a large abstract painting or a grouping of framed botanical prints on your shelves. The key is to let the furniture assembly be the star attraction while creating a cohesive, sophisticated living space around them.
Display Your Books in Style with Betta Wardrobes
Remember, custom bookcases and built in wall units are more than just storage solutions – they reflect your unique personality and interests and are a key element in your home’s interior design.
If you want to give your home the final touch with timeless and elegant custom furniture to complement your interior, contact Betta Wardrobes for more information via our online form to let us design and install your ideal centrepiece.
