Most people treat their built-ins like a junk drawer with vertical aspirations. You know the look. It starts with a few bestsellers, then a stray candle, maybe a framed photo from 2012, and suddenly the whole wall feels like a chaotic thrift store shelf. It’s heavy. It’s messy. It makes the room feel smaller than it actually is.
Learning how to decorate a built in bookcase isn't actually about the books. Not really. It’s about managing "visual weight." If you pack every inch, the wall dies. If you leave it too empty, it looks like you just moved in and haven't found your personality yet. You need that sweet spot where things feel curated but lived-in.
Honestly, the biggest mistake is thinking you have to fill the shelves all at once. You don't. Real style takes time.
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Stop treating your shelves like a library
Libraries are for storage; built-ins are for vibes. If you have five hundred paperbacks with cracked spines and neon covers, shoving them all onto one shelf is going to look like a mess. Period. Interior designers like Amber Lewis or Shea McGee often talk about the "breathability" of a space. This means leaving actual, empty gaps. White space is your best friend. It gives the eye a place to rest so you don't feel overstimulated just by looking at the wall.
Start by stripping the shelves. Everything. Take it all down. It’s annoying, I know. But you can't see the potential of the architecture when it's covered in dusty knick-knacks. Look at the bare bones of the unit. Is there a back panel you could paint? Maybe a dark charcoal or a soft taupe? Sometimes, the best way to make the decor pop is to give it a moody background.
The rule of thirds (mostly)
You’ve probably heard of the rule of thirds in photography. It applies here too, but don't get too clinical about it. Basically, try to group items in odd numbers. Three vases of different heights. One large bowl and two smaller glass beads. It’s weird, but the human brain finds odd numbers more "natural" and less staged.
Mix up your book orientations. Stand some up. Stack some horizontally. Use those horizontal stacks as "pedestals" for smaller objects like a brass bird or a cool rock you found on vacation. It creates layers.
Layering is how to decorate a built in bookcase like a pro
Depth is the secret sauce. Most people line everything up at the very front edge of the shelf like soldiers. It looks flat. Instead, lean a piece of art against the back of the shelf. Then, place a small stack of books in front of it. Finally, put a small decorative bowl on top of the books.
Now you have three layers of depth in one tiny section.
- Art at the back: Provides a vertical anchor and covers the "dead space" of the shelving unit.
- Books in the middle: Adds texture and color.
- Object at the front: Creates a focal point.
Don't be afraid to let things overlap. A little bit of overlap feels intentional and sophisticated. If everything is perfectly spaced out, it looks like a retail display at a department store. You want your home to feel like a home, not a showroom.
Materiality and the "Metal, Wood, Green" Trick
If your shelves feel "blah," you probably have too much of the same material. If it’s all ceramic, it’s cold. If it’s all wood, it’s heavy.
I like to use a simple mental checklist: Metal, Wood, Green.
Every couple of shelves should have something metallic (brass, copper, or silver) to reflect light. Every section needs something organic, usually wood or woven baskets, to add warmth. And finally, you need "green"—usually a trailing plant like a Pothos or a hardy Snake Plant. Plants add life. They move. They break up the hard right angles of the shelving.
Dealing with the "Book" problem
Let's be real: modern book jackets are often ugly. They’re bright, they clash, and they have huge fonts that scream for attention. If you’re a purist, keep them as they are. But if you want that "editorial" look, try removing the dust jackets. Usually, the hardback underneath is a beautiful, muted linen or a solid matte color.
Some people flip their books so the pages face out. It’s a polarizing move. It creates a very neutral, cohesive look, but it makes finding a specific book a nightmare. If you actually read your books, maybe don't do that. Instead, group them by color. You don't need a perfect rainbow—that’s a bit 2015—but grouping blues with blues and creams with creams creates a sense of order.
Scale matters more than you think
Small things look like clutter. Big things look like "moments."
If you have a collection of tiny porcelain cats, don't scatter them across ten shelves. They will look like pebbles. Group them all together on one tray so they act as one single, large visual element.
On the flip side, don't be afraid of one large, "hero" object. A massive sourdough bowl or a tall, architectural vase can occupy an entire shelf on its own. It’s a bold move. It tells people you’re confident in your style.
Lighting: The forgotten step
You can have the most beautiful decor in the world, but if it’s sitting in a dark corner, nobody cares. If your built-ins didn't come with integrated LED strips, don't worry. You can buy battery-operated puck lights or "library lamps" that clip onto the top.
Lighting creates shadows. Shadows create depth.
When you light a bookcase from above, it highlights the textures of the book spines and the curves of your pottery. It makes the whole unit feel like a piece of high-end furniture rather than just a storage solution.
Common pitfalls to avoid
Don't over-accessorize.
It’s tempting to buy every cute thing you see at Target or a flea market. Resist. If you love it, buy it, but give it space to breathe. If a shelf starts feeling "heavy," take one thing away.
Avoid "matchy-matchy" sets.
Buying a "Set of 3 Decorative Spheres" is the fastest way to make your home look generic. Better to find three different things that share a common thread—maybe they’re all white, or they’re all circular—but have different textures. One could be marble, one could be wood, and one could be pitted ceramic.
Why your shelves look "off"
Usually, it's a balance issue. If you have all your "heavy" items (like dark books or large boxes) on one side, the whole unit will feel like it’s tipping over.
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Try to zig-zag your visual weight. If you have a large dark object on the top left shelf, put another large dark object on the middle right shelf. This keeps the eye moving across the entire unit in a "Z" pattern. It’s a classic composition trick used in painting and photography for centuries. It works.
Practical next steps for your project
Before you start buying new stuff, look around your house. You probably already have 80% of what you need.
- The Great Purge: Take everything off the shelves. Clean the dust. Paint or wallpaper the back if you're feeling brave.
- Sort by Size: Group your books by height and your objects by "weight."
- The Anchor Move: Place your largest items first. These are your anchors. Space them out across the unit.
- Fill with Books: Add your book stacks—some vertical, some horizontal. Leave gaps.
- The Layering Phase: Add your art and smaller objects. Lean things. Stack things.
- The Greenery Finish: Add two or three plants. Let some vines hang over the edges to soften the wood.
- The Edit: Step back. Look at it from across the room. Squint your eyes. If a spot looks too busy, remove one item. If a spot looks too empty, add a small bowl.
Done. Your built-ins now look like they belong in a magazine, and more importantly, they actually tell a story about who you are and what you love. Stay away from the "all-at-once" shopping spree. Let the shelves evolve as you find new things on your travels or in local shops. That’s how you get a home that feels authentic.