Books for Restaurant Decor, Cafes and Office Lobbies

For a restaurant, cafe or office, choose one or two book colors that match the brand, plan quantity from shelf widths, and keep shelves about 60 to 70% full. A wall of hardcovers behind a bar or a few stacks on a lobby console make a space feel warm and established.

Below: palettes, quantities, placement and the practical concerns of public spaces, from anchoring to candles.

Why businesses use books as decor

• Instant atmosphere. Books add texture, color and a sense of history that's hard to get from paint alone.
• Visual softness. Shelves of books break up hard, flat surfaces like brick, glass and drywall.
• Brand color in a subtle form. A palette of spines can echo your logo without a sign.
• Photo-friendly. Bookshelves make good backdrops for guests' photos and for your own marketing.
• Easy to refresh. Swapping one palette for another changes the look of a space quickly.

Choosing a palette for your brand

Lighting changes everything in a commercial space. Dim, warm restaurants make dark spines recede, so lead with lighter or warmer colors if the room is dark, and add shelf lighting.

How many books for a commercial space

Commercial projects are usually measured in feet. Start by measuring the total length of every shelf you want to fill, then decide how full you want them:

Our how to measure shelves for books by the foot guide walks through the math, and how many books per foot of shelf explains the estimates. Shelf counts are approximate; book thickness varies.

For larger orders, our books by the foot page lists sizes: 1 foot (about 10-12 books) for $69.99 and 2 feet (about 20-24 books) for $129.99, or $74.99 and $139.99 for our Sea Glass palette. Shipping is free to the continental U.S. and D.C.

Where books work best

Restaurants and bars

• Behind the bar, on high shelves out of the splash zone.
• Along banquettes, on a high ledge above seating.
• Host stand and waiting area, where guests linger.
• Private dining rooms, for a library feel.

Cafes

• A window shelf visible from the street (out of direct, all-day sun).
• Near a reading nook or communal table.
• On top of pastry cases, in short stacks with plants.

Offices and lobbies

• Reception console: a stack with a plant and a lamp.
• Conference room credenza: a run of navy or charcoal with bookends.
• Video-call corners: see Zoom background bookshelf.
• Executive offices: a styled bookcase in a calm palette.

Retail

• Display risers: stacks of books raise products to different heights.
• Window displays: books in a seasonal color.
• Fitting rooms and seating areas: a small stack adds polish.

Practical concerns for public spaces

Safety and stability

• Anchor freestanding bookcases. CPSC's Anchor It campaign urges anchoring furniture to the wall, and it applies to commercial furniture in busy spaces too.
• Keep heavier items low. CPSC recommends storing heavier items on lower shelves.
• Check weight ratings on floating shelves and ledges, and mount into studs or with appropriate anchors.

Fire and heat

• Keep books away from kitchens, fryers and heat sources.
• Use battery candles on shelves and tables near books. NFPA reports that in three of every five home candle fires, something that could burn was too close; the same principle applies in a restaurant.
• Follow local rules. Your landlord, insurer or local fire officials may have requirements for decor in commercial spaces. Check before installing large displays.

Cleanliness

• Keep books out of the splash zone around bars, sinks and service stations.
• Dust regularly. Commercial spaces collect dust and grease faster than homes; high shelves above kitchens or grills will need more frequent attention, or another spot.
• Avoid shelves directly above food prep or service.

Light and humidity

Books last longest in stable conditions. The Library of Congress recommends keeping books at about 30 to 55 percent relative humidity, away from direct light. Storefront windows in full sun will fade spines over time, a cumulative effect the Library of Congress describes in its guide to light damage.

Theft and handling

Guests will pick up books. That's part of the charm, but secure high shelves with a lip or bookends, and keep valuable or sentimental items elsewhere.

Styling tips for commercial shelves

• Keep the palette tight. One or two colors look intentional from across a room.
• Use bookends. Rows that lean look messy and strain bindings.
• Mix in objects. Plants, lamps and ceramics break up long runs.
• Think about sight lines. Style the shelves guests see first most carefully.
• Refresh seasonally. A swap from cream to burgundy in fall changes the room.

For general styling methods, see how to decorate bookshelves with books.

Example layouts

A wine bar back wall

Three high shelves above the back bar, about 24 feet total. Long runs of burgundy and deep brown with brass bookends, a few cream stacks for rhythm and picture lights above. At about 10 books per foot for a full look, that's roughly 240 books, or about 12 two-foot lots.

A cafe window shelf

One 6-foot shelf in a front window that doesn't get all-day sun. Cream books in stacks of five, with small plants between. About 3 to 4 feet of books.

An office lobby

A reception console with one five-book stack, a lamp and a plant, plus a bookcase in the waiting area styled about two-thirds full in navy and cream, with framed prints. Around 6 to 8 feet of books.

These are approximate examples; measure your own shelves before you buy.

Keeping displays looking fresh

Set a simple routine: dust high shelves monthly, straighten rows weekly during cleaning, and review the display each season. Replace anything that gets splashed or sun-faded. A tidy shelf says as much about a business as a clean table does.

Ordering books for a business

1. Measure every shelf (length in inches, divided by 12).
2. Decide on fullness (full, styled or sparse).
3. Choose one or two palettes.
4. Add up the feet by palette.
5. Check our trade page or email info@riverbirchbooks.com about larger orders.

Our lots are real hardcover books. Good used condition: clean and intact, with light shelf wear possible. Browse every palette on our books by color page.

Do the math: bookshelf calculator: how many books do I need?

Frequently asked questions