Styling guide
What to Put on Bookshelves Besides Books: 15 Ideas
Besides books, bookshelves look best with a few objects that vary in height and shape: framed art, plants, vases, bowls, baskets, a lamp, candlesticks and sculptural pieces. Use one to three groupings per shelf, repeat colors in a zigzag up the case, and leave some space. Books still do important work: a horizontal stack under a vase is what makes the vase look placed rather than parked.
Below: 15 object ideas with the book arrangement that suits each, placement rules, top-of-bookcase ideas and layouts for 3-, 5- and 6-shelf bookcases.
15 things to put on bookshelves (and how to pair them with books)
| Object | Pair it with | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Framed art or photos | An upright run of books beside it | Lean art at the back; overlap a stack in front |
| 2. Plants | A horizontal stack as a riser | Trailing plants on upper shelves |
| 3. Vases | A short stack underneath | Odd numbers, varied heights |
| 4. Bowls | On top of a stack | Wood, stone or ceramic |
| 5. Baskets | Bottom shelf, books between | Hide clutter, add weight low |
| 6. Lidded boxes | A run of books beside | Storage that looks tidy |
| 7. A small lamp | A stack to raise it | Warm light at night |
| 8. Candlesticks | Flanking a stack | Battery candles near books |
| 9. Sculptural objects | Alone on a mostly empty shelf | Let one piece breathe |
| 10. Small mirrors | Leaning behind a stack | Bounces light |
| 11. Clocks | On a stack | Simple faces read best |
| 12. Trays | Under a stack and small objects | Groups items into one |
| 13. Collected objects | Grouped in threes | Stones, shells, pottery |
| 14. Decorative bookends | A run of books | Marble, brass, wood |
| 15. Textiles | A folded throw on a low shelf | Softens wood and books |
Placement rules
The triangle
Arrange items so the tallest, medium and lowest pieces form a loose triangle on each shelf, and across shelves.
Height variety
Pair tall items with low stacks. If everything is the same height, the shelf looks flat.
Odd numbers
Groups of three or five look more natural than pairs, except for deliberate symmetry (matching lamps or candlesticks).
Zigzag repetition
Repeat a color or object type on alternating sides as you go up the case: a white vase left on shelf 2, a white bowl right on shelf 3, a white frame left on shelf 4. Not sure which colors suit the room? The palette quiz suggests a mix in about a minute.
Space
Leave some open space on every shelf.
Books as risers
A horizontal stack of three to five books lifts an object to a better height and gives it a base. It also lets you vary heights without buying taller objects. For more on mixing orientations, see styling books horizontally vs. vertically.
Single-palette stacks look calmest. Cream from Dunes and tan from Driftwood suit most objects; charcoal from Storm makes white ceramics pop; burgundy from Autumn Oak warms brass.
What to put on top of a bookshelf
The top of a tall bookcase is seen from across the room, so choose items that read at a distance: - a large basket, - a big vase with branches, - a leaning piece of art, - a pair of lightweight objects at each end.
Keep heavy items off the top. CPSC recommends storing heavier items on lower shelves and advises against placing tempting items on top of furniture where children might climb for them. Anchor freestanding bookcases to the wall.
Layouts for common bookcases
3-shelf bookcase
- Top: a vase on a book stack, left; a short run of books, right.
- Middle: framed art leaning at the back with a small bowl in front.
- Bottom: a basket and a run of books with a bookend.
5-shelf bookcase
- Top: a large vase, right; a stack of three books, left.
- Second: a run of books, left; a small plant, right.
- Third: framed art centered with a short stack in front of one corner.
- Fourth: a stack topped with a clock, left; a run of books, right.
- Bottom: two baskets with books between them.
6-shelf bookcase or built-in
- Top: a basket or large vase.
- Second: a run of books with a bookend, a small sculpture.
- Third: art leaning, a plant.
- Fourth: a stack topped with a bowl, a run of books.
- Fifth: a lamp on a stack, a short run.
- Bottom: baskets or lidded boxes.
For more layouts, see how to decorate bookshelves with books and our printable shelf styling cheat sheet.
Bookshelf decor ideas for the living room
- Matching lamps on two middle shelves for evening glow.
- Large framed art on one shelf of each built-in.
- One trailing plant per side.
- A neutral book palette with one accent color repeated.
Candles and lamps near books
Books and paper burn. Use battery candles on shelves, and keep lamp bulbs from touching spines. NFPA reports that in three of every five home candle fires, something that could burn was too close to the candle.
Objects by style
| Style | Objects that suit it |
|---|---|
| Modern | Sculptural ceramics, black frames, a single branch in a tall vase |
| Traditional | Brass candlesticks, framed prints in gold frames, a small clock |
| Farmhouse | Stoneware crocks, wooden bowls, woven baskets. See farmhouse bookshelf decor |
| Coastal | White ceramics, driftwood, a jar of shells, blue-and-white pottery |
| Minimal | One object per shelf, lots of space. See minimalist bookshelf decor |
| Eclectic | Travel finds, colorful pottery, mixed frames, grouped in threes |
Personal objects, used well
Shelves are a good home for things with meaning: a grandparent's clock, a framed travel photo, a child's pottery. Give each a spot of its own, or group a few in threes, so they read as a collection rather than clutter. Leave space around the most important piece. If you're staging to sell, swap personal objects for neutral ones before photos.
Swapping objects by season
Keep the books and larger objects in place, and change two or three small pieces each season: fresh stems in spring, shells in summer, small pumpkins in fall, greenery in winter.
Common mistakes
- Too many small objects. Fewer, larger items look better.
- No books at all. Objects alone can look like a store display.
- Everything centered. Off-center placement looks relaxed.
- No repetition. Repeat colors and materials.
- Heavy items up high. Keep weight low.
How many books do you still need?
A common styling guideline is to let books fill about half of each shelf, with objects and space making up the rest. For a five-shelf, 30-inch bookcase, that's roughly 6 feet of books. Our real hardcover lots run about 10-12 books per foot: $69.99 for 1 foot, $129.99 for 2 feet or $39.99 for a five-book stack, with free shipping to the continental U.S. Use the bookshelf calculator for your shelves.
Books to pair with your objects
Browse every palette in our decorative books shop, or order by length on our books by the foot page.
Frequently asked questions
What can I put on a bookshelf besides books?
Framed art, plants, vases, bowls, baskets, boxes, a lamp, candlesticks, sculptural objects, small mirrors, clocks, trays, collected objects and bookends that double as decor.
How many objects should go on a bookshelf?
One to three groupings per shelf works for most bookcases. Vary it shelf to shelf, and leave some empty space.
What should go on top of a bookshelf?
Something light and large enough to read from across the room: a big basket, a large vase, a leaning piece of art or a pair of lightweight objects. Keep heavy items off the top.
Do I still need books on a decorated bookshelf?
Usually yes. Books give shelves structure and act as risers for objects. A common styling guideline is to let books fill about half of each shelf, with objects and space making up the rest.
