Styling: 11 Creative Ways to Display Your Books

Unleash your inner bookworm and showcase your tomes in style

10 November 2014
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A favourite prop for us stylists on photoshoots (seriously, what will we do if e-readers take over the world?), the humble book adds a homely touch to any scheme. Here are some creative ways to house your collection.
Eclectic Bedroom by House of Locations
House of Locations
Turn them into furniture
A neat stack of books makes for a quirky, impromptu bedside table. Look out for pretty vintage books for a pulled-together look, and top with an industrial-style lamp to fit in with the eclectic feel.

Browse 9 quirky ideas for bedside storage
Contemporary Kitchen by Roundhouse
Roundhouse
Sneak them in all over
If you’re a book lover, make space for your beloved reads wherever you can. A short, slim alcove or recess might just be big enough to hold a set of paperbacks and can help soften the look of the room they’re in, too.

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Transitional Kids by User
User
Embrace a novel idea
Turn your tomes into quirky statement pieces with the aid of some simple DIY. Fix a bracket to your wall then, taking a hardback book to form the base, stick a piece of Velcro to the inside of its back cover and underneath the horizontal section of the wall bracket. Stick together, allowing the rest of the book to cover the top of the bracket, then stack with enough books to hide the bracket altogether.
Industrial Living Room by Domus Nova
Domus Nova
Fashion tidy piles
Imagine this room without these neat stacks of coffee table books: it would feel a little stark, right? If you have the surface space (and book collection), go graphic and cover your tabletop. Keep the look structured to avoid things feeling cluttered.
Contemporary Dining Room by Increation
Increation
Switch out the spines
For a subtle look with a soft colour palette, turn all your books so the spine faces inwards, leaving just the page edges on show. This can be particularly effective for a collection of vintage books, where the discoloured pages can add texture through their various tones, and would work well in a neutral room scheme. Just don’t forget which order you’ve put them in!
Victorian Living Room by Brian O'Tuama Architects
Brian O'Tuama Architects
Mix horizontals and verticals
Play with your book arrangements to find the best configuration for your space. Mix horizontally stacked books with classically positioned uprights for an informal look. This is also a great cheat for any oversized books that are too tall to stand upright on shelves.
Eclectic Games Room by Hudson Interior Design
Hudson Interior Design
Colour-code your covers
Arranging your books by colour can make a huge impact, especially if you have lots of them, as here. A sectional unit like this works well for creating specific blocks of colour, or go for a graduating rainbow effect along a long, open shelf. Set aside an evening for this simple makeover fix.
Eclectic Bedroom by Lauren Bryan Knight
Lauren Bryan Knight
Stack in style
Yes, it might not be that easy to get to that must-read at the bottom, but if you’re short on furniture or living somewhere short-term, this casually stacked pile of books certainly makes a statement. The on-trend rug keeps the overall look chic rather than shabby.
Modern Bedroom Modern Bedroom
Divide and conquer
Books can make for brilliant room dividers in an open-plan or studio space. Here, an open-backed shelving unit filled with tomes offers privacy while allowing light to flow through.

TELL US…
How have you displayed your books? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Comment13
Comments (13)
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Lori McGhee
The USA has had a huge influence worldwide culturally and not always for the better in my humble opinion so it is really nice to hear about your grandmothers memories. I am in Scotland and a lot of words carry a Germanic influence especially Gaelic words even the tone in which central western Scottish natives speak has a slight guttural quality although that could be related to the Vikings and Gaul's. The world is constantly changing and it is only natural language would become less provincial.
   
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Audrey
Love the chairs & pouff.... But who has time for colour-coding books!!!
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Sue Webb
My books are arranged by colour and yes I do use them and I can find them. I see no reason why something that's not used daily shouldn't be used in a more decorative way.
   

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