How to Store Books: Creative Displays + Storage Solutions
Showcase your go-to reads in streamlined style.
Proudly display your reading obsession with these creative book storage ideas for your modern home. Done right, you can create visual interest, stay organized, and make go-to reads easily accessible, without having to think about parting with a single book. Read further to discover how to store books in a way that's both functional and modern, including how to store books without a bookshelf or how to organize books in a way that elevates your aesthetic.
1. Bring in a Modern Bookcase
Store books in modern-style bookcases to enrich your contemporary aesthetic (think: mid-century modern, Scandinavian, industrial, or minimalist). Select a ladder-inspired bookcase with an étagère silhouette and a streamlined mid-century modern look like the Burnes ladder bookcase pictured above. Or opt for a barely-there bookshelf with a singular back panel and floating shelves to make books pop.
Pro Tip:
Find the right modern bookshelf for your aesthetic on AllModern by filtering under the "Style" tab on the left-hand side of the product page (filter for Scandinavian, minimalist, industrial, mid-century modern, and more).
2. Think Vertically
Wondering how to store books in a small space? Make the most of vertical space by hanging wall shelves to house your book collection. Install wall shelves above your living room sofa or bedroom headboard for quick access whenever you want to catch up on reading. Add to your aesthetic with a strategically placed art print and a houseplant to spill over the edge.
Pro Tip:
Don't have a corner to lean books against? Anchor stacks of books with bookends for a sturdy solution and fun look.
Discover how to store books in a small space and break up a studio apartment or open-concept living room at the same time with this book storage idea. Choose a large bookshelf that doubles as a room divider. Fill up each shelf with books and decorative items to create a makeshift wall. Position your bookshelf behind the sofa or next to your bed for the best results.
No shelves? No problem. Store books without shelves by stacking them along a bare wall for an artsy, bohemian vibe. Organize stacks by genre, color, or size for functionality or aesthetic purposes. Repurpose older books by converting them into fun plant stands for your houseplant collection. Set off the look with a small bohemian area rug that highlights your book collection.
Create refreshing contrast when you change up the book layout on your bookshelf. Start by stacking books in a horizontal configuration with either the fore edge, tail, or spine laying flat. Then, lean a few books at a vertical angle (spine facing outward) up against the horizontal stacks. This creates a fun, layered look that's anything but traditional.
Pro Tip:
Break up the look between horizontal and vertical stacks by going with a geometric bookcase with square compartments instead of shelves.
Exude creativity with unconventional book storage methods that add to your aesthetic. Use a bare bench in your bedroom, living room, or entry hall to display books instead of a bookshelf. Introduce visual triangles by using larger books for the base and stacking smaller books on top. Maximize seating space by lining books underneath the bench for a makeshift bookcase or stack them in decorative baskets.
Pro Tip:
Opt for a storage bench, which will give you even more storage room, for another creative way to display books in small spaces.
Bring new life to your bookcase with these creative ways to display books. Juxtapose stacks of books with abstract forms and contemporary decor to curate a modern bookshelf. Think: smooth marble sculptures, decorative bowls in sleek black ceramic, and cylindrical vases with bright pops of color or moody glass stains for the best results. Create visual separation between books and decor with a bookcase with a cube configuration.
When deciding how to store books in your home, don't forget about the mantle above the fireplace. Bring visual dimension to your living room mantle with a colorful array of books in shades that match your living room aesthetic. Complement deep orange and moody blue spines with an amber-colored vase, dried florals, and cool blue abstract artwork to create a refreshing ambience that takes an otherwise neutral mantlepiece to the next level.
Craft an artful design out of your book organization when you choose an asymmetrical layout on your bookshelf. Achieve the look by lining books in clumps. Start by lining or stacking books on the right side of a modern bookshelf. Then place a group of books on the opposite side on the next shelf up and so on. This creates a diagonal pattern and a refreshing design, while also allowing you to fill out a large bookshelf even if you're still building up your collection. Balance asymmetry with decorative objects, vases, or small artwork in blank shelf space.
Store books with potted houseplants for an earthy, boho look. Take modern-style bookcases to the next level with a potted houseplant that doubles as a bookend or allow a golden pothos to spill over the top of lower shelves to create a leafy curtain from which to retrieve your latest reads. This way, you can showcase your book collection and your houseplant obsessions at the same time.
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