The Easy Way to Style a Farmhouse Bookshelf

The very first area in our farmhouse living room to get styled was this bookshelf. Now, this bookshelf is not necessarily “farmhouse,” but we’re pulling in my some farmhouse elements along with lots of personal treasures to show you some easy ways to style farmhouse bookshelves so that they look neat and really showcase the things you want others to see when they come into your home!

Luke actually built the bookcase that is currently in our living room. It’s been used as part of an entertainment center, and most recently as just a bookshelf. In our past homes, it was always cluttered because it was literally one of the only bookshelves in our home. I love books, so we have many. Now that we actually have a home library, I’m able to use the bookshelf to show off some of our favorite items.

How To Style Open Shelves in the Living Room

My biggest tip for styling open shelving is to not crowd your space. If your shelves are crowded, anything you want to display will be lost in the clutter.

Avoid clutter and choose only a few items that you want to display.
Give the items breathing room. Don’t fill your shelf end to end.
If displaying pictures, place the taller items in the back, and the shorter items in the front.
Stick to a color palette. My bookshelf decor is mostly whites and blues with pops of green and a bit of black and gold for interest.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match styles. It’s ok to display your antiques among some modern decor.
When displaying books, group like colors together. Don’t be afraid to turn books on their sides and arrange in a way that looks good to you.

How To Arrange Bookshelves

If you want to make a bookshelf look pretty, stick with the tips above. Display beloved items so that they stand out and are not lost among clutter. Don’t be afraid to turn books on their sides, either. I often use books in this way. I’ll turn one on its side and place a piece of decor on top. It brings interest to the shelf.

To make your bookshelf look neat, arrange your books in an attractive way. If you’re using your bookshelf to actually display books, I recommend grouping books by color. I’ve done this in my library with my National Geographic books, and I think it looks gorgeous!

Farmhouse Bookshelf Decor Ideas

If you’re styling a farmhouse bookshelf, you may want to stick to more neutral decor. I chose a lot of whites by displaying my small milk glass collection, my white wedding cake topper, and my super cute antique farmhouse jar. I’ve also displayed a couple of old books.

You may also want to display some greenery on your shelves. If you can use live plants in the space, go for it. I’m a big fan of drapey ivy plants on bookshelves. In my case, I needed to use fake greenery because there are no windows near my bookshelf.

I chose a lovely boxwood plant and a drapey fern. Fake succulents often look neat as farmhouse shelf decor in the living room, too.

Farmhouse Bookshelf Ideas

If you don’t have anyone handy to build you a bookshelf or a book case, you can always purchase a farmhouse bookshelf with a farmhouse theme. Whether you’re going for modern farmhouse or rustic farmhouse, there are options for you!