Bookshelf Wealth Is the Ultimate Design Trend for Readers

Bookshelf wealth is all about surrounding yourself with the books that you love.

There’s a trend sweeping social media called "bookshelf wealth," and, fair warning, the images are bound to give you home envy if you love books, count reading as your main hobby, or are simply susceptible to cozy rooms that invite you in to nap. Some trends, like Parisian décor and quiet luxury, have real staying power, and this one has all the hallmarks. We spoke with designers about what bookshelf wealth is and how to get the look in your home.

Meet Our Expert

• Bethany Adams, Louisville-based interior designer and principal at Bethany Adams Interiors

• Kelley Proxmire, interior decorator in the Washington, D.C., area

Related: How to Organize Your Books in a Way That Works for You

What Is Bookshelf Wealth?

If you’ve been oohing and aahing over perfectly curated bookshelves for years now, you may wonder how this trend is any different, but it is. Bookshelf wealth is less about styling curios and more about surrounding yourself with the books and the art that you love—and creating an enchanting space in your home to enjoy them.

"I definitely see the connection between quiet luxury and bookshelf wealth," says Bethany Adams, Louisville-based interior designer and principal at Bethany Adams Interiors. Both are related to the old money look, she says.

To have authentic bookshelf wealth, you almost need to have been a lifelong reader and art collector—or be lucky enough to have inherited a collection. "The general idea is that one doesn’t even have to try very hard when one’s possessions are quality items," says Adams. "They just look fabulous. As a designer, I breathe a sigh of relief when a client has boxes of books just waiting for a home."

Incorporating Bookshelf Wealth Into Your Décor

At its most basic, bookshelf wealth requires two things: Books and bookshelves. While usability and practicality are key components of the trend, there are some specific elements that tie it all together, taking it from cluttered books to a gorgeously lived-in statement.

Set the Scene

The finer details of your room enhance the visual impact of bookshelf wealth. Paneled walls, arched entries, and beautiful windows all help to create the setting where you will store, display, and enjoy your collections.

Built-in bookshelves are a must. "Bookcases can serve a lot of useful purposes besides the storage of books," says Adams. "In many cases, I’ll use the built-ins to conceal pocket doors to close off rooms that would otherwise be open," says Adams.

And there are so many ways to make yours just a bit extra. "Consider wallpapering or painting the backs of the bookshelves," says Kelley Proxmire, an interior decorator in the Washington, D.C., area who specializes in the "tailored traditional" style. "Or adding a detail on the front of the shelves, such as brass strips or small leather flat trims, like the ones that Samuel & Son offer. Brooke Astor's iconic red library had brass detail on the shelves."

"And to make the shelves a feature of the room, I’ll add library lighting and a ladder," says Adams.

Focus on Books

These aren’t books purchased in bulk and displayed with color-coded covers or with spines to the wall. You will want to organize the books in the most practical and functional way.

"It's important to understand how the clients want access to their book collection," says Proxmire. "Do they want them sorted and displayed by subject matter? Or organized by genre or by author?"

Any method that makes the books easily retrievable, whether you’re selecting from your to-be-read shelf or trying to locate an old favorite for re-reading, is right. Trust that row upon row of multicolor book spines will have a beauty all its own.

"Floor-to-ceiling shelves lined with well-read books become a color story and pattern and add quite a lot of interest to a quiet room; much less busy somehow than shelves that are empty except for random tchotchkes," says Adams.

And if some of the books are too tall to fit the shelf, no problem. Simply pile them on their sides. Bookshelf wealth is a lived-in look.

Related: How to Clean Books the Right Way, From Dusting Your Collection to Treating Cover Stains

Include Some Art

Rooms that nail the trend incorporate works of art. Small sculptures make great bookends to keep a half-row from toppling over. Large framed sketches and paintings line the walls, while smaller framed works nestle among the books. "Hanging artwork on the outside of bookcases is another way to showcase favorite small pieces," says Proxmire.

Don't Forget Seating

What’s a good reading room without an inviting place to recline? Whether it’s a cozy chair or two, a tufted sofa, or a cushioned window seat, beguiling places to sit or lie down add to the ambiance of bookshelf wealth. And don’t forget some throw pillows and to drape a wooly throw within arm’s reach.

Add Lighting

You’ll want to layer in several types of lighting in a good reading room, from a statement ceiling fixture to recessed lights to wall sconces to low table lamps. "Lighting installed at the top of bookcases is an attractive detail, while also practical," says Proxmire. "And I like to include a small lamp with a little shade on one of the shelves. This detail definitely provides a cozy effect."

Finish With Décor

The rest of the decor will depend on your personal style, whether you’re a minimalist or a maximalist. "Consider placing some furniture in front of the bookcase, such as a stool, bench, or chair; even a table will work in some cases, especially if placed perpendicular to the bookcase," says Proxmire. "Collections of craft ceramics, mementos from vacations, and framed photographs of family and friends can also personalize the space."

Related: 20 Shelf Décor Ideas That Turn Your Objects Into Wall Art

Read the original article on Martha Stewart.