A shelving unit can hold books and, at the same time, say a great deal about the people who live in a home.
The secret lies in finding a balance between what you need to store, what you want to display and the space you choose to leave free.
Discover how to combine books, vases, boxes, photographs and special objects to create a functional, balanced shelving unit with personality.
Some shelving units seem to have been arranged effortlessly.
Books coexist with objects, there are different heights, some shelves have more items than others and, even so, everything seems to be in the right place.
Then there is that shelving unit we try to decorate at home.
We place a vase. It seems too lonely. We add a figurine. Then books, a box, a frame and one more object to fill the empty space.
And suddenly, there is too much to look at.
Decorating a shelving unit does not mean filling every shelf. It means creating a relationship between what is full and what is left free, between useful and decorative objects and, above all, between the home and the person who lives in it.
Why a good shelving unit should not look like a shop window. It should look like yours.
In this guide you will find
- What to do before you start
- How to decorate a shelving unit with books
- What to put on a shelving unit
- How to work with different heights
- Why you should leave empty spaces
- How to choose the colours
- How to distribute the decoration across the shelves
- Ideas for different types of shelving units
- Mistakes to avoid
- Final checklist
1. Before decorating the shelving unit, remove everything
It may seem contradictory, but one of the simplest ways to improve a shelving unit is to start by emptying it.
When objects have already been distributed across the shelves, we tend to move them from one side to the other without questioning whether they all really need to remain there.
With the shelving unit empty, you can look again at the proportions and the available space.
If you are still choosing the unit, start by thinking about the available space, what you need to store and the balance between storage and display. Discover the Gato Preto shelving units and choose a solution that suits the room and the way you intend to use it.
Set aside what you want to put back
Create small groups before you start:
- books;
- jugs and vases;
- figurines and decorative objects;
- frames and photographs;
- boxes;
- personal items or meaningful pieces;
- items that really need to remain accessible.
This exercise helps you understand how much you have and prevents you from decorating shelf by shelf without an overview of the whole.
First choose what deserves to remain visible
Not everything that fits on a shelf needs to be displayed.
Some objects can be stored inside boxes or in another piece of furniture. Others may simply work better in another room.
The shelf does not need to display everything you own.
Choosing what to leave out is just as important as choosing what you put on the shelves.
2. How to decorate a shelf with books
Books are one of the most natural ways to give a shelf rhythm and personality.
And they do not all need to be aligned in the same way.
Alternate vertical and horizontal books
Laying some books flat helps break up a succession of vertical lines and creates small surfaces where you can place an object.
A small vase, a figure, or a special piece can stand out on top of a stack of books.
Do not organise solely by colour
A colour-based arrangement can create visual impact, but it is not mandatory—especially on a shelf you actually use for reading.
You can organise them by author, subject, or use, and create cohesion through the objects you place among the books.
Let the books be part of the decoration
Covers, spines, and different formats already introduce colour and texture.
You do not need to hide this variety to create a beautiful arrangement.
💡 Try this: place some books vertically, break them up with an object, and use a small horizontal stack in another area. This simple change alone creates different heights and a less rigid rhythm.
3. What to put on a shelf besides books?
This is where the shelf truly begins to tell a story.
There is no mandatory list of objects, but some elements are particularly easy to combine.
| Element | What it adds | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Jugs and vases | Height, shape, and colour | Alone or near books and shorter objects |
| Figures | Personality | As small points of interest among functional elements |
| Decorative boxes | Visually integrated storage | For storing small objects that do not need to be on display |
| Frames | Memory and identity | Resting at the back or integrated among the books |
| Plants | Texture and an organic element | In areas with conditions suitable for the chosen species |
| Personal objects | History | Travel, heirlooms, art, or meaningful pieces |
Jugs and vases
They are particularly useful for introducing height and rounded shapes among the more geometric lines of the books and the shelves themselves.
A statement piece can stand on its own. It does not necessarily need flowers or other objects around it.
Figures and sculptural objects
An unexpected figure can transform a very functional shelf into a focal point full of personality.
Instead of scattering many small figures around, choose a few that are large enough to be noticed.
Boxes that also decorate
Controllers, cables, small accessories, or occasional objects do not need to remain visible.
A decorative box allows you to integrate storage into the composition without turning the bookcase into a purely functional space.
The book-shaped boxes, for example, can fit in among real books and hide small objects.
4. Combine different heights
Imagine a shelf with five objects exactly the same height.
Even if each one is beautiful individually, the whole tends to look rigid.
Varying heights helps the eye move across the composition.
Start with the largest element
It could be a vase, a frame, a group of books, or a figurine.
Start by placing the elements with the strongest presence and use the others to create relationships around them.
Use books to create height
A horizontal stack can raise a small object that would get lost if placed directly on the shelf.
Do not create a perfect staircase
The composition does not need to grow neatly from the smallest object to the largest.
Some irregularity makes the result feel more natural.
💡 Step away from the bookcase. After arranging two or three shelves, take a few steps back. It is much easier to notice heights, visual weight, and imbalances when you view the entire piece of furniture.
5. Leave empty space between objects
Empty space is not a part of the bookcase that was left undecorated.
It is also part of the composition.
When every inch is filled, it becomes harder to perceive the objects individually.
A special vase has more presence when it has some space around it. A photograph draws more attention when it is not competing with six other elements.
Not every shelf needs the same quantity
One can have several books. Another just one piece. Another can combine three elements.
That difference creates rhythm.
Resist the urge to fill
If an area looks empty, wait before adding another object.
Look at the bookcase from a distance and see whether that space is precisely allowing the rest to breathe.
A balanced bookcase is not a full bookcase.
The goal is not to eliminate all empty spaces, but to consciously decide where you want to draw attention and where you want to let the eye rest.
6. How to choose colors to decorate a bookcase
You do not need to limit the entire bookcase to two or three colors.
But when there are many different books and objects, repeating some shades helps create a connection between shelves.
Look at the bookcase itself first
Light wood, dark wood, black, white, or metal create different backgrounds and influence how the colors of objects are perceived.
Repeat small color notes
A blue vase on one shelf can relate to a blue book spine or object elsewhere.
It does not need to be exactly the same shade.
Use neutrals to create pauses
If there are already many colorful books, ceramics, glass, or objects in more neutral tones can help balance the arrangement.
Do not hide important objects because they “do not match”
A travel souvenir, a photograph, or an inherited object does not need to follow a perfect color palette to deserve a place.
A home with personality is also built through these exceptions.
7. How to distribute decor across the various shelves
A common mistake is trying to make each shelf work in isolation.
But the bookcase is seen as a whole.
What happens on the top shelf influences the one below.
Avoid placing all the large objects on the same side
If all the pieces with greater visual weight are on the left, the bookcase may look unbalanced.
Distribute them across different areas.
Alternate arrangements
If one shelf has many books, the next can be lighter.
If you placed a tall vase on the right, you can introduce another prominent element on the left a few shelves below.
Do not copy the same formula on every shelf
Three books plus a vase on each shelf creates repetition.
Try varying:
- an area consisting mostly of books;
- a single piece;
- a composition of two or three objects;
- a decorative box;
- a photograph or artwork leaning against the back.
Use the back of the bookcase
Not every object needs to be aligned at the front.
A frame or picture can sit farther back while a small object occupies the foreground.
This layering adds depth without requiring more pieces.
8. Ideas for decorating different types of bookcases
A book-filled bookcase
If the books are actually used, their function should remain the priority.
You do not need to remove half of your library to create a decorative arrangement.
Try varying the orientation of a few books and reserving small areas for special objects.
A bookcase with books and decor
Here, you have more freedom to alternate groups.
Start by distributing the larger books and objects, and only fill in areas where you feel balance is missing.
A primarily decorative bookcase
With fewer storage needs, empty space becomes even more important.
Choose fewer objects and give them enough space to make an impact.
A bookcase in the home office
Documents and materials used regularly should remain accessible.
Boxes can help reduce visual clutter, while a few decorative pieces bring the workspace closer to the rest of the home.
See also How to create a functional, comfortable, and inspiring home office.
A bookcase in the living room
Here, you can take on a much more expressive role.
Books, art, personal items, and decorative pieces help transform a storage unit into a representation of the home.
If you are working on the room as a whole, also see How to decorate a living room.
9. What if you have many objects you want to display?
You do not need to choose between them permanently.
A simple solution is to rotate a few pieces throughout the year.
Store some of the décor and change small elements whenever you feel like refreshing your home.
A vase that was on the bookcase can be moved to the table. A figurine can be moved to the sideboard. Other objects can return a few months later.
This rotation has two advantages: it reduces the feeling of excess and allows you to refresh the room visually without needing to replace all the décor.
It is also a good way to adapt your home to the different seasons without turning every change into a renovation.
10. Mistakes to avoid when decorating a bookcase
Filling every shelf
Free space helps highlight what you chose to display.
Buying objects just to fill spaces
A bookcase gains more character when it brings together pieces you genuinely like, rather than objects chosen simply because something was missing from that corner.
Using only small objects
Too many small pieces can create visual noise. Mix scales and introduce some elements with greater presence.
Arranging all the books in the same way
Alternating between vertical and horizontal creates rhythm and new surfaces for small objects.
Decorating each shelf separately
Always look at the bookcase as a whole.
Repeating exactly the same composition
An overly rigid formula can make the bookcase look like a commercial display.
Hiding all personality in the name of consistency
Photographs, secondhand books, keepsakes, and objects from different eras may be precisely what makes the composition interesting.
11. Checklist: how to decorate a bookcase step by step
Before you start
- Remove the objects from the bookcase.
- Separate books, decorative items, and functional objects.
- Choose what you really want to leave visible.
- Consider the size and number of shelves.
When creating the composition
- Start with the larger books and objects.
- Alternate vertical and horizontal books.
- Distribute the larger pieces throughout the bookcase.
- Combine different heights.
- Create some overlap between the background and foreground.
- Repeat some colors or materials without making everything look the same.
- Leave some empty space.
Before finishing
- Step back and look at the entire bookcase.
- See whether one side seems visually heavier.
- Remove one or two objects if there is too much visual noise.
- Confirm that what you use remains accessible.
- Leave room to add new stories in the future.
Frequently asked questions about decorating shelving units
What should I put on a living-room shelving unit?
You can combine books, jugs, vases, figurines, frames, decorative boxes and personal objects. Choose fewer meaningful elements instead of trying to fill every shelf.
How do I decorate a shelving unit without making it look too crowded?
Leave some areas free, alternate fuller shelves with simpler ones and avoid using only small objects. Viewing the shelving unit from a distance helps you notice when there is too much.
How many objects should I place on each shelf?
There is no right number. The size of the shelf and the scale of the objects are more important. A large piece can work on its own, while small objects may work better grouped together.
Do all the shelves need to be decorated in the same way?
No. The variation between books, objects, empty spaces and different heights is precisely what helps create a more natural composition.
How do I organise books and décor on the same shelving unit?
Start with the books you use, alternating some vertical and horizontal groups. Then introduce objects in the gaps, on small stacks or in areas with enough space for them to stand out.
Do the colours of the objects have to match?
They don’t need to match. Repeating some colours or materials helps create continuity, but different pieces and personal objects can coexist without following a strict palette.
Can I put photographs on a shelving unit?
Yes. Photographs and frames are a simple way to make a shelving unit more personal. They can be placed at the back of the shelf and combined with books or smaller objects.
A shelving unit is never finished. It is built over time.
Perhaps this is the best rule for decorating a shelving unit: don’t try to finish it in a single day.
Leave room for the next book you love, for a photograph that doesn’t exist yet, for a piece found on a trip or for that Gato Preto object that caught your eye one day and ended up staying for years.
A shelving unit that is too perfect can be beautiful.
But a shelving unit that mixes read books, chosen objects, memories and pieces from different periods can do something more interesting: tell a story.
And that story doesn’t need to follow a trend or look like the shelving unit in someone else’s home.
It only needs to look like yours.
Start with the right shelving unit, then give it your own story, with books, objects and pieces that make sense in your home.
Discover shelving units →
