If your bookcases only have books on them, you're missing an opportunity to elevate the aesthetic of the room. Add some decor accents like the ones we've showcased here. Some decor accents can even be functional. A clock will help you keep track of the time; decorative storage boxes can hold remotes, photos, or small collectibles; and if you use live plants, they will help filter the air in the room.
Many people just don't know where to begin, so I created a separate post with illustrated instructions on how to style a bookcase. You may want to read that first and see what you may already have in your home that you can start with. Then purchase some of the items below to fill in any empty spaces.
I've stuck with a neutral color palette with the selections I've chosen for this post, with black for contrast. These specific items would be perfect for a white or beige bookcase. But if you have a black bookcase, you'll want to swap out the black items for ones in lighter colors. Fortunately, many of the specific items here are available in other colors.
I really love medallions on stands like the black one below, and they are specifically meant for bookcases, mantles, and console tables. They are not ideal for coffee tables or dining tables because they have a very define front side. The back side isn't usually much to look at, so it is placed facing the wall or the back of the bookcase.
The boxes below are an example of functional decor. These would be great for storing smaller items just as the remotes for the flameless candles I've featured further down on this page. This style also comes in a set of three, and there are also many other styles and colors to choose from.
The photo being generate here makes this sculpture look huge, but it's actually about ten inches high, which is the perfect height for most bookcases.
Of course you'll want some plants for your bookcases shelves. I'm a home stager and I always use faux plants when staging houses to sell, but I also prefer to use faux plants in my bookcases at home, because I worry when live plants are watered that they may overflow and damage the wooden shelves. But if you're better at gauging water levels than I am, live plants are better for the home since they filter the air and create more oxygen in your home. You should have enough plants to place them in a zig zag pattern like I've illustrated in my How to Style a Bookcase post.
It wouldn't be a bookcase without books. If you're not an avid reader and don't have a large collection of books, you can purchase some decorative books like these shown below. Be sure to stick with the color palette you've chosen for the rest of your decor accents, which should be consistent with the color palette of the rest of the room. Alternatively, you can visit your local thrift stores and purchase hardcover books with covers in your color palette.
How great is this rustic wooden bowl I discovered! They put nuts in it and they're calling it a candy dish, but I think it would look best with nothing in it placed on a shelf by itself or on top of a stack of large books.
I use a lot of orbs and sphere like this in my staging business. They are so versatile. Again, if you have a black or darker bookcase, there are other colors to choose from. You could get one in all gold or silver.
Rustic vases have been trending for quite awhile now and don't seem to be going away any time soon. Don't be afraid to use multiple vases in varying sizes to style your bookcase.
Vintage clocks seem to be timeless (was that a pun?). This one definitely fits in with the modern organic theme I've thrown together here with the selections I've chosen.
Hopefully, it's obvious that you can't use real candles on bookcases. The heat is too close the to shelf above the candle, which is a fire hazard. At a minimum, you'll get a soot ring under the shelf over the candle. But this doesn't mean you can't use candles as decor on your bookcase. Just be sure to use flameless candles. They make some really great ones these days that flicker like a real flame. You can get the in pillar, taper, tealights, and even 3-wick candles. I've selected a few style to feature below.
