Sure, we all know the way it sounds to say that books—which have been round since about 500 BC—are formally again, however hear us out: Barnes & Noble is making a serious transfer in 2025, with plans to open 60 new shops. So if books aren’t essentially making a comeback, the shops that promote which can be, and we would have TikTok to thank.
“For the reason that rise of BookTok throughout the pandemic, bookstores have seen a big surge in recognition, particularly amongst younger folks,” Barnes & Noble shared in an interview with Quick Firm. “Our shops have turn into common social spots, providing an expertise that on-line procuring merely can’t match.”
And it is not simply massive shops—even indie darlings like Books Are Magic in Brooklyn, NY, opened a second location in 2022 following the success of their first.
Photograph by Rocky Luten
For guide lovers, that is nice information. There’s one thing so fantastic about flipping by means of a bodily guide, seeing your progress with every turned web page, and—I hope it is not simply me—utilizing an precise bookmark. However right here’s the dilemma: What do you do with all these books when you’ve reached the again cowl?
I used to donate mine or go them off to mates, however these days, I’ve discovered myself wishing I might attain for a guide I learn a number of years in the past. The difficulty is storage. My small New York residence doesn’t enable for countless stacks of hardcovers. So, I took a deep dive into bookshelf styling. Right here’s what I discovered:
Begin With A Clean Slate
Take all the pieces off your cabinets. Sure, all the pieces. When you’re at it, contemplate beginning a donation pile for these books and random trinkets that in some way ended up calling the shelf dwelling. Mud all the pieces off—books, cabinets, and all. A clear slate makes it simpler to visualise your masterpiece within the making.
Combine Up the Guide Orientation
When placing the books again up, stack some books vertically, others horizontally. This straightforward trick provides dimension to your cabinets and retains them from trying too uniform. Plus, these horizontal stacks? Excellent pedestals on your favourite ornamental objects. There’s actually no proper or fallacious strategy to go about this. Get funky with it.
Add a Contact of Greenery
Nothing breathes life into an area fairly like crops. In case your cabinets get minimal daylight, go for trendy fake florals (like these from our Store). In any other case, a pothos plant is a perfect low-maintenance choice that may gracefully drape throughout your cabinets because it grows. Belief me—I don’t have the greenest thumb, and even I can hold one alive.
Photograph by James Ransom
To Rainbow or Not?
Ah, the age-old debate: Do you have to set up your books by coloration? The reply: It’s fully as much as you. Some designers recommend sticking to 2 or three dominant colours for a cohesive look, whereas others swear by the “work with what you’ve acquired” philosophy. Personally, I’ve 35 books in wildly completely different colours that each one want a house, so aesthetics take a again seat to practicality.
Give Your Knickknacks a House
You realize that TikTok pattern “Sporting vs. Styling an Outfit”? The identical precept applies to bookshelves. Decorate, decorate, decorate. That quirky journey memento you swore you wanted? These sentimental catch-alls your mother gifted you over time? They lastly have a spot. Candlesticks, framed images, and vases additionally make for stylish little particulars to enhance your guide assortment.
So, as bookstores make their triumphant return, let’s have fun by giving our books an area as lovely because the tales they inform.
What’s your favourite guide proper now? (I suppose I might match one other…)
