Book lovers love to showcase their books, and there is no better way to do this than to shine a light on your favorite novels with stunning lighting. Adding the right lighting turns anything from a single bookshelf to a full library into a visually appealing display. Lighting not only showcases your collection of books but also elevates the entire ambiance of the room.
Before you start looking at the right lighting for your bookshelf, take a look at some of these stunning ideas and turn any humble bookshelf into the envy of everyone in your neighborhood.
1. Shine The Spotlights On Your Favorites
Spotlights are an easy way to show off any bookshelf that you choose to highlight in your home. Most are also incredibly simple to install. You can place a few spotlights directly above a bookshelf or you can add a single spotlight above each shelf. If you want to be super creative you can also add spotlights on the sides of each shelf or nook. Most spotlights are available in multi-packs so you can light up entire bookshelves with ease, and some are also battery-powered, making them extra easy to install.
2. Hidden In Plain Sight Recessed Lights
Recessed lights give you subtle lighting that still looks quite dramatic. This is a very modern look that allows you to shine a light on your favorite books without having an obvious fixture. You’ll also love the fact that this type of lighting also takes up less space as the fixture is generally installed flush to the ceiling or wall. You can have these lights installed above the shelves or along the sides. They are also available in different sizes so you can choose a look that is perfect for whatever size bookshelf you have.
3. Highlight With Strip Lights
If you love to get creative with lighting, consider strip lights for your bookshelves. This type of lighting is generally easy to install, and you are only limited to your skills at aligning the strip lights to the shelving. What you’ll really love about strip lights is that they give you so many options when it comes to configuring the layout of this lighting. You can install strip lights along the front of all the shelves in your bookshelf, behind the books, above, or along the perimeter of your bookshelf. Many of these are available with remotes and color control so you can set the scene depending on your mood.
4. Move Into Motion Sensor Lighting
Instead of installing an entirely new electrical line for your bookshelf lighting, consider installing motion sensor lights around your bookshelf. This type of lighting works perfectly whether you have single bookshelves or an entire collection with a library. Best of all, you won’t need to fumble around for a light switch as motion sensor lighting turns on automatically when it senses movement around them and turns off again when there is no more detectable movement.
You can find them in convenient multi-packs so you can install these lights in the entrance to the room as well as along the base of walls, near shelving, and under shelves. If you have family members who are forgetful when it comes to turning off the lights when they leave the room, these lights are a must and may save you a pretty penny when it comes to your power bills.
5. Enhance Your Bookshelves With Rope Lights
Bookshelves don’t need to be boring, and you can really dress yours up with rope lights. You can add rope lights along the shelves in a tight line or drape them for a charming yet very dramatic look. Rope lights allow you to cover the front of every shelf if that’s what you want, or you can have simple lines of light either horizontally or vertically.
For added drama, you can turn your entire library and bookshelf into a light show and have rope lights along the ceiling and walls. Many rope lights are available with a remote that allows you to choose different colors or even select the lights to gradually change colors. This allows you to turn any home library or reading area into a very distinctive area of your home.
6. Under Shelf Lighting Make Books The Stars
Add drama to your bookshelf with under-shelf lighting. This type of lighting allows you to give your bookshelf a stunning contemporary look without being over the top. The lighting is easy to install, and as it can be installed under the shelves, the light shines directly over the books. This is a must for any book lover, and most consider their beloved books collector’s pieces or even friends with stories to tell. You can shine an under-shelf light over each individual shelf or on alternate shelves. Keep it simple or go crazy with these lights.
7. Perfect Picture Lighting For Your Bookshelf
Collecting books takes many years of choosing the right titles and, quite often, giving away the ones that failed to leave a lasting impression. With that in mind, you want to show off the ones that earned a permanent place on your bookshelves.
Picture lights may be perfectly designed for highlighting your favorite pictures and painted works of art, but you can also install these above your most prominent bookshelves and show off the collection of first-edition novels you may have. Picture lights are an exceptional choice for those who have single bookshelves or you can add a couple of picture lights placed strategically along a larger bookshelf. You’re only limited to how much lighting you need and which bookshelves you really want to highlight.
Bookshelf Lighting FAQs
1). How do you make a bookcase look interesting?
While we can all agree that a bookcase should mainly be used to store your favorite books, there is no reason you can’t add other decorations to really make your bookshelf stand out as a stunning focal point in any room. Here are some interesting ways you can turn a simple bookshelf into something spectacular:
Add more than just books – To make your bookshelf look interesting and inviting, add some decorative pieces that are sure to draw the eye. Think of adding a few books on each shelf and then add small but interesting ornaments as well as pictures, photos or even plants. You can even create themes for each shelf. For example, keep travel books on a shelf and place your favorite souvenir next to that collection of books or, if you have a selection of cookbooks, you can add food-themed ornaments. Small plants are also interesting and can bring life to a plain-looking bookshelf.
Play with the books – Look in any library and the books are always stored upright. That may work in a library but for books in the home, you can get a little more creative. Lean books from the left of a shelf on one nook or from the right on another. Also, consider stacking some books horizontally for a whimsical look.
Define the back of the shelves – While the books are always going to be the star of the show on any bookshelf, there is no reason you can’t make the back of the shelving a little more interesting as well. Paint the back of the bookshelf in a contrasting color to the rest of the shelving or even add mirrors at the back to reflect light and make the shelving look bigger and more imposing in the room.
Use RGB lights – Books are a great way to tap into your imagination with the words conjuring images in our minds as we read the stories. It’s easy to imagine all the riotous colors as we read the daring tales in our books so why not add color to the shelving with RGB fairy lights? These are simple to install and quite inconspicuous until you turn them on. Some are even sound reactive so play your favorite tunes during holidays.
2). Should bookcase lights be on the front or back?
There are no hard or fast rules on where to place bookcase lighting. However, some options are better than others. By placing lighting at the back of bookcases, the light shines outward and makes the books look almost mystical. You can also place the lighting at the bottom of the shelves and have the light shine upward. Of course, much of this does depend on personal preferences and the effect you are looking to achieve.
3). What is the best way to light a bookshelf?
The best way to light a bookshelf is to try and keep the lights as out of sight as you possibly can. This means installing lighting at the back of the shelves, along the bottom or even along the top. It’s also best to choose lighting that is small so it’s not too obvious. Also, the type of lighting you use may also depend on the natural light in the room and extra attention will need to be given if the bookshelf is in a darker area of the room.
