Style Your Bookshelves Like a Pro

Lighting is important. I like downlighting the backs of shelves to remove shadows and uplighting the fronts to illuminate the spines of the books and objects placed alongside them.

Sometimes there is a spot on a shelf for a small lamp. Sconces on the outside of open bookshelves are lovely with opaque, half-round shades. That way, light is directed just at the shelves and does not interfere with lighting in the rest of the room.