Bookshelf Archives

Dubbed the first major design trend of 2024, our latest lookbook collects cosy, lived-in interiors that embody the “bookshelf wealth” aesthetic movement taking over social media.

While using books for interior decoration is not a new idea, it has been brought back into focus by a now-viral TikTok video posted in December by San Diego-based interior designer Kailee Blalock.

In the video, Blalock explains that “bookshelf wealth” is not just about creating perfect book displays, but instead about capturing the warmth and homeliness of book collections to curate “a whole home vibe”.

“Bookshelf wealth”, which the Financial Times called this year’s “first major design trend”, suggests pairing bookshelves with mismatched interior patterns, cosy seating areas and layered, loosely organised art pieces to create a tastefully eclectic space for reading.

Despite their contemporary qualities, the projects in this list capture the intimate atmosphere of “bookshelf wealth”, from colourful bookshelves that span an entire room to subtle reading nooks for deeply personal collections.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring spaces punctuated by structural columns, rooms embracing the “unexpected red theory” and playful homes integrating indoor slides.

East Village Apartment, USA, by GRT Architects

A wooden bookcase with sienna-coloured backing panels complements this warm New York apartment renovation by GRT Architects.

The bookcase spans the length of the living room behind patterned, textural furniture pieces and is lined with multicoloured books stacked in different directions against small sculptural objects.

Aiming to preserve the home’s “turn-of-the-century disposition”, GRT Architects concealed a TV behind a light pink panel at the centre of bookcase.

Find out more about East Village Apartment ›

Mayfair home by Child Studio — Photo by Felix Speller

Mayfair home, UK, by Child Studio

London-based Child Studio designed this entertainer’s home in Mayfair with mid-century modern furniture and deep-toned material finishes, aiming to enhance the art deco atmosphere by carving bookshelves into dark mahogany walls.

“We worked closely with the client to create a space that reflected his personality and interests, encompassing art, design, literature and travel,” Child Studio founders Che Huang and Alexy Kos told Dezeen.

“This approach made us think of Saint Laurent’s salon – an eclectic interior where design objects and art pieces from different eras and parts of the world are assembled together, forming a highly personal environment.”

Find out more about the Mayfair home ›

Kelly Wearstler's interiors for Santa Monica Proper Hotel — Photo by The Ingalls and Matthieu Salvaing

Santa Monica Proper Hotel, USA, by Kelly Wearstler

The Santa Monica Proper Hotel by American designer Kelly Wearstler includes reading niches with artwork and furniture by local artists and artisans.

A brimming bookcase flanks low-lying lounges and walls covered by misaligned artwork, with Wearstler explaining that the idea was to connect the original building’s Spanish colonial revival style with the new contemporary building.

“Everything’s connected to somebody that is local in the city,” Wearstler explained. “We’re so lucky to be in Los Angeles, the talent pool here is extraordinary.”

Find out more about Santa Monica Proper Hotel ›

AdH House, Mexico, by Francesc Rifé Studio

Spanish practice Francesc Rifé Studio conceived this moody house in Mexico City with a eucalyptus floor-to-ceiling bookcase to display antique atlases.

The bespoke unit was finished with brass bookstands and embedded LED lighting to complement the tactile and neutral interior palette, capturing the luxurious undertones of “bookshelf wealth”.

Find out more about AdH House ›

Reading nook with white walls and black shelving — Photo by Rafael Soldi

Whidbey Dogtrot, USA, by SHED

A dedicated reading nook punctures this bedroom suite for a compact home in the Pacific Northwest by US studio SHED.

Wrapping the bright white walls, stacked books and mismatched objects line dark metal shelf extrusions that are interrupted by a square window looking out to the surrounding landscape.

Find out more about Whidbey Dogtrot ›

Study bookshelves in Kew Residence by John Wardle Architects in Melbourne, Australia — Photo by Trevor Mein and Sharyn Cairns

Kew Residence, Australia, by John Wardle Architects

Remodelled by John Wardle Architects for the founder’s own Melbourne home, Kew Residence leans into the informal and cocooning atmosphere of “bookshelf wealth” in its wood-clad first-floor study.

Built-in shelves made from Victorian Ash are the focal point of the room and have been densely filled with a collection of ceramic art and books. Next to the shelves, an inset window seat and a slim suspended desk were added, creating a practical and uniform interior.

Find out more about Kew Residence ›

Silver Lake home, USA, by Lovers Unite

As part of renovation works for a 1950s Los Angeles home, California studio Lovers Unite converted an unused balcony into a long, teal-upholstered window seat below a floating bookshelf.

Paired with contrasting embroidered cushions and vintage decor pieces, the book display adds colour, depth and a feeling of occupation to enliven the timber-clad interiors.

Find out more about Silver Lake home ›

St Vincents Place by BE Architecture — Photo by Derek Swalwell

St Vincents Place, Australia, by BE Architecture

Australian studio BE Architecture renovated this Victorian home to highlight the client’s vast art collection, while also rejecting “stark minimalism” and embracing the interior’s existing heritage features.

Large-format books form a centrepiece in the home’s lounge area under transparent coffee table cubes, adding to the home’s eclectic, richly textured and academic character.

Find out more about St Vincents Place ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with indoor slides, colourful home renovations and built around ruins.

Reference

Architecture and interior design firm Onion has designed the second phase of the Sala Samui Chaweng Beach Resort in Koh Samui, Thailand.

As part of the design, they included an outdoor living room and sitting area that both include a bookshelf for plants.

An outdoor living room with a shelving unit designed to house plants.

At night, the plant bookshelves light up, while the living rooms are furnished with outdoor sofas, armchairs, planters, and oversized lamps, the living rooms create comfortable spaces for guests to relax in.

Another design detail of the outdoor living rooms are the pebbles that have been used in place of rugs.

An outdoor sitting room with pebbles and oversized lighting.

Let’s take a look around the rest of the hotel…

The Public Areas

The resort design has a bright white exterior, however, the lobby has been warmed up with the use of wood, and curved wood walls add a sculptural element. The hotel restaurant introduces blue accents and includes a variety of seating, as well as oversized black and white striped pendant lights.

A modern hotel lobby with sculptural wood walls, woven lighting, and round furniture.

A modern hotel lobby with wood walls, woven lighting, and round furniture.

A modern restaurant hotel with glass walls.

A modern hotel restaurant with blue, white, and wood color scheme.

A modern hotel restaurant with a blue and white theme, as well as black and white striped accents.

A modern hotel restaurant with window seat and banquette seating.

The Courtyards

The resort has a variety of courtyards and outdoor spaces including areas with chairs arranged in a circle and surrounded by trees, paths with nearby stairs that lead to the different levels of the resort, a swimming pool with sun chaises, and outdoor king-sized beds nestled between plants and shaded by large trees.

A modern hotel courtyard with outdoor chairs arranged in a circle.

A modern hotel with arches and white stairs with lighting.

A modern hotel with cut-out curved sections.

A resort swimming pool with oversized lights and a wood deck.

An outdoor king size bed for lounging in the sun.

The Spa

The spa area is defined by the use of the colors dark green and pink. The bathtub of the spa room is placed in the garden surrounded by the dark green walls, while the clear glass door brings nature into the treatment room.