According to a CNIL study published in March 2019, the French read an average of 17 books per year. All those novels need a place to be stored, and a bookcase happily takes care of that. Typically placed in the bedroom, living room, or dining room, it’s the favorite piece of furniture for book and literature lovers. Its decorative appeal is immense, and any arrangement is possible to add a touch of sophistication and elegance to your living spaces.
How do you choose the right bookcase? Some people decide to buy ready-made furniture that they shop for in stores or online. Others invest in custom-made pieces to arrange their shelves on the walls of their home however they like. While the classic wooden bookcase continues to charm with its elegant, literary aesthetic, colorful bookcases are at the forefront of current trends. Whether you’ve fallen in love with a manufacturer’s design or want to try your hand at painting, you’ll find some tried-and-true color ideas here.
A colorful bookcase—a really great idea for the living room
If literature had a color, it would most certainly be that of a library! The spines of books are often white, especially when it comes to novels—paperbacks, of course. To make them stand out, you need to choose the right color. In home decor magazines and on social media, the trend is toward bold, extravagant colors on living room walls.
The elegant bookshelves are painted red, yellow, and green, giving organization enthusiasts the chance to have fun arranging their literary works. Minimalist white and the ultra-modern all-black look can add their monochromatic appeal to the living room’s aesthetic, even though they aren’t colors in the traditional sense.
Once the bookcase has been assembled, installed, and painted—whether entirely or with an openwork back panel in the same color as the wall—the color scheme should remain consistent with the room’s overall decor.
A powder-pink library with poetic touches
Powder pink is a color with very strong feminine connotations, but it would be a shame to limit it to that characteristic alone. Among light shades, this warm hue embodies the sweetness of life and a certain kind of poetry. It invites daydreaming, relaxation, and reading.
Surrounded by refined and delicate materials in the living room décor—suede or nubuck armchairs, silk or linen curtains—it blends seamlessly with both the classic white of Haussmann-style buildings and the color-block trend of contemporary design. A vibrant blue on one wall boldly and elegantly brings the living room to life.
A burgundy-red bookcase for an Art Deco vibe
Bringing the Art Deco style into your home is a breeze with a burgundy, carmine, or wine-red bookcase in your living room. On the shelves,the art of shelving reigns supreme. It’s the realm of showcasing books and objects in small, well-designed niches, much like a cabinet of curiosities. Burgundy invites extravagance and an abundance of luxurious materials to reflect sensuality and refinement.
A velvet sofa, brass accents, and blown-glass light fixtures lend this unique literary setting a lovely touch of elegance.
A midnight-blue bookcase to hide her TV
In interior design, blue is a timeless, elegant color that isn’t flashy. By using a dark shade—such as midnight blue or an intense petrol blue—the living room takes on a chic and inviting feel. A great idea is to extend the bookshelf across an entire wall and paint the entire space the same shade. You can then incorporate a desk or a TV nook into the space. When the TV is off, its color blends perfectly into the backdrop of books surrounding it.
Other shades of blue—such as gray-blue, celadon blue, and sky blue—are also very trendy in interior design. They pair particularly well with terracotta tiles or untreated wood flooring in classic interiors.
A teal bookcase for a 100% tropical look
All shades of green evoke nature, but teal has that little something extra that takes you to the ends of the earth. This exotic color, sometimes called peacock blue, straddles the line between green and blue. Just like turquoise, it evokes the crystal-clear waters of lagoons and the tropical jungle. Easier to coordinate when finished in a matte sheen, this intense and original paint is perfectly suited to the atmosphere of a living room.
The lush, green atmosphere is a perfect fit for the library, where books on travel and accessories from around the world adorn the shelves. A brightly colored armchair adds a pop of color to this cozy setting, while the choice of wooden and rattan furniture brings a very pleasant and refreshing touch of light.
A palette of colors for an architectural library
White walls can sometimes be depressing, but they can be very interesting when it comes to creating a modular bookshelf in a monochromatic color scheme. Each compartment has its own shade, which is balanced by the white openwork background to prevent the colors from becoming too saturated. No matter which color you choose, its countless shades create a complex and very modern design. This type of furniture is ideal for a contemporary-style house or apartment.
In the living and dining areas, designer or artistic furniture is popular. On the bookshelves, it’s easy to imagine great works of literature and classic authors. Flaubert, Proust, Balzac, and perhaps a few novels by Michel Houellebecq and Despentes to spice things up.
Whether purchased ready-made or custom-built, a bookcase lends itself to all kinds of color whims. The color chosen for the living room depends on personal taste and the desired effect in the home. Another factor weighs heavily in the decision: the choice of paint. It’s important to opt for a high-quality finish—ideally, a natural, non-toxic paint—to avoid VOCs(Volatile Organic Compounds) in your home.
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