Most homes have bookcases, whether they are free-standing or built-ins. I use an old china cabinet I inherited from my mom, as a bookcase. This piece of furniture doesn’t hold as much as a regular bookcase, so I have to get creative when styling the shelves.
Whether you have corner shelves, floating shelves or built ins, it’s a great idea to include decor pieces on a bookshelf whatever the season.
I came across a 4-piece set of small wood decor pieces for fall at Dollarama. They are probably intended for use on a tiered tray, but I had an idea that they could be enhanced to help decorate a bookcase. Style a bookshelf for the fall season according to your space and personal decor preferences.
Here’s how to create cheap bookshelf decor for fall using tiered tray decor and Dollar Tree miniatures. Try these creative ideas, along with other materials, to give your bookshelves personality. They are all beginner-friendly, super easy and inexpensive to make.
You can also read tips on using decorative pieces to style bookshelves at the end of this post.
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The small square sign in this set is 4 inches square, which gives you an idea of the size of the other two wood pieces. There are 30 beads on the beaded garland. You could use it as is, but it’s also the perfect size to use as a hanger on a larger sign, with the removal of the tassels and a few of the beads. I particularly like the green colour in this beaded garland. Similar sets I’ve seen have orange and white beaded garlands.
I set the garland aside to use in other projects.
Project 1: Super Cute Fall Sign
Here are the materials you’ll need for this diy bookshelf idea, with links to recommended products:
- fall wood signs for tiered trays
- harvest miniatures
- 5-inch wood plaque
- small red beads
- fall leaves stickers
Step 1: Attach to Base
The first thing I did was to give this house shaped sign a base. I found these inexpensive 5 1/2-inch oblong wood coasters at Dollar Tree but any small wood base would work. I used Gorilla hot glue to attach the two pieces. You can paint or stain the base first, but I chose to leave mine natural.
Step 2: Add Miniatures
Next, I dug into my stash of miniatures and found a small basket that I could fill with the smallest red beads I could find. The red beads are just the right size to represent apples. I gave them stems using some brown wire I had on hand, but this isn’t strictly necessary.
Step 3: Glue Apple Basket to Base
After filling the little basket with the bead/apples, and gluing each one in place, I cut down a few small leaves to add to them. Then I glued the basket to the base on the left-hand side of the sign.
Step 4: Add Wheelbarrow Figurine
This wheelbarrow filled with pumpkins was also found in my stash of miniatures, which all came from Dollar Tree in a previous year. I added it to the right-hand side of the sign.
Step 5: Add Sunflower Mini
I completed this shelf decoration by adding a sunflower miniature beside the apple basket to help balance everything out.
Project 2: Pumpkin Project
Materials Used and Recommendations:
- laser-cut leaves
- faux wheat stems
- moss
- mini hay bales
- small pumpkins
- small peel and stick letters
- smooth rock
Step 1: Add Laser-Cut Leaf
I started with this pumpkin-shaped wood piece and added a laser-cut leaf, which I glued below the stem. As before, I hot glued this shape to a 5 x 3 1/2 inch wood coaster that I found at Dollar Tree.
These laser-cut leaves were originally found at Dollar Tree. I like to use a sponge dabber to paint small pieces like this. It covers the object quickly and leaves no brush strokes.
Step 2: Cut Three Wheat Stems
I had some long faux wheat stems in my stash, and cut down three of them in various heights.
Step 3: Glue and Tape Stems
Then I used hot glue to attach them to the back of the pumpkin, at a slight angle, so that the tops would show just above the top, right-hand side of the pumpkin.
I found that adding some tape over the glued stems helped to keep them in place.
Step 4: Add Moss to Base
I started adding moss to the base of the pumpkin and continued until the entire wood base was covered.
Step 4: Glue Hay Bale
I added a mini hay bale to the right-hand side of the pumpkin for this bookshelf decor. I had some of these in my stash but I noticed that Dollar Tree had them in stock again this year or you can find them on Amazon.
Step 5: Add Pumpkins
Finally, I hot glued a 1″ mini pumpkin onto the hay bale and another beside it.
I wasn’t quite happy with this yet. The left-hand side of this shelf decor seemed too bare to me.
Step 6: Letter a Rock
I found a large smooth rock in my collection and applied some peel and stick letters to it. Then I covered it completely with a coating of matte Mod Podge.
Step 7: Prop it Up
Hot glue a half bead behind the rock to prop up the rock on an angle. Any small piece of wood, such as half of a tumbling tower block, would work for this purpose.
As an afterthought, I pulled out some rub-on transfers that I had on hand and applied these small acorns. I think it gives the rock a more finished look.
Project 3: Harvest Blessings
Supplies Used and Recommendations:
- dried bunny tails
- mini leaves
- mini felt squirrel cut-outs
- mini acorn (real or fake)
For the last project I wanted to embellish this square sign for my bookshelves.
Step 1: Apply First Accent Piece
I found these felt squirrels at Dollarama and glued one to the bottom right-hand side of the sign so that it was even with the edge of the frame. Anything glued to the bottom of the decor should not interfere with it sitting flat on a shelf.
Step 2: Bunny Tails
Next, I cut down three dried bunny tails and glued them onto the sign at an angle so that they would hang off the side. I trimmed the excess stems even with the base of the sign.
Step 3: Felt Leaves
I glued two mini felt oak leaves onto the left-hand corner, one going up the side and the other positioned along the bottom edge so that it hid the place where I glued the bunny tails.
Step 4: Add Acorn
I finished with a small acorn glued between the two leaves. This acorn is a fake that I pulled off a floral stem I had in my stash. Make sure that the leaves don’t prevent the sign from sitting flat on a base.
Step 5: Glue to Wood Base
As with the other two projects, I finished this one by gluing it to a wood base.
The Finished Bookshelf Objects
Here are all three of my fall bookcase display objects. I rather like how they turned out. There are dozens of ways that these basic wood pieces could be decorated, so make these ideas your own by stamping them with your own decorating style.
Read below to see how I styled my bookcase shelves.
DIY Bookshelf Ideas
A bookcase is more that just a place for storage. It offers endless styling possibilities for your home decor. Start by completely emptying the bookshelves. Then find creative ways to group the items you want to go on the shelves to make pleasing displays that suit your own decorating style.
These tips can apply to wall shelves or a cabinet with glass doors, too.
Style Books Vertically as Well as Horizontally
For a more interesting display, pile some of your favorite books vertically as well as horizontally on shelving. Try to keep to one pile of books per shelf. Placing an ornament, a candle or a bud vase on top of a pile of books is recommended and looks great.
Display Books by Weight
Your largest books, storage boxes or pieces of art, should be displayed on bottom shelves, with the smaller books and art placed on top shelves.
Style your books and so that accessories sit above and below a row of books. Avoid having books above books and accessories above accessories. So, if you put books on one side of the shelf, say the right side and some decor pieces on the other end of the same shelf, on the shelf below, place books on the left side and artwork or decor pieces on the other end of that shelf, underneath the books on the shelf above. This is a cool way to create a balanced look and add visual interest on your bookshelves.
Apply Colour Scheme Rules
Colourful books, displayed on a shelf against a dark background, will stand out. Style books on shelves by the colours of their spines.
If you don’t want your bookshelves to be the focal point in a room, remove the dust jackets from your books to reveal their neutral spines. You could also make neutral covers for your books using brown paper, especially if the book covers don’t match.
Leave Space to Display Artwork, Family Photos and Decorative Objects
Add personality by showcasing favorite decorative objects on your bookshelves. Set trailing houseplants up high and smaller succulents on lower shelves. Use family photos, art and decorative objects along with your books for visual interest.
A set of statement bookends works well here, too. I still love the globe bookends that I bought years ago.
Additional Ideas for Styling Shelving:
- Use only two ornaments on each of the bookshelves
- Look for organic-shaped vases to contrast the vertical lines of the bookcase
- Avoid overcrowding bookcase shelves – less is more applies here
How To Decorate Shelves on a Budget
Shop your home for favourite framed pictures, treasured knick-knacks, vases and candles that you can use to style a bookcase.
Thrift stores are great places to shop for home inspiration. You can often find great ideas and home decor items that are budget-friendly and will help you style your bookshelves in a way that complements your space.
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