27 Bookshelves With Lights That Look Amazing

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Make your bookshelves part of a lighting feature!

If you don’t know how or are in the market for storage units like it, then you’ve come to the right place.

We’ve collected 27 bookshelf designs with lights that look absolutely amazing. Explore all your options and dig deep into our picks with tips and tricks on how to improve your bookshelves.

Elegant Narrow Corner Shelf Design

INSTAGRAM @thomasmaybespoke

For a luxurious and elegant living room, you need a simple and subtle shelf to exude the most class. This design is perfect for that!

To maintain a sophisticated ambiance, don’t overcrowd your lit shelves to make sure they’re properly illuminated.

Additionally, don’t forget to place some decorative pieces as well. This will make it look like a thoughtful and well-curated design.

Bookshelf With Nook Under Slanted Ceiling

INSTAGRAM @inuf_9uf

Here’s a nifty design that does more than just store your books. It provides a small space where you can lie down and read them too – not to mention that all of this is under a slanted ceiling!

Now, you don’t have to worry about those weirdly angled spaces in your home. You can always transform them into a cozy reading nook.

I love how delicate the design is. The wallpaper and dainty-patterned seating make it such a stylish and inviting place.

Kitchen Counter Storage

INSTAGRAM @weddingpresentco

Moving over to the kitchen, we have this adorable counter space with shelves and a lamp for its lighting solution.

So, maybe you don’t need every single layer to be lit, having one light fixture will do. The lamp here is also intentionally placed on the only shelf with books on it.

It’s a quick and easy alternative to having lighting installed, especially if you don’t have the resources or the time.

Related Article: 24 Kitchen Lamps That Just Look Great

Rustic Minimalist Design

INSTAGRAM @jamiekeskindesign

This charming bookshelf design incorporates lighting in a different way. Instead of having them inside the shelves, you have three golden lamps mounted above each section.

If you want to keep your home cozy, you’re better off with a rustic bookshelf design. You can also achieve this look by decorating with woven and wooden elements.

You can also use baskets to arrange your items on these shelves. They’ll match the aesthetic excellently!

White Shelves With Lamps And Plants

INSTAGRAM @hiltoncarter

For an earthy and tropical feel, even in a white interior, all you need is an abundance of plants adorning the place.

This minimalist design comes to life with all of the natural elements surrounding it. Even the decor follows a lively theme!

It uses different lamp types in different spots for a spontaneous layout which adds more character to the space.

White Backlit Shelves And Electric Fireplace

INSTAGRAM @_ben_the_builder_

To give your bookshelves a cool glow, install some backlights. You can also get this by using LED strips and concealing them in the corners of the design.

This room also has a gorgeous electric fireplace and TV area, making it an all-around entertainment area where you can watch or read.

Distribute some more of the decor on the mantel of the fireplace so there’s more continuity in the design.

Arched Niches

INSTAGRAM @heyemilycooper

This serene interior also has an electric fireplace so you can read in the ambiance of an ongoing fire. Next to it is two arched niches for bookshelves.

The bookshelf design has a slight deviation from the standard shape but the arches make all the difference.

Electric candles are a great way of illuminating the shelves as well. They’re hassle-free and contribute to the aesthetic of the room.

Classic Corner Shelf

INSTAGRAM @thehouseministryinteriors

Traditional homes might benefit from this corner shelf design more. It transforms the corner space into a massive storage compartment with shelves on both sides.

The wooden interior of these shelves adds a modest charm to the large piece and makes it more homey.

The lighting highlights the contents of the shelves with a bit of dramatic flare with the way they shine down.

Read Also: 32 Corner Bookshelves That Look Amazing

Bricked Niches With Mounted Wooden Shelves

INSTAGRAM @lightcultureaustralia

This cozy living room contains a beautiful beige couch and an even more noteworthy bookshelf design behind it.

The design is formed by having two shallow recesses in the walls, lining them with bricks, and then mounting wooden shelves on them. 

The faint lighting also provides just the right amount of glow to accentuate the bookshelf design and not make it too jarring for this calm aesthetic.

Cabin Loft Bookshelf With Ladder

For cabins and cabin-inspired places, these bookshelf designs will do you wonders. This first one contains warm yellow lighting and a ladder to lead you up to the loft area.

The yellow lighting adds to the warmth and coziness of the cabin environment.

It was cut out of the picture but there is a small tree off to the side, which is a great way of decorating a space like this. Otherwise, houseplants will also do.

Get inspiration from my article on lovely bookshelves with plants.

Here’s another compact cabin design with a loft and a couch. This time, the bookshelves are around the door, maximizing the entryway area.

Instead of a wooden ladder, you can opt for one made of rope or one that is retractable so you can save up on space and not block the doorway.

I love how there’s also a tiny skylight so you have a great view while you’re lying down.

Once again, we have yellow lighting in a wood-dominant interior. The shelves are also placed closer to the window this time.

You don’t have to limit this lighting to the shelves. You can extend them all over the interior. 

I like that that ladder is beside the sofa, it assures you that you’ll land safely when going down and it can give you a head start when you’re heading up.

Last one for our cabin designs is this snug layout with a floor-to-ceiling window that makes the space extra bright.

It also lets you enjoy a scenic view if there is one outside your home.

If you’re ever tight on space, remember to let in a lot of light to make it look more open and airy. Additionally, utilize space-saving storage hacks to have more room.

Freestanding Wooden Bookcases

To avoid all the hassle and renovations of a built-in option, you can go for a freestanding or standalone bookcase design.

This wooden feature has such an intriguing look to it, especially with the vertical lighting in the background.

What’s best about this choice is that you can do this with any bookcase that suits your fancy and just make minor changes to get the same effect.

This example is a bit more quirky with wavy edges and a more obvious wooden design. The lighting also lines the sides of the bookshelves instead of just horizontally or vertically.

It’s best to keep this shelf’s contents near the center so the light can still shine through.

I recommend placing a few houseplants and flowers around this fixture, sort of mimicking a garden to complement the design.

Now, we have a more standard bookcase design which is better if you want a simple look for your home.

What’s great about a freestanding bookcase is that you can also move it around your home as you please.

Another neat aspect of opting for a standalone bookcase is that they come in varied sizes and styles, so you’re sure to find one that’ll fit right in!

Here’s a similar version with an additional middle division. It’s better if you arrange your books according to several categories.

You can install labels on each shelf so you can organize your books well.

I suggest placing a half-circle carpet under the bookshelf to define the area and prevent it from scratching the wooden floors in case you want to move it around.

Then, we have this bookshelf against the wall that has a more unique compartment composition with one small section on the side.

You can use the smaller space to display your favorite book or most prized possession.

The LED lighting used here is also quite easy to install. Think about getting those with adjustable settings so you can change the color of the lights.

Floor-To-Ceiling Shelves

Optimize your space by utilizing the entirety of the length of your wall space with floor-to-ceiling storage options.

You can start off with one section of your wall first. This will give you a good gauge of whether it suits your aesthetic and if you would need more storage after having one.

Try having a darker backdrop to emphasize the lighting and accentuate the design.

Here’s another design in a light wood material that stands tall behind the sofa.

Be mindful of where you place these shelves as well. It might be difficult for you to access the bottom compartments if you place a bulky structure in front of it. 

You can also get standalone bookcases that are tall enough to occupy your floor-to-ceiling space. It just might be challenging to get them into your home.

Don’t let the floor-to-ceiling aspect intimidate you, there are tons of sleek and slim designs out there to fit your space better too!

You’d barely notice this storage if it wasn’t for the lighting, so it’s perfect for a more subtle approach. 

Having a soft chair near the shelf will make it easier for you to grab a book and read it in comfort.

On the other hand, if you do have a bigger space, a more majestic design will do you better–just like this grand full-wall bookshelf.

It can keep your favorite books and more! It’s almost like having a library right in your home.

Once you’ve chosen which book to devour, you can head on over to the L-shaped couch and enjoy it in the coziest way possible.

Now, we have a living space with floor-to-ceiling shelves and windows! It creates such an open and relaxing environment to lounge in.

It embodies a darker aesthetic and a more sultry look. The leather couch is also a nice touch to complement the space.

The dim lights on the bookshelves add to the drama of the interior and the warm light setting makes it blend in more seamlessly.

We have another massive wooden bookshelf design for a large living room. It also has a small tree to extend some of the outdoor scenes inside.

The lighting also comes in a really deep yellow shade, which pairs well with the wood and the rest of the interior. 

Maybe you can go for bigger compartments so the design doesn’t look too cramped.

Explore more floor-to-ceiling bookshelf designs and a few ideas on where you can place them.

Contemporary Design

This chic interior has a tall open bookshelf design that helps maintain its brightness and style.

The furniture really makes or breaks the aesthetic, so put a lot of thought into the pieces you incorporate into the design.

The only danger with this design is that the sunlight directly hits the books and might damage them over time. So, consider a different placement.

Narrow Bookshelf Design

For tiny homes, you’d need all the space-optimization you can get. So, getting a narrow bookshelf design like this would be a smart move.

The limited space won’t stop you from improving this design, so incorporate warm lighting into the fixture too.

You can also store more items underneath the seating by the window. Just be sure to keep them in containers so they’re not messy.

White Built-In Bookshelves

INSTAGRAM @wearewoodgrain

Finally, we’re ending with this pristine hallway design. It features built-in white shelves that extend for a notable portion of the wall and three fluorescent bulbs for each section.

It’s an excellent way of incorporating functionality and aesthetics into your space. 

I suggest placing plants on both sides of the shelves to frame them or maybe mounting some artwork to add a pop of color to the space.

You can also find my top pick of bookshelves under-windows, here.

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