Take your styling cues from the queen of farmhouse decor herself: recreate Joanna Gaines’ signature farmhouse bookcase look with three simple steps. These practical tips will elevate your shelf styling and help you achieve a warm, layered, and curated farmhouse aesthetic.
Get the Joanna Gaines Farmhouse Bookcase Look in 3 Easy Steps
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This farmhouse bookcase shows the shelf styling approach favored by Joanna Gaines — clean, layered, and full of personality.
Photo credit: HGTV
1. Gather supplies for your farmhouse bookcase
Before you style any shelves, collect a variety of decorative objects in different heights, textures, and finishes. The most important rule is to choose items you love — your shelves should reflect your personal style. Aim for natural, worn, and tactile pieces that read as comfortable and timeless.
Suggested items for a Joanna Gaines–inspired farmhouse bookcase:
- tobacco baskets and woven wicker baskets
- wooden boxes or crates for stacking and elevation
- old, vintage, or decorative books for neutral texture
- vintage art prints and framed botanical illustrations
- real or faux greenery and small potted plants
- galvanized metal containers and trays
- vintage china, enamelware, and white pitchers
- antique cameras, leather items, and other small curios
Once you have a selection of items in a range of sizes and textures, empty your bookcase and start arranging. Working with a clear visual field makes it easier to balance and layer pieces with intention.
2. Start with tall items and arrange in a zig-zag pattern
Begin each shelf by placing the tallest items first. These anchor the space and create vertical interest. Distribute tall pieces in a staggered or zig-zag pattern across the bookcase rather than clustering them together. If an item isn’t tall enough, try stacking it on a small box or placing a taller piece behind it to create depth.
3. Add vintage books to create a Joanna Gaines bookshelf feature
Vintage books are some of the most versatile decor items for a farmhouse shelf. Arrange them backwards to mute bright covers, stack them horizontally to form small platforms, or place them vertically as classic book displays. Books add warmth, texture, and history, and they elevate and frame smaller objects.
4. Finish with greenery and small accents
Finish each shelf with plants and small “littles” — vases, candles, small sculptures, or framed photos. Greenery brings life and color to neutral farmhouse palettes; feel free to use real plants, faux stems, or a combination. Place plants in a zig-zag pattern across shelves to maintain balance and visual flow.
The zig-zag layout helps avoid a cluttered look and keeps the arrangement feeling intentional and calm.
A few more farmhouse bookcase styling tips and ideas
- Group similar textures and colors across shelves to create cohesion — for example, a trio of dark accents spaced throughout the bookcase.
- Use odd-number groupings (three items, five items) to create visually pleasing clusters, such as three brass bells or three small vases.
- Refresh your shelf styling seasonally by swapping foliage, adding seasonal decor, or rotating smaller accents for a fresh look.
Although I don’t live in a farmhouse, styling an Ikea Billy bookcase with farmhouse elements adds warmth and character to our townhouse. A few simple changes — trim, layered decor, and vintage finds — can transform builder-basic shelving into a charming focal point.
If you want more inspiration for farmhouse shelving and Joanna Gaines–inspired projects, look for posts with titles such as:
- How to Add Trim to Ikea’s Billy Bookcase for a Farmhouse Look
- Fixer Upper–Style Farmhouse Shelves: Step-by-Step Ideas
- How to Choose Farmhouse Decor for Your Dining Room
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