Home Mortgage Alliance Corporation (HMAC)

Tomes in homes: wealth mere money can’t buy

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Published Date 2/1/2024

Leave it to Realtor’s Jennifer Kelly Geddes to introduce everyone to the latest in decor trends. “Social media can make even the most mundane object the next big thing,” she says. “And now, thanks to the wildly popular platform TikTok, a new home decor trend centered on your favorite books has stepped into the limelight.”

She says the concept known as “bookshelf wealth” — a curated collection of books that homeowners have read (not just arranged based on the color of their covers or spines) is all the rage. It’s a direct reflection of you — not the number of books you ordered on Amazon or threw in a Barnes & Noble shopping tote. Along with it, however, your “wealth” of luxe accessories like brass lighting, plush upholstery, and framed art are mixed in, showing your abundance of creativity.

Designer Ariel Barrionuevo describes this phenomenon as showing off your library in a very personal way. “It can involve creative looks, with a variety of spine positions or a mix of different-sized books,” he explains. “But in the end, it’s not just about organizing—the trend is more of a statement piece that reflects the owner’s reading journey.”

Geddes puts it this way: “Bookshelf wealth is collected with purpose, rather than purchased by the yard to accessorize empty shelves.” She goes on to say that the concept leans hard on coziness, with a comfy spot to read nearby, whether it’s a deep club chair, a book nook under a set of stairs, a small couch, or a bench under a window.

While it’s TikTok and Instagram that are feeding this trend right now, bookshelf wealth has its roots in decor styles termed quiet luxury. Think plush materials like cashmere and velvet, along with hand-crafted pieces, dark academia, a book look that skews moody but also includes high-end materials (think soft leather chairs and lots of tweedy layers). Kind of a grown-up Harry Potter sits with Dumbledore and reads a good book.

It seems the pandemic changed us more than we know, having relegated us to uninterrupted technology during our quarantines and seeing us emerge on the other side with a new appreciation for books.

When we speak of luxury, however, you don’t need a home with a library to achieve this look. Just one or two spots will do, as long as you can style them so they look like an intentional vignette. If your budget is limited and bookshelves are not in your possession, Geddes says to get thee to your nearest IKEA for a few Billy bookcases at a wallet-friendly price.

If you have the time and money to install built-in bookcases, however, it’s a great way to get started and will add built-in value if and when you someday sell your home. Jazz it up with LED lighting and begin your book wealth journey.

Choose books you love that dovetail with your interests, including paperbacks and hardcovers, and then intersperse these with personal items — yes, just like the HGTV hosts do before the “big reveal” on nearly every show, making you think they did all the staging themselves. Mix in photos, souvenirs, family heirlooms, or even vintage portraits. Old art magazines, a row of classic tales, perhaps a small display of your great grandfather’s opera glasses, some vases with dried flowers, and — voila! Stand back and assess what you’ve done. Look for pleasing arrangements and a balanced grid.

Art plays a significant role in the look of bookshelf wealth, whether it’s leaning in front of cases, mounted in the middle of rows, or hanging in a gallery style, framed pieces signal luxury as part of your design — even those yard sale finds you’re waiting to show to the folks at Antiques Road Show when they’re in town.

Add a rolling ladder or special sconces if the wealth reaches new heights in your space to amp up the theme of a rich, personal library. It’s all about authenticity. So art, tchotchkes, and lamps you already own are all perfect elements of bookshelf wealth. says Wiss.

Lastly, Geddes says to play with layered rugs (orientals over sisal or jute, for example), a mix of patterns, and color in the furniture’s upholstery and on walls are also worthy additions to any space trying to channel bookshelf wealth.

Realtor, TBWS

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