Bookshelf Wealth: A Middlemalist's Guide to Achieving the Aesthetic

Bookshelf Wealth: A Middlemalist's Guide to Achieving the Aesthetic

N.B. I originally wrote and published this way back in August of 2024 with the title “3 Ways to Achieve a Bookshelf Wealth Aesthetic” when the term was at its peak. It has now transitioned from a trendy hashtag back to its timeless decorating ethos, seamlessly fitting into these new trends we’re seeing with the terms “grandma chic,” “cottage-core,” etc. What I like to call “Middlemalism.”

I recently learned a design term called “bookshelf wealth.” Apparently it’s this new trend that’s all the rage with those of us who don’t jive with minimalism.

When I read the definition, I was like, oh, that’s what I do.

Don’t you love it when something seems all new and shiny only to find out that’s just how you naturally are?

So what is bookshelf wealth, and how do you actually bring it into your own home? That’s what this post is for.

What Is Bookshelf Wealth?

Well, Google’s AI overview defines it this way:

“Bookshelf wealth is a social media trend and interior design style that involves filling your home with books and other items you love to create a cozy, personalized space. It's a maximalist style that's reminiscent of English country style, but without the moody colors. The goal is to create an enchanting space where you can enjoy your collections, rather than just styling curios.”

Here’s another internet take:

“The concept known as bookshelf wealth is a curated collection of books that homeowners have read, not just arranged based on the color of their covers or spines. Bookshelf wealth is also a direct reflection of you.”

That last bit really resonates with me.

Because, for me, bookshelf wealth is about the years of both collecting books and actually reading them. It’s the curation of decor that strikes a chord or a fancy. It’s showcasing thoughtful gifts from loved ones. Bookshelf wealth is finding beauty in the imperfection of not quite having enough space for all of the important stuff I want to keep and don’t want to part with. It’s a comfortable clutter in a way that feels lived-in, loved and historical. Whether that’s actual historical artifacts or curios or family photos and heirlooms that have been passed down generation to generation. It’s not haphazard but rather purposeful and tidy, because ugly clutter hurts, you know?

Bookshelf Wealth as a Middlemalist Practice

Bookshelf wealth is an evolution of the seasons of your life as your tastes and interests change. It’s the visible and tangible artifacts of a life that’s in the process of being lived. Like how you add to the display of family photos throughout the years as new memories are created and treasured. It’s layered, in the same way you’re a growing and dimensional being.

It’s charming and lived in. You feel as though you can breathe a sigh of comfort and nestle into a well-loved easy chair and not worry about knocking something over probably because there’s already a chip in the vintage fine china teacup set you’re drinking a spot of tea from.

This is exactly where bookshelf wealth and middlemalism meet: neither one asks you to choose between a calm, ordered home and a home full of the things you love. The middle ground is the key.

Three Ways to Achieve a Bookshelf Wealth Aesthetic

How can you achieve bookshelf wealth? Here are three areas to consider.

Collect things you love.

I may have mentioned this before: the phenomenon of finding a new treasure that I absolutely fall in love with, buying it, bringing it home and finding that it serendipitously goes with other items I’ve collected over the years. I’m a strong believer that if you love a thing, whether because it reminds you of a loved one or a fond memory, or it just speaks to your soul, it’ll go with the other things that have given you the same kind of feeling in the past. I love how it can sometimes take a considerable amount of time to find that unique gem that adds the perfect touch to a carefully and organically gathered collection.

Think in terms of layers.

I think there’s a school of thought in decorating our homes where items we choose to display must be lined up in a row, like toy soldiers from a bygone era. Instead of a linear look, try a layered aesthetic. Pair a taller vase with a smaller sculptural piece. Add some height by placing a treasured trinket on a short stack of books. Display painted canvases so they overlap one another. Drape two or even three throws over the back of a sofa.

Aim for middlemalism.

Thankfully, there’s a middle ground. If minimalism makes you yawn and you can’t quite get on the maximalism train, try the middle of the road. Here’s the sweet spot where you can keep your stuff, fill in empty spaces as you see fit and also keep some white space to hold onto a clear and ordered mind. You can remain your organized, tidy self and display keepsakes and treasured finds, too.

Where to Begin

I love my stuff. I like showing it off and I want to keep it. Having all of my books under one roof and tucked onto bookshelves has given me such a pleasant sense of serenity I didn’t know I was missing. I’ve always been careful about how I care and keep the things I’ve collected over the years, so why not show it off? It’s a small thing in life, true, to display things you love but it’s those small things that all add up to a great big beautiful life in the end.

If you’re not sure where to start, begin here:

• Pull a few loved objects out of storage or a closet and give them shelf space instead.
• Resist lining things up. Let two or three pieces overlap, lean into each other or live grouped together.
• Leave a little white space on purpose, so the eye has somewhere to rest.

A Note on Doing This Slowly

Your home doesn’t need to look styled for a photoshoot right this second. But it can:

• Reflect the years of collecting, not just the last shopping trip
• Feel purposeful and tidy, not just full
• Leave room to keep growing, just like the way you are

Happy homemaking friends!