Try These 11 Best Bookshelf Lighting Ideas

It’s one thing to line your bookcase with books and collectibles, but it’s another thing to really show them off. Think about everything lying neglected on the top shelf of your bookcase – how can you make that all part of your space? Finding one-of-a-kind lights is the perfect way to transform your boring bookcase into the centerpiece of a room. Follow this guide to discover the 11 best bookshelf lighting ideas.

11 creative bookshelf lighting ideas

You can create a luminous glow for your bookshelf with the below bookshelf lights:

1. Flameless candles

If you love reading by candlelight, try lighting your bookshelf with a flameless LED candle. You’ll give your shelf an inviting, warm ambiance without a flame that’ll burn out quickly or risk damaging your belongings if left unattended. Many flameless candles flicker gently and produce low, dim lighting perfect for a romantic dinner at home or movie night. With just a few batteries and the flick of a switch, you can make your bookshelf the heart of a moment you’ll never forget.

2. Fairy lights

Fairy lights are an affordable, low-hassle way to make your home glow like the night sky. They add a gorgeous element to dark shelf corners and bring your space to life in a whole new way. All you need is a few battery-powered fairy lights and a handful of glass jars where you’ll store them to enhance their glow. The result is an effortless decoration piece to add to your living room, bedroom, or wherever else you keep your shelf.

3. LED strip lights

Looking for an affordable way to showcase your bookshelf and illuminate your living space all at once? Try adding LED strips for that luminous glow. All it takes is peeling off the adhesive backing, cutting the strip to your desired size, and sticking it to the periphery of your bookshelf. It’ll almost be like your shelf is the light.

4. Light boxes

If you’re looking to add subtle light to showcase your book collection or knickknacks, a light box is a great choice. It can brighten up your space while adding more decor to your bookshelf. It comes with tons of letters and symbols so you can write out a quote or customize your own message for guests to see. Some of these boxes also come with remote controls so you can change the color of the message with just a quick button push.

5. Lanterns

Lanterns are a great addition to any bookshelf lighting setup if you want to add a rustic feel to your home. They radiate a soft, gentle glow for those late nights curled up with your favorite book or board games pulled from the bottom shelf. They come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes to elevate your reading room in whatever way comes to mind.

6. Book lamp

Some lamps can be disguised as books for a truly stunning bookshelf transformation. Your lamp will look like an ordinary book by day and seamlessly illuminate your room by night. Simply add your fake book into your bookshelf and watch your room come to life at night. These book lamps are also wonderful to use as desk lamps or night lights and for brightening up any dark corners.

7. Ambient lights

Want to turn your boring, bland bookshelf into something radiant? Ambient mood lighting should do the trick. You can nestle these fixtures snugly on your bookshelf however high or low you prefer for radiating bliss into your reading space. Plus, since they’re mood lights, they empower you to change colors and effects to create just the right vibe.

The BlissRadia, for example, glows gently and colorfully, and you can control right from your phone. This way, you can set the mood without getting out of your ultra-comfy reading chair. You can choose among millions of colors on the rainbow, or you can put on some calming reading music and set this fixture to a flickering fireside glow. You’ll be immersed in your reading environment more than ever before.

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8. LED letters

Whether you’re adding lights to a child’s room or the family room, LED letters can be a playful and classy way to elevate your space. Spell out your child’s name, a quote, or the initials of you and your significant other to add a beaming and personalized design piece to your shelf. With colors ranging from rainbow to classics like black and white, you can easily find a letter for each shelf in your house.

9. Puck lights

Puck lights fit seamlessly into any bookshelf space. These circular fixtures go right beneath a shelf to highlight what’s below it. They’re perfect for illuminating your books, collectibles, or any decor pieces that have a home on your shelf. Turn them off, lean back, and enjoy your book without all harsh, glaring overheads.

10. Track lights

If you’re looking to add a modern flair to your home, track lights are a tried-and-true lighting design piece. You can also use them to illuminate your shelves – just point the individual bulbs at your favorite pieces on your bookshelf. From leather-bound novels to photo frames of your children, all your bookshelf items appear more inviting under track lights. They’re the perfect bookcase lighting for elevating your favorite pieces and creating a soft, subtle vibe.

11. Picture lights

If your bookshelf items hold sentimental value to you and your family, a picture light can make for excellent bookshelf lighting. Try installing this unique type of wall light half a foot above your shelf to shine down on the top shelf. Arrange your collectibles, paintings, and other tchotchkes there and let the picture light bring out their brightest side.

Illuminate your bookcase with BlissLights

Now that you know how to make your bookcase the center of attention, it’s time to dust everything off and set up just the right fixtures to make it glow. A soft, inviting hue to set the right mood is key, as is enough illumination to see where you’re reading, and BlissLights can do both. With color-changing mood lights and LED strips, you can transform your reading space for a true deep dive into whatever you’re reading. Browse the BlissLights collection now to transform your bookcase into a charming collection with just the push of a button.