Sterling echoes this sentiment: “It’s extra about way of life selections than wanting it to look a sure method. I’ve piles of books throughout my home, in each nook, on each floor, not as decor—though I am keen on them as objects—however as a result of I need my library to be like a residing, respiratory factor. I ‘designed’ it for use.”

So a residing, respiratory factor, then: An curiosity in cultivating one thing that extends past the exterior validation of Instagram, and an evolving showcase of your tastes. “‘Bookshelf wealth is about honoring ourselves, our journey, our pursuits, and proudly displaying all of it,” says Lewis.

Schwartzmann agrees. “As I’ve gotten older, my tastes have turn out to be extra refined, so at this level, it’s extra about high quality over amount. It is not about showcasing as a lot as potential however quite serving the area and your wants inside it,” she says.

The takeaway? Bookshelf wealth will be as grand or humble as you need to make it. It’s not prescriptive. Nonetheless, there are locations to begin when fascinated by the way you need to nourish your at-home library. “When you do not have already got a e-book assortment, I’d advocate discovering an excellent used bookstore and visiting usually,” shares designer Eliza Gran, whose lived-in nooks in her Hudson Valley dwelling are bursting with books. “Thrift outlets, even Goodwill, usually have surprisingly nice books, and naturally, that is the perfect place to search out inexpensive secondhand artwork, ceramics, and furnishings.”