Whether it’s up high or down low, a full feature wall or just a portion of it, there’s nothing quite like the visual appeal of built-in shelving and the never-ending styling opportunities that come with it.

If you’re looking to make a bookcase the central feature of your home, deck out an entire wall with floor-to-ceiling shelving — you could even opt for a design like the beautiful timber bookcase featured in Mandy Wilton’s home (powder coated steel ladder and all!).

Otherwise, floating shelves above built-in cabinetry are great for functionality and saving on space.

You could also opt for a singular bookshelf along a wall, or even use it as a room divider — ideal for a studio apartment or large, open-plan living area, like the one seen above in Sean Fennessy and Jessica Lillico’s Warrandyte pad.

Another easy way to make the most of space in a smaller home is by adding shelving to any dead spaces you may have (like the side of a fireplace, for example — see the one artist Jordy van den Nieuwendijk built for his Fitzroy rental above).

As for design, we love the uniformity of classic symmetrical shelves. In saying that, there’s also a unique quality in contrasting shelf sizes — you might have a smaller shelf just for books, and a taller one for things like vases and other precious knick knacks.

If your living room is centred around the television, there are plenty of options out there for built-in shelving that also doubles as an entertainment unit, with a carved-out section specifically for a TV.

Whatever you choose though, the true character of any bookshelf really comes down to how it’s styled.

The most obvious choice for bookworms is to show off a collection and fill every shelf with tomes!

Or, incorporate a mix of both books and objects — balance is key for this style, so we’d recommend stacking books both vertically and horizontally, and pairing items together at varying heights.

Artwork is also a gorgeous way to add life and texture to your shelving, while lamps — particularly cordless, portable ones — add a lovely soft glow. Don’t forget a bit of negative space for balance, too. You don’t want it to look overcrowded!

The best thing about styling a bookshelf is that it’s always a work-in-progress, and you can change it up whenever you please or when you find new items that take your fancy.

If built-in shelving isn’t an option for you, check out our round-up of 14 great shelving units!