Cynthia Nixon's maximalist living area brings this book-inspired trend into 2025 – experts say it makes a 'decorative and expressive style statement'

Think back to the beginning of 2024, and one interior trend will likely come to mind. Home libraries and book styling dominated design for the first part of the year, but for those of us with doubts about its longevity, look no further than Cynthia Nixon's home study.

The Sex and The City star shared a snap of her white, book-filled shelving unit in her home, and we love the layered stacks and central figurine placements, which add visual interest to the space.

Bookshelf wealth was a design trend, sure, but as long as we utilize books as decor, the overarching styling strategies will be as relevant as ever – and experts agree that it's here to stay.

As with any wall decor, bookshelves are fixtures in homes, enlivening spaces with their colors, textures, and varied shapes.

'Curated, styled open shelving has overtaken paint and wallpaper to emerge as the best way to decorate and personalize the home,' says furniture and accessories expert Shelley Cochrane. 'Of course, there’s no single ‘right’ way to organize your bookshelf, so whether you lead with aesthetics and organize your curated selection of books in rainbow order or opt for a practical A-Z-themed approach, the key is keeping it authentic. That means only choosing books that you really love, but I also recommend filling your bookshelves with more than just books. Display cherished family photographs alongside artwork and a selection of ceramic vases for an eclectic and truly personal take on ‘bookshelf wealth.’ This way, your bookshelf will serve as a decorative and expressive style statement rather than a perfunctory piece of furniture.'

She continues, 'Think about lighting too - a table lamp placed amongst your books, or a floor lamp stood beside your shelf, will help to highlight this area of the home and create a focal point of your shelf so it becomes a feature, rather a simple storage solution.'

Bookshelf wealth is also about neat organization methods; as we can see, Nixon has opted for both horizontal and vertical stacks, though experts say there are a variety of ways to go about it.

'Storage should be both practical and beautiful,' says Lena Gierasinska, head of product and displays at Barker and Stonehouse. 'Of course, it needs to serve a purpose but it also needs to be in keeping with the style and design of your home. Sideboards are a perfect double act, offering a surface on which to showcase your favorite decorative pieces while also providing plenty of storage to tidy away clutter.

Another tip when considering storage is not to forget about the walls. Whether you are incorporating bookcases, shelving units, or even wall-hanging shelves, these are great ways to remove clutter from the floor to make a space appear bigger and provide you with a platform to showcase some of your favorite accessories. However, I’d advise that when it comes to open shelving units, less is more. Cut the clutter by styling just one or two key pieces per shelf, complementing them with a stack of books here and there to introduce further depth and interest while ensuring they look neat.

For smaller space-saving solutions, consider trunks, boxes, and baskets, as these are a fantastic option to give you that extra storage you require without taking over a space. These are great because they are easy to move around and have a variety of uses.' For a great starting point, we love these handy storage boxes (especially the wooden box, designed by none other than Drew Barrymore).

Consider color coordinating or alphabetizing to hone in on the organizational angle of book styling.