Shelving without lighting can often fade into the background, serving its purpose but doing little to enhance a room. Add a little glow, however, and those same surfaces come alive. Suddenly they’re not just storage, but a stage for books, art and objects that deserve to be seen.
Thoughtful lighting design creates ambience, draws attention to details you might otherwise miss, and adds another layer of depth to your interiors. And with more of us investing in statement joinery and built-in cabinetry, shelf lighting has become a design tool that’s hard to ignore. Used well, it will not only make your storage work harder but also help your home feel warmer, more inviting and infinitely more stylish.
1. When in doubt, you can't go wrong with a table lamp
A table lamp is one of the easiest ways to bring character to shelving. Unlike built-in fittings, it doesn’t require planning or wiring. Simply place a lamp among your books or decorative objects and it will instantly shift the mood.
“A wireless table lamp is a perfect way to incorporate lighting on your shelving," agrees Sue Jones, co-founder and creative director at OKA. "Not only do they look beautiful, their lack of restrictions to a plug socket also makes them incredibly versatile, allowing you to easily switch up their positioning from your shelf to your console table or ottoman."
Sue Jones, Co-founder and Creative Director of OKA, brings her eye for timeless design to the brand’s lighting collections, championing versatile pieces that blend character, functionality and style.
Shop wireless table lamps
This rechargeable table lamp adds warm light at the tap of a finger
This portable lamp provides up to 12 hours of light at a time.
This lamp's bronze finish and glass shade adds subtle style to a variety of interiors.
2. Layer light in alcove shelves to add a little depth
Alcoves have a naturally snug feel, but without the right lighting they can look a little one-note. Pairing a wall-mounted light with a small table lamp instantly adds depth, layering focused illumination with a softer, ambient glow.
This lighting trick that works beautifully for living room lighting and bedroom lighting, where you’re always juggling atmosphere with function. Go bold with a decorative sconce to draw the eye, then let a warm pool of light from a lamp on a lower shelf do the rest.
3. Install under-shelf strip lighting in kitchens
In kitchens, shelf lighting needs to work harder than in other rooms, as it has to be both practical and attractive. Under-shelf strip lighting is a simple solution that ticks both boxes, brightening countertops for food prep while also giving the space a softer, more inviting warmth after dark.
Your choice of kitchen lighting ideas will make all the difference to how you use this space, ensuring your shelves feel sleek and streamlined rather than cluttered with visible light fittings or wires. Chris Bawden, founder of Simple Lighting, shares his advice on getting this right:
“Set LED strips into an aluminium profile one to two centimetres behind the front edge of the shelf. This hides the tape, throws light forward, and prevents objects casting hard shadows. A frosted diffuser creates an even glow, and high CRI strips keep colours accurate."
Chris Bawden is founder and managing director of Simple Lighting, drawing on over 15 years of experience in energy-efficient lighting and interiors to deliver stylish, client-minded illumination solutions across the UK.
4. Create some seasonal ambience with authentic-looking LED candles
Nothing creates atmosphere quite like candlelight, but real flames aren’t always practical on shelving – especially in homes with children or pets running around. Authentic-looking LED candles are a safe and stylish alternative, offering the same warm flicker without the risk of heat or melting wax.
Faux candles are especially effective when styled in clusters, as shown here by Lights4Fun, where different heights and shapes add depth to the display. Choose neutral colours for a classic look, or switch them up seasonally – from autumnal tones to frosted finishes at Christmas – to keep your shelves feeling fresh and inviting.
TruGlow® pillar candles combine real wax with warm white LEDs to mimic a just-lit flame. With varied heights and a safe flickering glow, they’re perfect for creating stylish ambience indoors.
5. Add recessed spotlighting to display artwork
If your shelves are more about display than storage, recessed spotlights are a smart choice. Set into niches or cabinetry, they lend a gallery feel to spaces, throwing focused illumination onto objects. Used thoughtfully, this concentrated light is ideal for highlighting sculptures, vases or artwork, with the surrounding shelves left in gentle shadow.
However, as Molly Albin, stylist and photographer at Festive Lights, points out: “Puck lights and recessed spots tend to highlight one individual spot, so you may need more than one to get good coverage over your shelving.”
Molly Albin is a stylist and photographer at Festive Lights, where she brings expert flair to festive décor and lighting shoots for home and season-ready styling.
6. Keep things sleek with floating shelves and integrated LEDs
Sometimes it’s not about what you put on your shelves, but how the shelves themselves are designed. Floating shelves with integrated LEDs are a perfect example: the light becomes part of the structure, casting a subtle wash that feels architectural rather than purely decorative.
As far as modern lighting ideas go, this one’s hard to beat in terms of impact. Even the simplest run of shelving can feel transformed with a slim strip of lighting, adding polish to the shelves while giving the whole wall extra depth and presence. Just make sure to keep your styling minimal to let the lighting do the talking – a handful of ceramics or glassware is all it takes to make a statement.
7. Light from above with strip LED lights
Sometimes the most effective shelf lighting isn’t placed on the shelves themselves, but around them. Wrapping LED strips along the edge of built-in joinery or architectural details creates a striking frame of light that instantly elevates a space.
Molly Albin, stylist at Festive Lights, stresses the importance of precision when it comes to strip lighting: “If you’re opting for strip or rope lighting, it’s so important to be precise and to take your time when measuring your lights. Cutting or ordering them too long or too short can make the finished product look unpolished and unprofessional."
"Positioning is also highly important," she adds. "Downlighting is much more flattering and offers more light than uplighting, so it’s best to secure these lights below your shelf to create an impressive downlight glow. Try to ensure that the first and last LED touches the end of the shelving, that way you’re left with no blank spots.”
A roll of dimmable LED tape, such as these 10m super-bright strip lights from Amazon UK is perfect for recreating this look on a budget.
8. Add personality with fairy lights
For shelf lighting that’s more about fun than formality, you can’t beat fairy lights. Thalia Shaw, founder of Sparkle Lighting, explains their widespread appeal:
“Fairy lights draped along shelves add a soft, magical glow that instantly creates atmosphere. They can be tucked behind books, wound around ornaments, or trailed along the edges to highlight favourite objects and bring character to a space. Instead of just lighting up a shelf, fairy lights turn it into a feature.”
They’re also one of the most flexible shelf lighting ideas, easy to switch up with the seasons or move between rooms.
Thalia Shaw founded Sparkle Lighting in 2019 from her kitchen table in Buckinghamshire and curates charming, atmospheric decorative lights designed to bring joy and a warm glow to interiors.
9. Light up recessed niches
Recessed shelving is made for integrated lighting. Add a small spotlight to the top of a niche and suddenly a simple recess feels intentional, softly lit and worth showing off. It’s just as effective for displaying favourite objects in living spaces as it is for keeping everyday essentials easy to spot in bathrooms or utility rooms.
For an easy update, you can now buy pre-made lit niches, such as the Harbour Shower Niche from Drench, which slots neatly into a wall.
10. Backlight shelves for a dramatic effect
Backlighting a simple trick that instantly elevates shelving from functional to theatrical. By running LEDs along the back edge of shelves, you can create a halo of light that pushes objects forward.
Jamie Moxey, lighting expert at Dusk Lighting, explains the appeal: “Backlighting the rear ends of shelves can create an interesting floating effect with the light. Glass shelves are also great for atmospheric lighting, as the reflection ricochets through the material.
According to Jamie, this technique comes into its own in media walls and walk-in wardrobes, where it helps balance practicality with mood. The glow keeps things visible while adding a luxurious edge that feels far more considered than overhead lighting alone.
Jamie Moxey is Business Development Manager at Dusk Lighting, overseeing lighting product sourcing and customer advice from their Exeter-based showroom. He champions practical, design-led lighting solutions with personal service.
With all these shelf lighting ideas, you might be wondering, do I need a lighting designer? For most simple shelf lighting ideas the answer is no, but consulting one can be worthwhile if you’re planning built-in joinery or a whole-room scheme where placement and wiring really matter.
