Bookstagram is all about celebrating books and the joy of reading, and a perfectly styled flatlay can make your posts truly pop. Whether you’re highlighting a beloved hardcover, your Kindle, or even the month’s pick for the #ReadingWithMuffy challenge, a perfect flatlay for bookstagram can tell a story that resonates with your audience.
For me, creating flatlays isn’t just about books—it’s about telling a story. And let’s be real, my golden retriever, Muffy, often ends up stealing the spotlight, making my flatlays even more special (and chaotic)!
In this guide, I’ll share everything I’ve learned about creating eye-catching flatlays, including tips for incorporating your Kindle and featuring your furry reading buddy, if any.
Crafting the Perfect Bookish Flatlay
1. Start with a Story
Every flatlay should tell a story. Whether it’s about the book itself, the emotions it evokes, or your current mood, having a theme makes it easier to choose props and compose your shot.
- Cozy: A soft blanket, a mug of hot chocolate, and fairy lights.
- Adventurous: Maps, compasses, and props that reflect the book’s journey.
- Pet-Inspired: Featuring your furry friend, like Muffy, with props like a paw-print bookmark or a scarf that matches their fur.
2. Choose the Right Background
Your background sets the tone for the entire flatlay. Here’s what I’ve found works best:
- Neutral Textures: Use blankets, wooden tables, or marble tiles for a clean, aesthetic look.
- Seasonal Backdrops: Add festive touches like autumn leaves, spring flowers, or holiday ornaments.
3. Props, Props, Props!
Props are the secret sauce of flatlays. They add depth, color, and personality to your photo. Here are my go-to’s:
- Universal Essentials: Candles, fairy lights, mugs, plants, snacks, and bookmarks. Bonus points if your snack matches the book’s theme—like cookies for a cozy romance or exotic spices for a travel memoir.
- Thematic Props: Items related to the book—like a map for a fantasy or food props for a foodie-themed novel.
- For Kindle Photos: Include a mug, fairy lights, or a stack of physical books to complement the digital screen.
4. Composition is Key
A well-composed flatlay is visually pleasing and guides the viewer’s eye.
- Layering: Place books and props at varying heights. Use a folded blanket or a stack of books to create dimension.
- Rule of Thirds: Place key elements along imaginary lines dividing the frame into thirds for balance.
- Negative Space: Don’t overcrowd; let some areas breathe.
If your pet is joining, let him “naturally” flop into the frame. His paw resting on the book or Kindle is a guaranteed heart-stealer!
5. Lighting Brings it All Together
Natural light is always best! Set up near a window for soft, diffused lighting that flatters both your book and your props. You may also choose the Golden Hour which is perfect for capturing warm, cozy vibes. To avoid glare on Kindle screens, angle your Kindle slightly or use indirect light to prevent reflections.
Pro Tip: If you have a pet who happens to stretch out in a sunbeam mid-photoshoot, take full advantage. Golden fur + golden hour = instant magic.
6. Edit for the Perfect Finish
Editing is where the magic happens! I use apps like Lightroom or Snapseed to adjust brightness, contrast and colors. You may add a slight vignette to draw focus to the book or Kindle.
7. Feature Your Reading Challenge
If you’re participating in a reading challenge, like my #ReadingWithMuffy, let it inspire your flatlays.
Share your progress creatively, like a flatlay featuring a stack of completed books with your Kindle on top, showing your current read.
Highlight the monthly prompt by incorporating themed props. For November’s “TBR backlog,” I showcased the book covers, played with colours, a cup of coffee, some flowers, and a wintery faux fur to highlight holiday mood while my displaying a long-overdue read.
8. Involve Your Kindle
Not much into physical books? Kindles are incredibly versatile for flatlays.
Travel Flatlay: Display your Kindle with sunglasses, a passport, and a cup of coffee for a wanderlust vibe.
Show Off the Cover: Navigate to the book cover or a favorite quote.
Pair with Physical Props: Add a journal, sticky notes, or a cozy blanket to bridge the digital and physical reading worlds.
9. Practice Makes Perfect
Flatlays take time and experimentation. Try different angles, rearrange props, and take multiple shots to find the perfect composition. Don’t be afraid to get creative—Bookstagram is all about having fun!
Bonus Tips for Engagement
Include a QOTD: Encourage interaction with a question like, “What’s one prop you can’t live without in your flatlays?”
Use a Caption That Connects: Share the mood or story behind your flatlay. For example, “Here’s my cozy corner for tackling my fall TBR! What’s on yours?”
Creating flatlays is one of my favorite parts of sharing my love for books, whether it’s spotlighting my Kindle, celebrating a #ReadingWithMuffy milestone, or simply capturing Muffy being his adorable self.
Which of these tips will you try first? Share your flatlays and tag me at @kohleyedreads on Bookstagram—I’d love to see your creations!
This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Dr. Preeti Chauhan.
That’s all for now!
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Interesting post! Certainly a lot of thought, effort and love has gone into creating such flatlays.
Thanks for sharing such useful tips. This reminds me of my beauty products review times. Used to keep so many props.
I’ve always admired the flatlays in your posts and I knew that you take time to think and effort to get that perfect look. Thanks for sharing your tips; certainly needed for creators.
Very good tips. Your creative spark shines through on your Insta and the beautiful flat lays. Gonna take out some accessories, and found my world map also.
Your detailed guide to creating perfect flatlay for bookstagram is inspiring and helpful! I love how you’ve shared all these practical tips, shows how passionate you are about your work. And, Muffy is looking so cute in that pic.
Oh wow! Very interesting read! I simply take a photo of the cover and attach my review to it! You’ve made it into an artform. Beautiful. I’m not sure if I’ll do such outlays but if I do, I’ll refer to this detailed guide of yours.
Loved your Instagram feed. So colorful and vibrant with a pinch of encouragement to read more and more. Nice curation, dear.
Such helpful tips, Shalini. I am one of those who will admire and follow others’ flat lays but will rarely use one in my posts because I like using digital elements more than physical ones.
I love how you’ve incorporated your adorable golden retriever, Muffy, into your flatlays! It adds such a personal and charming touch to your posts. Your tips are spot on, especially the importance of storytelling through props and lighting. Now, I’m inspired to try my own flatlay with my pets!
Whether it’s your food images or your book flatlays, I absolutely love the magic you create with them. These are some great tips, Shalini. Also, a lot of hard work. Would love to give some a try!
Being a fellow book enthusiastic this post has piqued my interest. I really love the doable tips you’ve mentioned here. Thanks for sharing this
Flat lays are my favourite! I love to see so much efforts being put into creating that perfect composition! I miss those IG days when flat lays were a rage! Thankfully, people like to brighten up my IG fees like this 😍
I am the lazy one here! Simply click a photo – good or bad and post a review. Lots of creating thoughts went into this. Amazing post.