bookshelf wealth

Popularized on TikTok in December 2023.

bookshelf wealth (uncountable)

1. (neologism) An interior design trend or aesthetic which promotes large bookshelves full of books.
   • 2024 January 15, Madison Malone Kircher, “Do You Have ’Bookshelf Wealth’?”, in The New York Times‎, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2024-02-27:

     In an interview, Ms. Newton said that she worried trends like bookshelf wealth encourage overconsumption. This year, she added, she is trying not to buy any new books.

   • 2024 January 22, “What is bookshelf wealth? Inside the controversial new design trend”, in The Independent‎, London: Independent News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2024-01-22:

     Bookshelf wealth is an interior decor aesthetic evocative of the warmth of a Nancy Meyers movie, with cosy yet classic furniture and most notably a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf that shows off the owner's vast collection.

   • 2024 February 5, Angela Tafoya, “Is "Bookshelf Wealth" the Most Authentic TikTok Interiors Trend Yet?”, in Vogue‎, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2024-02-12:

     Still, some commenters were quick to criticize the trend, arguing that bookshelf wealth simply indicates you have the financial means (and the space for a built-in) and that it can lean inauthentic.