The question of how best to display books is ever-controversial, especially among those who love interior design and literature simultaneously. I was always one to prioritize order, ensuring all my books were kept on display on my open shelving, with few titles out of place. Then I caught a glimpse of Yoko Ono's more eclectic arrangement, and I threw my rule book out.
Yoko, captured in her apartment in the Dakota Building in 1992 by photographer Ricky Flores, makes a case for personal book storage that feels perfectly imperfect. It's a refreshing celebration of disorganization, exhibiting a collection of books that feel deeply personal to the artist. They're scattered on a wooden shelf that celebrates the building's nineteenth-century architectural beauty.
The Dakota, completed in 1884, is famous for its 'Old World' craftsmanship. The woodwork you see in the background is a signature of the building's German Renaissance Revival style.
The shelf holding the books appears to be a later addition or a modification of the original window/radiator assembly, likely added to maximize her living room storage.
Shop the Yoko Ono-Inspired Edit
Yoko sits cross-legged in a generously padded white club chair, also called a 'snuggler', with deep cushions and broad track arms, built for ultimate comfort rather than a formal pose. This one from Wayfair is a near-perfect match.
A small architectural task lamp is positioned on Yoko's shelf to provide focused light, likely for reading or phone calls. This piece, designed with Studio McGee, is a modern alternative. It features a neat, round pedestal base with a round shade, making it the perfect addition to your side table.
Inspired by Yoko's stone side table, this modern end table adds a touch of elegance to your living room or reading corner. Its minimalist design features a round faux marble top perfectly balanced on the apex of the 3D arch-shaped base.
This large, white-spined book is prominent on Yoko's shelves. Given the history between the Lennon's and the magazine (including their famous Annie Leibovitz cover taken at the Dakota), it’s a fitting piece of their personal history.
On the far right of Yoko’s room, ablack loudspeaker cabinet is visible, hinting at the importance of music in the household. This more compact speaker is the perfect modern-day alternative. It’s small enough to fit in any apartment, New York or beyond.
Yoko's other books are a mix of softcover and hardcover catalogs. By 1992, Yoko was heavily involved in retrospective exhibitions of her own work and John’s, and the shelf likely holds gallery catalogs and biographies, much like this one from the Moma.
Yoko Ono’s book storage feels somewhat scattered, but it doesn't look cluttered. Instead, the eclectic nature reflects the equally diverse contents of her book collection. From what I can see, the collection includes high-end art monographs and photography books, including the Rolling Stone archives (available at Amazon) visible in the apartment, as well as extensive personal records of gallery catalogs and past exhibitions.
I also love the leather-bound volumes seen on her top shelf. They suggest a conscious effort to preserve the apartment’s 19th-century intellectual character, creating a space where historical archives coexist with modern art books.
Inspired by Yoko’s lived-in shelves, I’ve loosened my grip on symmetry and allowed my books to exist more fluidly within my apartment, with some now stacked horizontally, others tucked into corners, a few even drifting off the shelf entirely.
Much like her space in the Dakota Building, my shelves no longer strive for perfection but for personality, proving that the most compelling libraries are the ones that celebrate the lives around them.
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