How to use Canva to create aesthetic posts for your Bookstagram
I can say that my carousels brought me to where I am today, nearly to 30k followers and nearly all of my carousels go viral (yes, even the ones that are not guides)
In the vibrant, scroll-stopping world of Bookstagram, a great book recommendation is only half the story. The other half is visual. With countless accounts wanting for attention, how do you make your bookish content stand out?
The answer isn’t just about just only taking pretty pictures, it’s about creating a cohesive, memorable, and signature aesthetic
No pressure, right?
Key notes
- How to create your account
- My favorite elements
- My advice
Here’s the thing
A deliberate aesthetic is more than just decoration, it’s a strategic tool. It builds brand recognition, turning casual viewers into loyal followers who connect with your specific style. My followers know instantly when I am posting, so even if I post something that doesn’t bring any value, they are still engaged
Before you open Canva, you need a blueprint. Your aesthetic should be an authentic reflection of you and the books you love. This foundational step ensures your visual identity is meaningful and sustainable.
Self-Reflection: Understanding Your Bookish Identity
Translate your favorite genres into a tangible aesthetic by connecting them to specific moods, colors, and fonts.
Finding Inspiration (and How to Adapt, Not Copy)
Inspiration is everywhere. Turn to Pinterest and create a secret board dedicated to your “Bookstagram Aesthetic.” Pin images that resonate with you, not just from other Bookstagram accounts, but from interior design, fashion, travel photography, and art.
Look for common threads in what you save. Are you drawn to warm, earthy tones or cool, muted colors? Do you prefer minimalist compositions or rich, layered flatlays?
The goal is to identify patterns and moods, not to find accounts to replicate.
Setting Up Your Creative Hub: Canva Account & Workspace
Start by creating a free Canva account.
One of the first things you should do is set up your “Brand Kit” (a Pro feature, but you can create a similar reference document in a free account).
Here, you can save your color palette and upload your chosen fonts for easy access. Create dedicated folders to organize your work, one for final posts, one for templates, and one for your brand assets. This simple organization acts as your personal image archive, saving you immense time later.
Book Photography Tips: Creating Stunning Originals
Great design starts with great source material. Before you even upload to Canva, focus on your photography.
- Use Natural Light: It’s the most flattering light for book photography. Shoot near a window for soft, beautiful shadows.
- Compose Thoughtfully: Use the rule of thirds to create more dynamic images. Experiment with different angles—flatlays, eye-level shots, and creative close-ups.
- Include Relevant Props: A coffee mug, a cozy blanket, or a pair of glasses can help tell a story and enhance your chosen book aesthetics.
- Show Your Face: While not for everyone, remember that Instagram posts with faces get 38% more likes. A shot of you reading can create a powerful personal connection.
Creating Versatile Bookstagram Templates in Canva
Templates are your secret weapon for efficiency and consistency. Create a master template for each of your recurring post types: book reviews, quote shares, and listicles.
Design these with your brand colors, fonts, and logo/username placement already set. Each time you create a new post, simply duplicate the template and swap out the new content.
Check out my templates here
Applying Your Aesthetic to Different Post Types
Your aesthetic should be flexible enough to work across various formats.
For Authors: An established aesthetic is crucial for branding. Use it to share updates on your WIPs (works in progress), reveal snippets, or create countdowns to a book launch.
Book Recommendations: Design a graphic that features the book cover, your star ratings, and a brief, compelling snippet from your review.
Monthly Reading Wrap-up: Create a visually appealing collage of the book covers you read that month. This is a highly shareable piece of content that followers love.
Bookish Instagram Stories: Use your templates to create engaging story content, like polls (“Which should I read next?”), Q&As, and behind-the-scenes looks at your current read.
Developing a Content Plan for Aesthetic Adherence
Use a content planner or a simple grid preview app to see how your upcoming posts will look next to each other. This helps you balance different types of content (e.g., a photo-heavy post next to a text-based graphic) while ensuring the overall feed remains cohesive. Batch-creating your Canva graphics for the week or month ahead can also help maintain a consistent look and feel.
My content planner here
Reviewing and Refining Your Aesthetic Over Time
Your style will naturally evolve as you grow. Every six months or so, take a step back and review your feed. Does it still feel like you? Are your followers responding well to it? Don’t be afraid to make small tweaks, perhaps introducing a new accent color or updating one of your fonts. Evolution is a sign of a healthy, growing creative account.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Bookstagram Design
As you develop your style, watch out for a few common mistakes:
- Visual Clutter: Too many elements, fonts, or colors in a single graphic can be overwhelming. Simplicity is often more impactful.
- Poor Readability: Using light text on a light background or overly decorative fonts for long passages of text.
- Inconsistency: Jumping between different aesthetics from one post to the next confuses your audience and weakens your brand recognition (I wouldn’t worry about this until later, we need first to find our style, even if takes months our years).
Final Encouragement: Embrace Experimentation and Personal Style
Remember that this is your creative space. The guidelines in this article are a starting point, not rigid rules. The most compelling aesthetics are those that are deeply personal and authentic. Don’t be afraid to experiment, play with different combinations, and let your unique personality shine through in every design.
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Final Thoughts: Make It YOU
The journey of a thousand posts begins with a single design. Open up Pinterest for inspiration, log into Canva, and start defining the visual elements that represent your bookish soul. Your unique, scroll-stopping Bookstagram aesthetic is waiting to be created.
Be specific. Be you. Tell people what to do next.
That’s the formula.