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People say you should never judge a book by its cover, but what about the lack thereof? BookTok may not be on board with this decorating hot take, but design lovers would agree that discarding a hardback book's dust jacket is the secret to stealth, chic storage. Just ask Joanna Gaines, who is spearheading this decorating style.

Eagle-eyed Fixer Upper fans might notice that the Magnolia entrepreneur often removes the dust jackets from her clients' books and leaves the hard binding behind. Quite frankly, it's the best of both worlds. By removing the flimsy cover, you can reduce visual clutter and tone down clashing colors. However, since most hardcovers have its title and author emblazoned on the spine, you can still show off your impressive Elin Hilderbrand collection. (Bookshelf wealth, meet quiet luxury.)

"This could be a cardinal sin for book lovers, but I just did it to a bunch of books on my bookshelf last night and it made such a difference," adds Jo Saltz, House Beautiful's editorial director.

Best of all? It's a very easy concept to bring to your space: Simply remove the covers-keep it eco-friendly by saving or recycling them-and then put the books back on your shelves. For a setup packed with visual intrigue, alternate between placing them vertically or in horizontal stacks. A lot of hardcover books come in muted colors, which will make grouping similar shades together easier on the eyes without veering into rainbow shelf territory.

Once all your reads are back in their place, you can fill the rest of the space with framed photos, empty vases, and other small accessories. After all, just like the pages of your uncovered tome, your bookshelf should be designed to tell a story. More specifically, your story.