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| Arranging A Bookcase - Better Homes & Gardens |
When someone says the word "Bookcase" what comes to mind - well someplace to store books of course. That's always been my thought but today's bookcases are not just used for holding books. People now showcase everything from photographs, art objects, pottery, baskets and yes books.
Now before you start madly running around collecting objects to put on the shelves I've must tell you that according to decorators and decorating shows there is a method to staging a bookcase. I used to think that this was really silly, I mean what difference did it make if the books were upright or laying vertical and whether an object related to the one next to it.
Well, I'm taking my thoughts back because over the years I've discovered that when you really think about the look it really does make a difference. I'm going to go through some of the tips along with pictures to give some examples of why taking the time to carefully arrange a bookcase makes sense.
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| Arranging A Bookcase - Better Homes & Gardens |
I like the idea of combining books with other objects but one thing to keep in mind is to not over accessorize, that can turn into a big jumbled mess or another word is clutter. You know the old saying "Less is more" well that holds true with bookcases, your not only showcasing your books but by adding other objects and arranging them in a certain way your also adding interest.
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| Arranging A Bookcase - Better Homes & Gardens |
So how to start, the first thing to take into consideration is the area you have to work with - in other words how many bookcases. The office pictured above is a good example (wow, I'd love to have that space) you notice that the books are not just lined up in perfect rows, some are standing upright while others are stacked vertically - this is a really great idea for a bookcase that is just going to hold strictly books, this not only gives interest but it keeps your precious books from looking like a line of toy solders standing in a row.
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| Arranging A Bookcase - Better Homes & Gardens |
Adding other objects to a bookcase can be a bit tricky, again you want to add interest and showcase your pieces but not have it turn into a cluttered mess that makes absolutely no sense. The rule of thumb here is really like displaying any object, keep it simple and use things that relate to each other.
In the picture above you'll notice the vases, there are three of them, two are the same material the third is totally different. This works because first there are three of the same thing and the sizes are different. The next shelve down is another example with two different size owls that are grouped with a framed mirror and a small potted plant. You might think this totally contradicts what I just said about like items but if you look you'll notice all of those items are in the same color pallet.
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| Arranging A Bookcase - Better Homes & Gardens |
This last picture is the perfect example of what I've been talking about. The first thing I want to bring to your attention is the wallpaper on the back, this is a really fun way to not only add interest but it's a great way to spruce up a bookcase that might not be in the best shape. Next you'll notice the books are stacked both horizontally and vertically, the bookends tie in with the square box through their color which holds true with the flowers and magazine sleeves. The large wicker basket on the bottom works because of the similarity of color with the bookcase itself - not to mention it's great for storage.
Of course as with any decorating project the most important thing to remember is it's your home and you should arrange things the way that you like. Getting ideas from designers, design shows or magazines is great but in the end it's not only what works for you but what makes you smile.
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