10 tips for styling your bookcase
<p>Forget e-books and Kindles. We refuse to believe in “<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.teleread.com/germanic-applause-for-decline-of-west-in-death-of-the-bookshelf/" target="_blank">The Death of the Bookshelf</a></strong></span>”. A well-styled bookcase isn’t just a status symbol and altar to your love of reading – it’s a fixture of any room layout. As soon as you enter somebody’s house, you tend to gravitate toward his or her bookshelf. Your guests will do the same and, yes, they will judge you based on what they see. Your beloved tomes deserve to be stylishly and thoughtfully displayed, bringing you joy whenever you look at it. Consider this a lesson in ‘shelf improvement’.</p>
<p><strong>1. Clear the clutter</strong></p>
<p>Are your shelves running short of space? Do your hardbacks seem to multiply when you’re not looking? Your collection – when not arranged properly – can make the entire room look like a mess. Start by clearing the clutter. Only keep books you love and intend to read, donating the rest. Then edit down your objects, too. Use stylish storage boxes to keep anything unsightly tucked away.</p>
<p><strong>2. Display vanity reads</strong></p>
<p>Book aficionados may scoff at the idea, but you can buy a book purely for its cover. Gorgeous coffee table books deserve to be displayed like an accessory. Face out your favourite covers and indulge in those vanity reads.</p>
<p><strong>3. Thoughtful trinkets</strong></p>
<p>Bookshelves don’t have to just be for books. A freestanding display of meaningful sculptural objects, trinkets and knick-knacks conveys personality and warmth, adding visual interest and texture. Break up the books with candles, vases and crystals. And if you insist on displaying your collection of miniature porcelain pug figurines, then so be it. You are nothing if not eclectic. (A tip here: Placing the object in front of or atop a stack of white books allows it to take centre stage.)</p>
<p><strong>4. Colour-code your books</strong></p>
<p>Yes, arranging books by colour has become a bit passé – but admit it, it looks good. Also, unless you have a hundreds-strong collection, it’s a streamlined and practical way of arranging things as many of us think visually. (You may not remember who wrote that epic novel you read in high school, but you’re likely to remember the bright blue spine.) A neat rainbow display turns the shelf into a work of art in itself. You can even go a step further and colour code your objects, too.</p>
<p><strong>5. (OR) Classify your books by category</strong></p>
<p>If the avid reader in you finds colour-coded bookshelves offensive, you can classify them by category. Simply line them up vertically, pulling them forward so their spines are at the front of the shelf. Then make a tag for each genre (‘Gardening’, ‘Travel’, ‘Food’ etc.) by tucking a strip of cardstock under the books and over the front edge of the shelf. A metal label holder on each tag means you won’t even have to ask the at-home librarian to find what you’re looking for.</p>
<p><strong>6. Gallery hang</strong></p>
<p>If your bookcases are packed with no space to spare, you can still make room to decorate by hanging art from the front of the shelves. A gorgeous frame hung on your bookshelf turns the random cacophony of spines behind it into literary wallpaper.</p>
<p><strong>7. Mix up orientations</strong></p>
<p>Display books in both vertical and horizontal arrangements to create a balanced scheme. Create a mix of orientations on one shelf, and then dedicate alternate shelves to purely vertical or purely horizontal arrangements. If you can’t stand having books placed horizontal, as it makes it hard to retrieve a desired volume at need, try using a tray or horizontal rack to ground the layout instead.</p>
<p><strong>8. Insert greenery</strong></p>
<p>Organic elements give shelves depth, interest and help to break up the bookish display. For a touch of whimsy, add an air plant, terrarium, succulent or, if you’re a black thumb, a bowl filled with rocks. Adding plants is a great way to layer the heights on each shelf.</p>
<p><strong>9. Pattern happy</strong></p>
<p>Are your bookshelves looking a bit blah? Transform them with a quick cut-and-paste DIY. Find samples of some wallpaper that you love, measure it up to fit the inside backs of your shelves and insert for a painterly patterned effect.</p>
<p><strong>10. Photos are a must</strong></p>
<p>How lovely it is to have your favourite objects mixed in among your favourite reads and photos of your favourite people.</p>
<p>How is your bookcase styled? Share your décor tips with us in the comment section below!</p>
<p><em>Written by Kathleen Lee-Joe. First appeared on <a href="http://www.domain.com.au/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Domain.com.au</span></strong></a>.</em></p>
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