Shelf Esteem”…from bookcase to showcase...
By Sandy Dixon, Interior Arrangements, Inc. ©2006
Your books tell stories and so should your bookshelves. Along with your
collectibles, memorabilia and framed photos, they give visitors and
guests a glimpse of who you are….your interests, talents and hobbies. So
with a little time and some artful arranging, your shelves can become an
eye-catching focus of interest in a room, instead of an ‘edge to edge’
arrangement of books lined up on every shelf. All vertical lines on
bookshelves can be boring and not warrant a second glance. Similarly, a
jumbled assortment of odds and ends competing for space on every shelf
will project an uninspiring and cluttered appearance.
The key lies in combining creative collections of decorative items,
greenery and artwork with a well planned selection of books. The goal is
to ‘compose’ a balanced arrangement that warrants a second look.
Arranging a bookshelf takes a little finesse and is quite similar to
decorating a room. Balance, color, texture and height all need to be
considered, as well as adding some ‘unexpected’ items that make visitors
want to look closer.
Are you ready to enhance the shelf life of your bookcases? Here are some
easy, shelf decorating tips to get you started:
First take everything off the shelves---start with a clean slate. Look
at each book and decide which you want to keep---those you love and
use---and donate or give away the rest (have boxes handy for the
latter).
Gather other shelf ‘potentials’ from around the house---collections,
memorabilia, art objects, candles, framed photos, plants---and group
according to color, finish size or theme.
Books used regularly should be shelved vertically for easy access and
can be grouped according to author or subject. An additional storage
option for 16” shelves is to arrange two rows of books on each shelf.
Place shorter books against the back wall and another row of taller
books along the front edge of the shelf to hide the ones behind.
Color, size and texture need to be considered when arranging books and
accessories on shelves. To add emphasis and interest, paint the back
wall of bookshelves a deeper color. Coordinate the color of books with
the color of accessories you are using on the same shelf.
Keep things in balance so no one section of the bookcase appears
weighted down or repetitive. Instead of placing groups of books directly
under similarly arranged books, alternate stacks of books horizontally
and vertically. Put larger books and accessories on lower shelves and
lighter items on upper shelves.
Vary height and depth: arrangements are more interesting if everything
isn’t at the same level. Stacks of books, boxes and baskets make perfect
risers for displaying accessories. Place items in front or back of other
items for added dimension. For instance place a framed photo or small
accessory in front of a row of books.
Negative space: as in other accessorizing around the house, allow for
some empty pockets of space. It not only gives the eye a chance to rest,
the visual ‘pause’ it provides creates a greater emphasis on the
accessorized spaces.
‘Surprise’ tactics: add a personal touch by displaying a few golf
related objects next to or on golf books. Place antique toys alongside
children’s books, etc.
No jackets required: remove jackets from hard cover books, but leave
covers on visual or ‘coffee table’ books (and those that are
collectible, rare or have sentimental value).
Book ends: when selecting book ends, consider the size of the books. For
large or heavy volumes, choose larger book ends for a more balanced and
consistent look. Use a horizontal stack of books as book ends on one or
both sides of a group of vertical books.
Consider hanging artwork or accessories on back wall above bookshelf.
Adding it all together... instead of looking at your newly arranged
bookshelves and seeing individual elements, you should be looking at a
composition of well chosen and meaningful pieces that will give guests a
snapshot of what’s meaningful to you and your family. Congratulations---
you have raised your level of shelf consciousness!!
Sandy Dixon, owner of Interior Arrangements, Inc. is a professional real
estate stager, trainer, consultant and speaker. She has been featured on
WB2 TV and in several industry publications. For information on
training workshops and for presentation topics, contact Sandy directly
at 303.674.8667 or visit
www.interiorarrangements.com
Read another interior decorating article...
Bookcases.....They're Not Just About Books!
Most of us treat our bookcases as the "catch all area" in our Homes. The
telephone books, magazines, DVD's and anything else we don't know where
to store, gets crammed full in our bookcases.
