While it’s easy to throw a random assortment of books up on your bookshelves and call it a day, there are many more inviting ways to spice up those shelves and make them the focal point they should be. Bookshelves can serve as handsome display cases that can add character and charm to any space. Here’s a few tips to have your bookshelves looking their best!
Organizing your bookcase
Empty, Sort and Find
You’ll want to begin by removing everything from your bookcase. Then start sorting what you removed to see if you’d like to keep any of it on the shelves. This includes your books–sort by size or color and ditch any shabby-looking paperbacks or any old textbooks. It also includes any décor items, such as figurines, carvings, boxes, etc., –cull out the old trinkets you wouldn’t want guests to see. Then, take a look around your home for nicer accents you may have: trays, vases, small framed artwork, boxes, etc.
Create a Backdrop
Next, consider adding a backdrop to your bookshelves. Adding a color or texture to the backs of your bookcase can give added depth as well as a pop of color. For optimal impact, go with a shade that’s darker than the shelves themselves and is complimentary to your wall color. Leftover wallpaper or paint will work well for this.
Start with the big stuff
Now it’s time to start returning the decided upon items to the shelves. Start with the largest ones and use a zigzag approach to placing them. Start with a large accessory- like a chunky box, a picture, or a pair of candlesticks at the far left of the top shelf. Then place another large object or a group of larger objects below the far right of the shelf, and so on. This way you’ll create symmetry and balance by working from side to side like this.
Fill in any Blanks
Once you’ve incorporated your large objects, it’s time to fill in any blank spaces with books and smaller objects. Alternate horizontal and vertical stacks of books by placing the biggest ones on the bottom shelves and the smaller ones on top. The stacks of books can be used to hold small objects or to buttress the horizontal ones.
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