Arranging books on a bookshelf
How to Organize Your Bookshelves, According to Interior Designers
Werner Straube/Amy Kartheiser Design
In this era of Zoom meetings, our bookshelves speak volumes. Talking to OprahMag.com, author Lily King confessed that she was wary of audiences scanning her shelves during her virtual book tour. “It just makes me really uneasy. It's like, "No, no, don't judge me," she said.
As King points out, so often, our bookshelves are forms of self-expression. “They speak to your personality,” Nikki Klugh, an interior designer based in San Diego, CA, says. “They can express your style, what’s important to you, and what you value."
There are countless approaches to organizing bookshelves. While Klugh recommends grouping books by color for aesthetic purposes, those with a lot of tomes may want to stack them by genre or alphabetically so you can access them more efficiently. For a more streamlined look, arrange books by height, with the tallest on both sides of the shelves.
Below, find tips sourced from interior designers and professional organizers that'll help you make your library, reading nook, or DIY bookshelf both beautiful and functional.
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"Edit" Your Shelves
"Edit," of course, being a polite way of saying "pare your book collection back." Andrea Walker of Smartly Organized acknowledges it can be hard getting rid of books.
"People hoard books and the knowledge that's in them. They feel like if they let the book go, they're letting the knowledge go," she says. However, she encourages you to consider how often you really use the book, and decide whether or not to keep it. You'll need room on the shelf for other belongings.
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Start With a Clean Slate
No matter what you put on your shelves, Klugh says the process of redecorating should always begin with the same step: A clean slate. "Take everything off your shelf and keep only the things that you love," Klugh says.
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Add in Objects
That's right: Bookshelves aren't just for books. Amy Kartheiser, principal at Amy Kartheiser Design, recommends mixing objects between books. A few ideas? Family photos in a frame, items in a statement bowl, heirlooms; a propped up plate, or small vases with blooms. When shopping for these objects, Klugh recommends keeping your room's color palette in mind, plus she says to add a mix of wood pieces, glass pieces, and metal. "It creates variety."
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Embrace the Rainbow
Rainbow bookshelves are a controversial topic in the book world. But for interior designers, they make sense. According to Klugh, grouping books by color can create a sense of order. If you don't need to reference the books often, Klugh says, rainbow is an aesthetically pleasing format. Walker puts it another way: Color-coded shelves "quiets the visual clutter.
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As for what order the rainbow spectrum should go in? Emilie Dulles of Dulles Designs' method is to go from dark to light, bottom to top—with black, navy, and charcoal books on the top shelf, and white books on the top shelf. In between come the colors.
Even if you're not creating a full rainbow spectrum, Klugh recommends grouping books by hue to complement the room's palette.
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Organize Alphabetically or By Genre
Designers agree that if the books won't be moved from your shelves often, the color-coding is the most aesthetically pleasing route. But it's not always the most functional.
"When your collection is extremely large and referenced often, having an organizational system that makes it easy to find what you are looking for when you need it becomes more important. In these cases, opt for organizing your collection alphabetically by author or by genre, then author if the collection is comprehensive," Michele Vig, founder and chief organizer with Neat Little Nest, says.
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Think in Odd Numbers
Klugh recommends working with odd numbers when decorating shelves with objects. She illustrates an example using vases: Get one tall vase, one medium, round vase, and one small, wide vase. Or, get three objects of the same color but different textures." Stagger the objects and group them so that they feel like one, so that they're overlapping in front of each other," Klugh says.
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Separate Your Hardcovers and Paperbacks
From alphabetical organization to grouping by subject, everyone has their own organizational strategy. But to create a sense of visual balance, consider separating your hardcover and paperbacks.
"Place your hardcovers on top shelves, and your paperbacks at the bottom. Not only will the organization look better, but it will also allow you to distribute the weight evenly," Andrew Barker, founder of Homeowner Costs, says.
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Layers, Layers, Layers
"Layering provides height and interest on your shelves," Carissa Miller, interior designer and founder of CC and Mike Creative, says.
She recommends stacking books and placing a box or candlesticks on top of the pile. The same trick works for artwork and framed photos. "Art can also be layered nicely by framing a larger abstract or simple black and white family photo with a smaller framed piece of art layered in front of it," she says.
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Carissa Miller
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Use Baskets to Your Advantage
According to Miller, baskets can be used as storage and styling objects. "Baskets of all shapes, sizes, and textures can be used on bookshelves to take up space and provide texture and interest," she says. Some options? Wicker baskets, woven baskets, storage baskets with lids, and even graphic printed baskets.
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Nikki Klugh
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Show Off Your Collections and "Travel Treasures"
Not sure what to do with that shotglass or seashell collection? Gather them for their debut on your bookshelves.
"Whatever your interests are, it's good to bring them together, that way they have the biggest impact," Klugh says.
She recommends placing any travel souvenirs together for reminders of trips.Michiel Perry of Black Southern Belle takes it a step further. She places travel books about a specific place next to items from that place. For example, pair rocks from an Aegean beach with a travel book about Greece.
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Make Things Pop With Colored Glass
Colored glassware is equally great for dinner parties and for adding pops of vibrant elegance to bookshelves. “Colorful glassware can can also add an unexpected source of delight to your shelves," glassblower Cheryl Saban, founder of Saban Glass, says.
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Use the Two-Thirds Rule
To avoid overcrowding, Klugh recommends using the "two-thirds rule." Keep each shelf two-thirds full, allowing for some empty space, or a place to put an object or two.
"Open space is important. It allows your eyes to rest, so what you're taking in isn't overstimulating. You can see the other amazing things there," she says.
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Embrace the Book Stack
Designers also recommend mixing up how you arrange the books. According to Jamie Novak, designer and author of Keep This, Not That, only 70% should be shelved vertically and the remaining 30% placed horizontal. The horizontal books can be used as platforms to highlight accessories (layers, people!).
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Arrange Books by Height
When organizing books by height in a single shelf, one rule of thumb is to think in a "Z" pattern. Darla DeMorrow of HeartWork Organizing explains the method. The top shelf can have tall books on the left, low on the right. The shelf underneath should be the opposite: Tall books on the right, low books on the left. Let the pattern continue all the way down.
For those of you with a wall of bookshelves, DeMorrow says to guide your organizing with a wave pattern: Each shelf should go from high to low. "The goal isn’t to create a perfect-Z or a perfect wave pattern, but to gently guide your eye to the interesting bits of your collection," she says.
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Bring Books to the Front of the Shelf
Resist the impulse to push books toward the back wall. Instead, bring them forward.
"My favorite tip is so simple," DeMorrow says. "Move all the books to meet the front edge of the bookshelf, giving a uniform look and eliminating telltale dust."
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Use Wallpaper or Paint to Create a Bold Backdrop
Kartheiser recommends creating a bold backdrop by painting the area or lining it with color that coordinates with the other rooms. She also offers a DIY tip: Cut out foam board, cover it with fabric, and press it to the back of each shelf for a faux wallpaper look.
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Place Heavier Objects on Bottom Shelves
Rule of thumb, according to Klugh: Put heavier objects, like art books or storage bins, on the bottom of the shelves. Lighter objects, like paperbacks, should go toward the top. "You want to feel like it's well rounded," Klugh says of the bookshelf.
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Think in Themes
When gathering items to put on the shelf, designer Courtney Turk recommends thinking in themes—whether colors, materials, places, or subject matter. "Each piece doesn’t have to 'match' but if they all encompass the same theme, something cohesive will naturally take shape," she says.
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Put Your Favorite Books Front and Center
Highlight the books you love by using a bookstand. "Whatever book you choose to feature on a stand will say something unique about you, what you love, where you’ve been, and where you want to go in the future," art instructor at TakeLessons Eileen Murphy says.
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Take a Picture of Your Final Design
Your shelves will shift over time. Remember them at their best by taking a picture when you're done. That way, you can always restore them back to their best look.
How to Decorate a Bookshelf: 8 Expert Tricks
Beyond their practical role—organizing those things we used before Kindles and iPads—bookshelves can serve as handsome display cases. Here’s how to decorate bookshelves to make them look their best.
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First: Empty your bookshelves
Start by pulling everything off the shelves, then sort books by subject, size, or color, suggests Loi Thai, who owns the Bethesda, Maryland antiques shop Tone on Tone and shared his ideas in the Washington Post. Weed out shabby-looking paperbacks and anything that reads Chemistry 101 on the spine.
Ditch all gewgaws that aren’t worthy of display and scour the house for nicer knickknacks: trays, vases, wooden boxes, and the like. These decorating mistakes could make your house look messy.
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Create a backdrop
Consider painting or adding wallpaper to the backs of shelves to add depth as well as a pop of color. For the most impact, go with a shade that’s darker than shelves themselves.
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Replace the big stuff first
Return your now-curated objects to the shelves, starting with the largest ones and using a zigzag approach. Set a large accessory—such as a chunky box, a plate on a stand, or a pair of candlesticks—at the upper far left of the top shelf. (“Items with rounded edges are a nice contrast to all the books,” Thai says.) Then place another large object or a group of them on the far right of the shelf immediately below.
And so on. You’ll create symmetry and balance by working from side to side like this. If you have two sets of shelves side by side, reverse the process on the matching case, putting a large item on the upper right and working downward in the opposite direction.
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Fill in the blanks
Add books and smaller objects to the empty spaces, alternating horizontal and vertical stacks of books, placing the biggest ones on the bottom shelves and smaller ones up top. “I like it when books look organized,” says Marissa Sauer, interior designer and founder of Design MACS, “so if I have a stack that’s left to right, I’ll put the tallest one on the outside and the smallest one on the inside.” These are the secrets of people with impeccable homes.
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Beware of overstuffing
The basic rule of thumb for decorating and organizing bookshelves: one-third books, one-third accessories, and one-third empty space per shelf.
If you’re short on storage, fill the bottom shelf with identical boxes or baskets. Organize 60 percent of books vertically and 40 percent horizontally to create both balance and spontaneity. These are the tricks interior decorators would never tell you for free.
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Let books do double duty
Use vertical stacks to buttress horizontal ones or to hold small objects. (Try books in a pyramid shape.) Rely on a mix of interesting shapes, textures, and materials, such as leather, wicker, horn, shell, metal, and ceramic. Try to balance dark with light, matte with shiny, round with square. If you don’t trust your taste, limit the number of colors and items you choose and simply vary the shapes. Thai displays like-toned collections of antique creamware, silver pieces, and marble objects on his shelves. “If you have too much going on,” he says, “it can be overwhelming.”
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Think scale
Don’t display items that can’t hold their own.
“Objects that are heavier tend to work best,” says Sauer. “I like them to be on the small side; maybe 8 inches tall at most.” When grouping objects, remember that odd numbers of items tend to be more pleasing to the eye than even ones. Sauer recommends shopping antique stores and fairs in order to find unique accessories. Have you read any of these bestselling books of the decade? Keep them on your shelves for a colorful accent.
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Evaluate your masterpiece
Costello advises you to step back and ask, Are there three big moments—top left, middle right, and bottom center (the golden triangle of styling)? Do the shelves look generally full? Is it too busy in one area and too empty in the others? (Rearrange.) Does one item stick out like a sore thumb? (Remove.)
Originally Published: June 15, 2016
Originally Published in Reader's Digest
Bookshelves: organization secrets | BeautyRobot.
ru Alphabetical
This is the most obvious way and, probably, familiar from childhood, if not from public libraries, then at least from the school class magazine. Books should be listed by author's last name.
The method is well suited for large book collections: it will be at least approximately clear where to look for a particular book.
But it also has quite a few disadvantages: the series will have to be staged out of order, and the method is suitable only for fiction. Non-fiction books are more often remembered by their title than by their author, and there are often several of them.
If your library is regularly updated, try not to fill the shelves completely so that you can place new volumes in their rightful places.
Genre
Another familiar book sorting method that will be especially good for very large and varied collections. After all, it is illogical to keep mixed poetry, popular science literature and action-packed detective stories.
If you distribute books by genre, within each category you can use just alphabetical sorting.
In this case, by genre, I mean a broader concept: you can separately put books of a certain era, children's books, separate domestic authors from foreign ones, and so on.
Focus on the composition of your library: what kind of literature is there most of all, what topics deserve separate shelves?
True, there will definitely be books of related genres that could stand in several places at once, and you just have to decide on which shelves it will be more convenient for you to store them and strangle your inner perfectionist a little.
And it will be very useful for you….
Catalog of books
Of course, this is not directly related to the topic of the article, and yet I want to draw your attention to the convenience of such a list, especially if it is stored in electronic format. You can always quickly see what books you have, in which edition, you can also indicate on which shelf this or that book is located.
I maintain my catalog on the Livelib website, which I told you about in the article “The Most Useful Sites for Readers” - there, in a personal selection, you can select a specific edition of the book and make any note to it.
But you can also use a regular Excel spreadsheet or a Word document, whichever you prefer. In any case, a search will be available, so you can get the information you need quickly and easily.
By series
The next way to sort books, which can be paired with something else, is by publishing series. Now in the book market there are many beautiful series of books with both classics and modern literature. Of course, these editions look best together.
Bookshelves will look neat when books without sorting by appearance look very colorful, because all the volumes are of different colors and different heights.
The disadvantage of this method is that the books of one author may have to be placed in different places in the bookcase: sometimes the works of one writer are published in different series.
Either a good memory will help here - in order to always know in which edition you have Crime and Punishment, and in which - The Brothers Karamazov - or the same book catalog that was discussed above.
Fit to size
This method can be used as a base if you still have a small library and just a couple of bookshelves. Otherwise, it can be combined with other sorting principles.
Anyway, if you put together all the tall books, all the mini books, narrow books, and so on, you can arrange them more compactly and make more efficient use of space.
In addition, this way the books will look neater.
Stacked
Logic in the distribution of books in places is very important, but we must not forget about aesthetics. Even rows of books look beautiful, but if they are “broken” in neat piles in several places, the library will look even better.
This method also has a practical side: it is more convenient to store small publications, including paperback books, in stacks.
If you put such books in the usual way, there will be a lot of empty space above them, which you will not use in any way, and you can use the space more efficiently in the stack.
Front side
This is another way to “water down” a row of books that you have probably seen in bookstores. One book on the shelf turns its cover to the viewer, the rest stand as usual.
In this way, you can focus on your favorite publications, admire them like paintings.
The space is used wastefully, but the owners of large bookcases with shallow shelves can afford it. On a deep shelf, a book located "face" will be poorly visible.
Another option is to “hide” behind such a book a pile of pocket or narrow format publications. Then the place is not wasted, and your favorite cover is always perfectly visible.
By color
An unusual and effective way to decorate your library is to arrange books by color so that the spines form a rainbow.
I think such a bookcase will attract the attention of even your non-reading friends for a long time when they drop by for a visit.
But, of course, finding a certain book in such an arrangement will not be easy. Therefore, the method is best suited for a small library that you yourself have lovingly collected, so remember each volume perfectly “in person”.
If you decide on such an arrangement, having a collection of books of several hundred books, you will simply need a catalog.
Tetris
Alas, it is not always possible to think about beauty and convenience, sometimes space dictates its own rules. There is little space for books, but there are many books themselves. Of course, in this situation it will be especially useful to sort out your books and say goodbye to those that are no longer needed: you didn’t like it, you didn’t want to read it, books at once, and so on.
But speaking of storage, try to use every centimeter of space on the shelves without damaging them.
Sort books by size first so that the rows and stacks are even.
Use the space above the rows of books to accommodate thinner stacks of titles, and you can place bulky titles under the books. If the books are in two rows, and there is still room on the edge of the shelf, one or two volumes can be perpendicularly placed between the rows. In general, nothing can be done if there is not enough space, we recall one of the most famous electronic games - Tetris.
Separate Unread
Unless you're one of those titans of the spirit who can buy a new book only after reading the previous one, you probably have some unread copies in your collection. It would be wise to give them a separate shelf (or many shelves, if you are as good at keeping yourself in hand as I am). Then it will be much more convenient to choose what to read next, and no book bought on the day of the sale at the book market will be forgotten or lost.
Stacks of unread
I have a lot of unread books, no less than the ones I have read.
Therefore, I initially store them on the same shelves, but I put the read books, and put the unread ones in piles. This is also very visual and convenient, while the sorting of books by genre does not go astray - I immediately put the purchased book in its rightful place. However, this method is convenient only if there is still plenty of space in the bookcase. For several years the system worked successfully, but now it is already difficult for me to either squeeze a book into a pile, or put it down when I have read it.
Spine to the wall
I saw this extremely unusual method on the ABC Friends channel. Arina and Polina, the authors of this channel, once staged a real revolution on the shelves and put all the books with a cut to the viewer so that not a single title could be seen. This was done as an experiment, so that the owner of the library would choose a book for blind reading, almost at random (almost - because some books can still be recognized).
But aesthetically, such a library looks unexpected and interesting.
I think this look will be appreciated by adherents of visual minimalism who do not want to give up paper books, but do not really like the look of colorful book spines. And books with a colored cut will be a great bright accent.
But, of course, this method will not work if you often try to find a particular volume on a shelf.
20 bookshelf and space ideas
They hold books and help us to be organized. They are bookshelves, and without them, our homes would be filled with piles of books, and they can be not only functional, but also beautiful.
What if decorating your bookshelves is just as important as decorating your living room? Below you will find our tips for decorative finishing, complete with photos of illustrative examples. You must find an idea that suits your design needs. Who knew that books could be seen as decoration?
Bookshelf Display Strategies
We start with some bookshelf basics. When you are planning your interior, consider the function of the shelf. Do you need a lot of books, or is there room to highlight the treasures of interior decor?
Idea #1: Matching books with decorative items
If you have space, use some decorative items. Vases, figurines and art reproductions as shown below. Notice how the repetition of bright blue and white elements helps bring the interior together.
Idea #2: Creating Symmetry
A sense of balance is powerful, and symmetry can really connect a room. In the display below, notice how the books, vases and figurines are arranged on the shelves. You will not see one side filled with books, and the other gaping with emptiness.
This stacking strategy can be used on a single bookcase with multiple shelves. Make sure large items are balanced with other large items and there is no empty space left.
Idea #3: Leave some empty space
About the empty space... If you want to leave part of the shelf empty, get the effect of empty space. Smaller rooms can benefit from this minimalist look, as clutter can make interiors appear smaller than they are. On the contrary, a little emptiness creates the illusion of a large space!
Preparing books
Now let's look at the books themselves. Since the purpose of a bookshelf is to store reading materials, let's look at ways to showcase them
Idea #4: Add a slanted book design
Sure you can arrange the books vertically, one after the other, but wouldn't it be interesting to change the design? Try tilting the books and you'll get a very different look. In the room below, the books are arranged obliquely, far from the center of each compartment of the shelf, in connection with this, there is a place, in the middle, for decorative elements.
Idea #5: A stack of books for variety
You can arrange the books at an angle and stack them. Stacking books horizontally creates a modern look and adds variety, and is a good alternative for a room where there is nothing but books.
Choosing a bookshelf design
Now we'll talk about the color design of the bookshelf. Whether you're looking to bring some much-needed revitalization to a space, or you're looking to save your prostate, here are some suggestions for choosing shades for your bookshelf.
Idea #6: Use a limited color palette
If the room is simple, use a selective color palette. Pictured below is the Domino Tema bookshelf, modern and elegant with white, brown and metallic accents.
Idea #7: Single color book cover
If monochromatic design is your preference, try covering your books with identical covers. Notice how white is preferred on this bookcase, the measurement is achieved by varying the hues.
Idea #8: Organize books by color
If you prefer to see the title of your books, arrange them with the bindings facing out! But try arranging them by color...rainbow colors can really spice up a room, adding direction to shelves full of hardbacks and paperbacks.
Idea #9: Create a Gradient Effect
Another color matching choice: achieving a gradient effect, arranging the books so that their color fades and intensifies. Repeat grouping by color from row to row as shown below on the bookcase. One little surprise: this "bookshelf" is actually a wallpaper!
Idea #10: Use books as a decorative color
We say that books blend in with taste, why not use them as a decorative color? On the bookshelves below, yellow, green, red and turquoise books complement the neutral space.
Make room for other items
It's time to reconsider our non-book spaces. With books carefully placed on the shelves now that we're done, let's look at other ways to make your bookshelf stand out.
Idea #11: Hide clutter in boxes
We start with some practical advice. If your shelves need to store documents or other items that should not be visible, they can be hidden in a series of elegant boxes, as shown below. To maintain style, stick to one color.
Idea #12: Use uniform bindings
We propose the idea of uniformity in binding. Do you have papers on your shelf instead of books? In this next space, office documents are neatly placed in a series of white-bound folders that lie horizontally.
Idea #13: Display a decorative art collection
Do you have a collection that needs to be shown? Perhaps your bookshelf is the perfect place for this! Pottery and shells are popular collectibles that bring life to a setting, like this bird theme shown below. Remember, in the grouping of the collection, there must be a style.
Idea #14: Create a sense of depth with art
Use artwork to achieve a sense of depth on your shelves. Notice how the paintings are framed in this next room, creating a backdrop for collectibles and books, layered to create a clear foreground, middle, and background.
Bookshelf for decoration
What if a good bookshelf design caught your attention? Below we look at ways to update your bookcases. ..
Idea #15: Paint the back of your bookshelf
Paint the inside of your bookshelf. It's very simple and is the pinnacle of design takeoff in recent years, as a project by hobbyists who don't want to use a bright paint color for an entire room, and get a bold color by bringing it in through a bookshelf. Plus, the vibrant coloring makes the contents of the shelf stand out!
Idea #16: Paint the top, bottom and side inside of the shelf
If your choice of furniture is a shelving unit that doesn't have a paintable back, you can paint the inside of the shelves. On the bookshelf below, notice how painting the interior of just two compartments turns the shelf into a modern piece of art.
Idea #17: Wallpaper Shelf Interior with Bold Geometric Print
Wallpaper breathes new life into bookshelves, especially when a bold geometric pattern is used along the back interior wall. To properly use the wallpaper, check out the full Feathers Flights tutorial.
Idea #18: Use wallpaper with a metallic sheen
Metal accents add sparkle to your shelf and the space it sits on. Choosing metallic wallpaper as a backdrop for glossy décor items transforms the shelf into a shimmery, vibrant showpiece.
Unforgettable bookshelves
Sometimes a well designed bookshelf becomes a memorable and centerpiece of a room. The shelf itself stands out with its appearance, making your creative work more attractive...
Idea #19: Choose an architecturally interesting bookshelf
Arched bookshelves below, add movement to the space. Their stunning form is enhanced by selected books in a color scheme of white and cream. On the other hand, on these extraordinary bookshelves, any arrangement of books and decor would be amazing!
Idea #20: Choose a bookshelf that is a work of art
Speaking of art, it's hard to go wrong when choosing a museum-worthy bookshelf. In Moroccan style, the Zelli bookshelf (photo below) is a prime example.
