Design Assistance, Interior Design, Styling

Style your bookcase like a boss.

Gallery 1 Comment

One thing my clients seem to get so frustrated with is how to fill their bookshelves. Everyone has them; built-ins, free standing shelves, or wall shelves. They help bring style and personality into your room. They don’t deserve to be stuffed with books that you read 20 years ago that are now collecting dust. Let’s put your life, your personality, your story, onto those shelves.

If you haven’t already spent weeks shopping to collect items, which you should, start by finding items in your home (or garage) that mean something to you in addition to books. Like that photo of Grandpa at his fishing hole, the pottery that your daughter made you in kindergarten; you get the idea, your home is full of them.

Keep in mind, you will typically only use about 2/3 of what you pull out. So keep a storage or a Goodwill box handy. Now start with one shelf at a time, varying the height of objects keeping the eye moving up down and across the entire vignette. Here are a few tips on how:

1. Start with the books, or large objects. Stagger from left to right. For example, on the top shelf, stack books vertically starting from the left capped with horizontally stacked books. On the shelf below, repeat, but start from the right.

2. Insert larger items, like frames and larger decorations next.

3. Layer and group objects in odd numbers. This keeps the eye moving.

4. As you go, use items that you love first, then fill in. But remember to edit, don’t stuff.

5. Use horizontal books as a pedestal for frames or smaller objects. In some areas in the center of the shelf, you may be able to stack similar sized and colored books horizontally for placement of a single object you want as a focal point.

6. Keep open visual space. Don’t fill each shelf completely.

7. Keep it simple. Depending on the length of the shelf, use either single or pair large item like a boxes or a baskets. Also use boxes or baskets on the bottom shelves to ground the unit. This helps add balance.

8. Keep collections and books in common themes and group like colors together within the collections.

9. Don’t freak out! You will re-arrange and edit multiple times during this process until it feels just right. And that’s ok!

I leave you with:
No bookshelf is perfect. Well, mine are, but that’s because I love what I style them WITH. That is what is important, make it yours

Minimalist Bookshelf: Simple, clutter free styling.
Minimalist Bookshelf:
Simple, clutter free styling.
Well Styled Library: Similar sized books and collections of books are grouped. Notice the well placed art on the wall to fill a shelf rather than books.
Well Styled Library:
Similar sized books and collections of books are grouped. Notice the well placed art on the wall to fill a shelf rather than books.
Classic Minimalism: Beautiful use of symmetry and large, bold, singular objects ground the open space.
Classic Minimalism:
Beautiful use of symmetry and large, bold, singular objects ground the open space.
Skillful Collector: A collection of glasses are reserved for the top shelf while books and objects are color blocked as the eye travels down.
Skillful Collector:
A collection of glasses are reserved for the top shelf while books and objects are color blocked as the eye travels down.
Balanced Bookshelf: Notice your eye travels from the top left and zig zags toward the bottom. This is an excellent use of larger items in a dark color against lighter items. Anchored with an open frame and skull mounted on the outside of the shelf.
Balanced Bookshelf:
Notice your eye travels from the top left and zig zags toward the bottom. This is an excellent use of larger items in a dark color against lighter items. Anchored with an open frame and skull mounted on the outside of the shelf.

One thought on “Style your bookcase like a boss.”

  4. Fantastic write ups, Kudos!
    http://talahicc.com/
    trusted overseas pharmacies canadian pharmacies that ship to us candrugstore com canadian pharmacy online
    online pharmacies no prescription
    top rated online canadian pharmacies
    online pharmacy canada
    canada pharmacy online reviews
    canada pharmacy no prescription
    legitimate online pharmacies

    Reply

  7. Truly all kinds of valuable facts.
    http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/
    canada drug prices canadian pharmacies without an rx drug prices comparison mexican pharmacies shipping to usa
    prescription drugs without doctor approval
    canadian drugstore online
    canadian pharmacy viagra brand
    canadian pharmacies that are legit
    canadian pharmacies top best
    mail order pharmacy

    Reply

  13. Nicely put, With thanks!
    http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
    best price prescription drugs canada drugs online legitimate online pharmacies canadian pharmacy online
    online pharmacy no prescription needed
    meds online
    canadian pharmacies without prescriptions
    pharmacies near me
    discount pharmacy
    <a href="http://mirabiliatour.blogspot.com/ask?q=+Thanks%2C+Quite+a+lot+of+forum+posts%21++http%3A%2F%2Fcanadianonlinepharmacynnm.com%2F+canadian+rx+canadian+pharmacies+that+ship+to+us+online+pharmacies+%5Burl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fcanadianpharmacysilo.com%2F%5Dcanadian+pharmaceuticals+online%5B%2Furl%5D+%0D%0Ano+prior+prescription+required+pharmacy+%0D%0Abuy+cialis+%0D%0Aonline+pharmacy+%0D%0Alegitimate+online+pharmacies+%0D%0Amexican+pharmacies+shipping+to+usa+%0D%0Ano+prescription+online+pharmacy&submit=ask”>northwest pharmacy canada

    Reply

  23. Really all kinds of very good info!
    https://nicktambone.com/
    mexican pharmacy online medications canadian cialis price prescription drugs canadian pharmacies online
    rx price comparison
    pharmacy canada
    prescription drugs without prior prescription
    best canadian prescription prices
    best online canadian pharcharmy
    online pharmacy no prescription needed

    Reply

  28. Awesome facts. With thanks!
    http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/
    overseas pharmacy forum canadian online pharmacies canadian family pharmacy canadian pharmacy online
    mexican pharmacies shipping to usa
    prescription drugs online without doctor
    online canadian pharmacy
    canada pharmacies prescription drugs
    mexican pharmacies
    canadian pharmacies shipping to usa

    Reply

  30. Wonderful facts. Many thanks.
    http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/
    northwest pharmacy canada top rated canadian pharmacies online best canadian online pharmacy canada drugs online
    prescription drugs online without
    cheap prescription drugs
    canadian pharmacies online prescriptions
    canada pharmacy online orders
    northwest pharmacy canada
    canadapharmacy com

    Reply

  32. Nicely put, Thanks a lot!
    http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/
    canadian drugstore online north west pharmacy canada board of pharmacy canadian viagra
    canadapharmacy com
    no prescription pharmacy
    best price prescription drugs
    canadian prescriptions
    canadian pharmacies online
    <a href="http://mirabiliatour.blogspot.com/ask?q=+Great+info.+Appreciate+it.+http%3A%2F%2Fcanadianpharmaciesnnm.com%2F+overseas+pharmacies+top+rated+canadian+pharmacies+online+drugs+from+canada+%5Burl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fcanadianpharmacyntx.com%2F%5Dtrust+pharmacy+canada%5B%2Furl%5D+%0D%0Aprescription+online+%0D%0Aonline+canadian+pharmacies+%0D%0Abest+online+canadian+pharcharmy+%0D%0Apharmacy+tech+%0D%0Aonline+pharmacies+%0D%0Acanada+pharmacies+online&submit=ask”>canadian drugs

    Reply

  36. Cheers, Loads of advice.
    http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/
    canadian drug stores online canadian pharmaceuticals online compare prescription prices canada pharmaceutical online ordering
    canadian pharmacy no prescription needed
    canada online pharmacies
    drug prices comparison
    trust pharmacy canada
    us pharmacy no prior prescription
    canadian drugstore online

    Reply

  37. You made your point.
    http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
    canada pharmacies online prescriptions canada pharmacy online canadian drug stores online canada pharmacy
    canadian drug store
    pharmacy prices compare
    canada pharmacies prescription drugs
    cialis canadian pharmacy
    pharmacy prices
    <a href="http://vincent.bonduau.free.fr/?s=+Incredible+quite+a+lot+of+useful+material%21+http%3A%2F%2Ftalahicc.com%2F+best+online+pharmacies+no+prescription+north+west+pharmacy+canada+compare+rx+prices+canadian+pharmacies+that+ship+to+us+%0D%0Apain+meds+online+without+doctor+prescription+%0D%0A<a+href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vdnowas.de%2Fsoft-silent-spitzen-1.html%3Ffilter_price%3D%26submit%3DAnwenden%26field-amount_26%3D1%26comments_name%3DPeterUnete%26comments_email%3Dpaille172ync%2540brew-master.com%26comments_rating%3D%26comments_info%3D%2B%250D%250AHelpful%2Binformation.%2BAppreciate%2Bit%2521%2B%250D%250Ahttp%253A%252F%252Fcialispego.com%252F%2B%250D%250Acialis%2Be%2Bviagra%2Binsieme%2B%250D%250Acialis%2B20%2Bmg%2B%250D%250Acialis%2Bdysphagia%2B%250D%250Acialis%2Bonline%26wpf_captcha_code_comments_shops_products26%3Dvrg%22>canada+online+pharmacy+%0D%0Abuy+online+prescription+drugs+%0D%0Acanadian+pharmacy+reviews+%0D%0Acanadian+pharmacies+online+prescriptions+%0D%0Awalmart+pharmacy+price+check”>online drugstore

    Reply

  38. You stated it well!
    http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/
    best online canadian pharcharmy canada pharmaceutical online ordering mail order pharmacies canadian pharmaceuticals online
    buy prescription drugs online
    buy prescription drugs online
    discount prescription drugs online
    canadian prescription
    prescription drug price comparison
    buy prescription drugs without doctor

    Reply

  42. Great content. Thanks a lot!
    http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/
    canadian family pharmacy canadian pharmacies-24h safeway pharmacy canadian pharmacies that ship to us
    prescription drugs online without
    cialis canadian pharmacy
    canadadrugs.com pharmacy
    cheap prescription drugs online
    prescription drugs online without
    onlinecanadianpharmacy.com

    Reply

  49. You actually stated that really well.
    http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/
    overseas pharmacies canadian pharmacies-24h canadian pharmacy meds canada pharmacy online
    medical information online
    onlinecanadianpharmacy.com
    canadian pharmacies online
    prescription drugs without prior prescription
    buy prescription drugs online
    online pharmacies

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *