Recently my friend and blogging buddy, Denyse, was having troubles with styling and setting up the area above her kitchen cabinets in her new house and I thought it was so ironic that I just found this slide-show on Houzz featuring:
Now I know that these are just "tips" or "suggestions" but who knew that there were so many things to consider when styling your bookcases/shelves. Whenever I set up my bookcases...I don't think about anything...I just set the stuff up and stand back and see if it appeals to me ;}
Let's see if I pass the muster...
1. Consider your shelf setup: well...this was really NOT an option for us here at the Love Shack...since space is a premium and I placed every single bookshelf in here that I could...we are wall-to-wall bookcases and we lovingly call it The Library!
2. Add height with artwork: my books are my artwork ;)
3. Place similar objects in opposing spaces: again...my books being the similar objects...I did try to balance them out as much as possible.
4. Vary the direction of the books: when we downsized to the Love Shack...I had to purge alot of my beloved books ;} We just did not have the space for all of them as well as many of the accessories that I had collected over the years...it all had to go and so what was left had to fit on my shelves, anyway possible, to make sure that I could fit all that I was able to keep.
5. Create balance through color: I believe the colors of my books create this balance and the ambience for our Library.
6. Create balance through a chosen theme of colors: does black count? Our chosen theme of color would be all the black wood furniture...my favorite. Alot of people wouldn't put big black pieces of furniture in a small space...but we love how cozy it makes our home feel and I'm NOT a believer in small pieces in small spaces...I think it just magnifies the small space.
7. Intersperse short items with tall items: all of my tall items have had to go on top of the bookcases.
8. Mirror the shelves but don’t mirror the contents: sorry...not an option...lol
9. Leave spaces empty: again...not an option. However...I have added lights to the tops of my bookcases and they offer great highlights for the bookshelves and make these spaces appear larger.
10. Add color to select areas of your bookshelf: again...my books offer all the color that I need ;)
11. Include glass: my glass accents are set up in front of my bookcases on our Library table.
All in all...these tips can be very helpful and they are great to keep in mind when you do have areas that need "styling" but also remember that...they are suggestions and not rules. For those of you who know me well...you all know that I believe that rules are made to be broken ;)
How about you...what rules are you breaking? Do share!
Fondly, Roberta
We also had to downsize when we moved to CA and I had to get rid of a lot of my books that I loved. They now fit on one shelf in the bedroom. I'd like to get a reading chair to put in there so I can curl up and get cozy instead f laying out on the couch.
I love your shelves, they are always pretty and I always catch a glimpse of a book on your shelves (through pictures) that I'd like to read.
Posted by: Cortney Lyon | June 28, 2011 at 12:53 PM
oh my word, far too many rules for me!! I only have two book shelves and both are in my study, out of sight and out of way. Simply because I don't like staring at book shelves. To me, a pile of books is not something I find pleasing to the eye, no matter how I arrange them! If I had one of those huge houses with those floor-to-ceiling library book shelves however, and a ladder to climb on to wheel myself up and down the shelves, It might be a different story:) Every now and then I purge my books too. I don't like to hoard books, unless they are classics, recipe books, or sentimental books.
Posted by: Bonnie | June 23, 2011 at 02:37 AM
I'm with you, Roberta. I have multiple book shelves in the dungeon... er Studio ;-). Because I have limited space and can't bear to part with any of my research books, or my antique book collection, they go where they'll fit the best. Some stand, some are stacked. May not be the most 'eye appealing' but it works in this space for me.
Love your light idea. Will have to keep that in mind for my future studio.
Posted by: Kelly | June 22, 2011 at 09:17 PM
Thanks for thinking of me ;-) ...Since we have moved my bookshelves are making me absolutely "CRAZY"...I move things around on them all day long...room to room!!!!
Posted by: Denyse@Crazy Beautiful Life | June 22, 2011 at 08:47 PM