A bookcase is the focal point of a bibliophile’s home decor
The question of the importance of the bookcase and its role in a modern home, especially a narrow one, comes up frequently. As part of the answer, it is useful to quote Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), the third president of the United States of America and a philosopher, who once wrote: “Books are capital; a book kept in a library will last as long as a house, hundreds of years. A book, therefore, is not merely a consumer commodity, but is in fact capital, and oftentimes it is the capital of professional men who go on with their lives.”
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Bookcase
Books spread out in the open wooden-shelved bookcase, with accessories (image via unsplash)
Despite the lure of optical reading, or reading by electronic device, some book lovers still keep hard copies of books, and dedicate a bookcase in their homes, whether in the living room, hallway, or even the bedroom, and believe that since home decor is a tool to express the owners, their interests, tastes, and preferences, and should fit with their ways of living, why should books be absent from their homes?
They believe that books are indeed capital, and they grow their collections, paying attention to copies and editions of a single book, keeping track of new releases, and visiting seasonal book fairs…
Before you start organizing your bookcase
The bookcase is spread out in the living room
Before you start organizing your bookcase, think about combining the latter with home accessories on the shelves, taking care to avoid clutter. In other words, don’t “clutter” the shelves with too many small accessories, opt for larger items, and leave empty space between the stacks of books and/or items. In addition, it is right to make the bookcase a reflection of your preferences and a function of your collections, which mean a lot to you.
On the other hand, you can’t organize the contents of a bookcase in one day. It’s worth examining the covers, titles, sizes, and accessories that go with the books, with all the organizing that entails, stepping back to see the bookcase from afar, and then changing some of the details…
8 decorating ideas on how to decorate bookcase shelves?
A corner of the house dedicated to the book hobby
Even though we live in the digital age, books have many fans who love to have them in their homes, feel intimate in their presence, and display them as part of the home decor, no matter the style or size of the home. A bookcase turns any room into a sanctuary, especially when decorative accessories and artwork adjoin the books.
Whether it’s a bookcase with wooden, metal, or plexi shelves, customized to include open or closed spaces, to fit on a specific wall, or bought ready-made, to occupy a side or corner, here are 8 decorating ideas on how to decorate bookcase shelves.
A shelf for old books
In bookstores that sell used books, book lovers may find old collections with distinctive covers, expressing craftsmanship and artistry. In this context, it is tempting to combine this type of books with objects from a bygone era, such as: Cameras, or old collections of coins… However, the owner should be interested in them and not just display them in the living room for decoration. A small sofa and an antique footstool complete the scene.
Single-themed books
Books about the world of fashion (image via unsplash)
Some readers like to collect one type of book, such as: books, art catalogs, travel books, or books that focus on fashion, jazz, or photography… Think about making the bookcase reflect your interests, especially if your collection is large and the bookcase takes up an entire wall. In this case, the bookcase will become a conversation starter for first-time visitors to your home.
Paint a bookcase with a bold color
It’s attractive to paint a bookcase in a bold color (bright red, for example, or even a bold blue), making it a focal point of the decor.
Art in the vicinity of books
It’s nice when bookshelves are lined with paintings belonging to one art school (Pop Art, for example, or Abstract Expressionism…).
Personal collections
A bookcase can reflect the owner’s interests when she combines her favorite books with items that mean something to her, such as blue and white china, antique tea boxes, or travel photos: blue and white china, antique tea caddies, or travel photos. To ensure that your collection looks organized and cohesive, it is recommended to group books according to their cover colors or themes…
Spotlight on bookshelves
Shelf of books, with bar lights (image from unsplash)
To highlight your book collection, it’s a good idea to install LED lights, pointing them towards the shelves. To double the effect, paint the bookcase shelves in a contrasting color with the other items in the room where the bookcase is located.
A modern way to decorate a bookcase
Shelving, in a modern bookcase, requires a simple arrangement of books, i.e. a small collection of books of a fairly uniform size, with the addition of some accessories, such as vases with flowing shapes, metal decorations, and filing spaces: Vases with flowing shapes, metal decorations, and spaces between items. The bookcase can be accentuated by using wallpaper, in bright colors, as a backdrop.
Distribute books and decorations in piles
A pile of books, along with accessories (image via unsplash)
It’s nice to stack books in piles on the shelves of a bookcase, rather than placing them upright. You can do this with decorative pieces as well. For example, maybe you have a collection of small figurines that you want to display all together on one shelf, next to each other.
