Blog Layout
Decorate Bookshelves with Color Coded Books
Aug 16, 2020
Decorating Bookshelves
Bookshelves can be so difficult to decorate, especially when you want to mesh form and function. I want my shelves to be functional and useful storage without looking like they are stuffed full and only utilitarian. I like to get a nice mix of books, photos, art prints, storage items, vessels and do-dads. I love using baskets or boxes to corral less aesthetically-pleasing items. When you start to add books, sometimes it's easy for things to begin to look cluttered, so I'm sharing some of my favorite tips for keeping things useful, neat and stylish!
Stacking Books
I like to have a nice mix of books standing vertically and stacked on their sides. Don't feel obligated to just have row after row of books stored like a library. Mixing up the way the books are oriented can create some real interest and keep things from looking too bookstore-ish. Also, don't be afraid to set things on top of a stack of books (think photos, bowls, and other objects) or use an unexpected item as a bookend. A book or two is also a great way to elevate something or place a frame.
Group by Size
Grouping books by size can do wonders for keeping books neat and tidy on your shelves. Instead of having a 6" tall book next to an oversized coffee table book, try roughly grouping books by size. You don't have to be too literal with this tip. Keeping things in size families, like small, medium and large is what I'm talking about.
Remove Book Jackets
Simply removing book jackets is the easiest way to improve how your bookshelves look. Beautiful spines and covers are often hidden by jackets, so take those off and uncover some hidden gems.
Group Books by Color
Whether you remove the jackets or not, grouping books by color is my favorite way to organize books. I like grouping them in single colors and neutrals, as well as having them grouped as a rainbow. I still like to keep size in mind here, too, so things are similarly sized. I don't always to a literal rainbow in regard to light to dark--arrange the books so they look nice, even if technically the lighter orange should be two books over. Move them around until you like them.
Cookbooks
I store my cookbooks in a built-in shelving unit on our kitchen island, but they always looked so messy and unorganized until I grouped them by color. Check out the difference!
Finding Books
I used old books my husband has stored for all the books I put on my white built-ins. I literally went through them on-at-a-time, peeking at the spines to see if they were a color I wanted. If you don't have a lot of books, think about hitting up yard sales or the thrift store for cheap vintage books. I love the texture antique books have. You can also arrange them with the pages OUT. I think that's especially nice with neutral-colored books that might not be as cohesive with their spines out.
Pin for Later!
Designer Drapes
Rug Roundup January 2024
Booth at Christmas Market
Grasscloth
What not to do
Romabio Velatura Mineralwash
I can't remember the first example of fluted wood furniture I saw, but it was probably either this gorgeous custom wood bathroom vanity from Chris Loves Julia , or the DIY fluted coffee table Fariha shared on Pennies for a Fortune . The custom cabinetry was done professionally using a router for each line, which isn't something I possess the skills to do. This did help inspire the colors I used in our bathroom remodel, though! I really connected to the method Fariha used to build the coffee table--wooden dowels. What a fabulous idea!
I did a little refresh in our daughter's room, and I decided we needed some large-scale art. I actually planned to order a print, but inspiration struck on a trip to HomeGoods when I saw two HUGE framed canvases on clearance for $25 and $9. I grabbed them up and headed home, with my head filled with ideas on what to do with them.
I love peel-and-stick wallpaper so much! It's an easy, DIY fix for any space that just needs a little refresh. Because it's easily removeable, I feel much more confident going ahead and choosing a pattern. I struggle to commit to traditional pasted wallpaper--I think it's because we removed so much of it when we bought our house. It is no easy task. Peel-and-stick is also very economical, so if you decide to change it up a few years down the line, it doesn't feel so bad. I've now put it in four areas of our house. Today, you'll see the kitchen and den. It's the same pattern in different colors. I love how much the simple pattern really just makes each space.
Just for fun, here's a freebie--a digital download for some fall wall art! This quote is from Anne of Green Gables. I still want to read the book, but I was a huge fan of the series Anne with an E on Netflix. Just click on the file, download it and print it at home or send it to a place like Office Depot. Happy October!
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER...
Join Newsletter
Website Design & Hosting by Arterburn.com
