The Dreaded Shelving

It really is a love-hate relationship. We want the beautiful wall of bookcases when they are filled with books and accessories and photos that we love and cherish. But only if they are displayed in a pleasing manner and do not look like clutter on the shelves. How do we create those beautiful displays found in magazines and still utilize the storage for our belongings?

My first tip is to clear all your shelves and give them a good cleaning. Set up a folding table or use the kitchen table to sort all your books, accessories, frames, etc. Dust all those items well too! Then begin your editing process. Do you still want to look at the coffee mug you acquired at the holiday work party? Is the photo in the frame the best/favorite portrait of your child? Do you still want to look at those paperback books? and so forth.... Remove and store/trash the undesired items. Now the fun begins.

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Look at your shelving situation. If you have a center cabinet or fireplace, arrange the shelves to be mirror images of each other. They don't have to all be at the same level, but if you create a mirror image on the opposite side, you will get the balance your eye desires. Often, I will start arranging items on one side to help define my shelf spacing and then duplicate it on the other side. Both rooms below have a central unit that is flanked by balanced bookcases. Both utilized this rule to create balance. The items are different on the shelves, but creating a similar sight line helps it feel organized.

Next, books are your friend. We don't all have the most amazing collection of leather bound books to display. But books are filler for many of us. They are why we have bookcases in our homes...people used to read books! Any time someone offers me a hardback book, I don't say no. Many of the books on my shelves have been given to us. Don't throw away your parents' 1970's Funk and Wagnalls Encyclopedia set, or those fabulous Reader's Digest volumes. I once stopped the car because a lady was standing at the end of her driveway with a free sign and a stack of World Book Encyclopedias lying on the ground....for free! The full set!

Start by arranging what books you have and spacing groups of books on various shelves. Don't place all your books on one side or at the same level. Think about visual weight...if all the books are on the same side of the shelving, your eye will be drawn only in that direction. Move them around and try different combinations if it feels too heavy in one spot.

The more books you have, the less accessories you have to purchase. But use the good ones. Take off the shiny dust jackets...often, the book is prettier than the jacket.

The image below shows a color blocking technique. They grouped books of the same color and then arranged by height to lead your eye to the center. Remember, your house is not the Library of Congress...you don't need to use the Dewey Decimal System to arrange your books. After you have read them, they are there to create visual interest.

Many times we just do not have pretty books. I personally only purchase hardback, but the paperbacks sneak in from time to time. Try turning them around or creating a faux dust jacket of craft paper or a beautiful patterned paper.

If you have a lot of books, you can use them as bookends. Stack a few and place at the end of a row.

Charle Faudree chose to cover almost all the books in a lovely coral patterned paper.

Now, the books are in the correct color scheme chosen for this dining space.

Don't forget to save a few books for "lifts" or pedestals because our next step is the knick-knacks. Often our objects of desire are not the right height and books can give them just the right lift. Accessories can also act as bookends. Start filling in the empty spaces with your beloved items and picture frames. Try to space out like-items. Don't place all the picture frames in one area and all the vases in another. If you have a set or collection, please display them together, but in general, spread the wealth! Small pieces of art can be displayed with items layered in front or they can be hung on the face of the shelving too. Don't be afraid to pull out the 3M hooks and try.

If you have items that you really need to store on your shelves, but they are unsightly, try a basket or bin. Corral those items! I have a basket that I keep baby toys in and magazine file boxes for those stacks of periodicals that I can't live without. You can still keep some of your "junk" but in a more visually pleasing and organized manner.

Last, but not least, I add in my greenery. Plants give life to a display. No, they are not necessary...I've seen beautiful displays with no plant life. But they do add an organic element that hard objects don't possess. They don't have to be real, living floral arrangements...they don't have to be arrangements at all. A simple bowl of moss covered balls or green artificial apples can add just enough. Or go to Home Goods and find a few boxwood topiaries to fill the void.

Speaking of voids....

Just like an artist will leave white space or negative space in their pieces, leave a little in your display. Do not fill every nook and cranny. The most common issues people have when I help with their shelving is either not enough stuff or way too much. So remember to leave a little space here and there.

Finally, after all that...if you still have spots that are awkward, remember the rule of threes. Try to arrange your accessories in groups of three: three picture frame of different sizes, three vases, three candle holders, etc. This simple rule works every time!

Try to enjoy the process and remember, nothing is glued down. I still to this day move items around on my shelving. A new book or accessory will come into the room, holidays bring extra decor...your shelving units can always be evolving.

#Bookcase #Displays #HowTo