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Answering Your Interior Design and Decorating Questions

You Ask & I Answer

I had a question over on the Details Facebook page about bookcases.
Bookcases and built ins can be tricky, but they can be beautiful as well.

What do you think of freestanding bookcases?

I think that if you’re going to go with a freestanding bookcase it should be in scale with the space and the wall that it’s going on.
You don’t want just a small 3-shelf bookcase on a long wall with a cathedral ceiling.
Most ready-made bookcases range from three to eight feet tall.
Tall bookcases that fill up most of a wall usually look richer and can feel more formal.
Shorter ones allow you to use the top for other items, like a tv, or as a buffet.
But, when you use a shorter bookcase you’ll need to plan for what you’ll place on top and/or hang above it.

I love using a small bookcase as a nightstand.
I also love doing a wall of built ins with a window seat in the middle.

Bookcases can be a great place to display accessories that show your personality and style.
But, that said, you wouldn’t believe how many calls I get about bookcases and built ins that people have and have no idea what to do with.
For some reason people have a really hard time figuring out what to put on the shelves and how to place items that they have that they want to display.

I did a blog post about this → https://www.detailsfullserviceinteriors.com/how-to-decorate-a-bookcase

When it comes to decorating a bookcase you have to be disciplined.
You can’t throw everything you own on the bookcase.
You have to pick and choose wisely and keep it simple and neat.
And for goodness sake make sure it gets dusted periodically.
You have to leave some space for the eye to rest in between items.
I like a mix of books and accessories.

An easy step-by-step process is as follows:

1. Start with an empty bookcase.
2. Create a zig zagging pattern with stacks of books –

3. Add in plants and photos.

4. Fill in with smaller items that you love.

This particular bookcase, above, is a simple, inexpensive IKEA bookcase that’s in my daughter’s college apartment. So you can be sure that nothing on it is expensive.
We put it on a blank wall next to the entry door, placed a mirror above and a basket on top for keys.

For more detailed instructions head over to the blog post mentioned above.

A few more tips –

If you have a lot of books that you want to store on the shelves you can fill the entire bottom with books.
This will anchor the unit because books have a heavy feel to them. If you put too many on the top it will feel top heavy.

Also, be sure to add both vertical and horizontal stacks of books.
This will add some visual interest.

I also try to group the books by color and zigzag the color on the shelves.
See how the white zig zags on the shelves?

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