How to Decorate a Bookcase

have so many clients that have great built ins, wall units and bookcases.

They’re great for storage and they’re also a really nice place to show off your personality.

But how do you mix the items that you need to store with accessories that speak to you AND make it look awesome?

The trick is to mix it up.

Combine books, photo albums, family photos, plants and accessories so that it is interesting.

AND, make sure the accessories are ones that you LOVE, items that really tell who you are, not just any old dust collector.

Step One –

Empty out the entire bookcase.

Start with a clean slate (That means literally as well. While it’s empty wipe off the shelves).

Step Two –

Sort your books into stacks with largest on the bottom and smallest on top.

If they’re hard cover, take off the jacket. They look prettier and are less busy looking.

Scatter stacks of books through the bookcase with some standing up and some stacked.

I usually try to do this in a Z pattern.

Step Three –

Add in pictures and plants.

These could be family photos or small decorative pieces of art.

You can layer the pics by pushing some of them all the way to the back,

or placing a small one on top of the books.

Plants add life and some softness to the display. They can be layered too.

Step Four –

Fill in with smaller accessories.

Don’t forget to layer.

You can add items on top of the books and in front of pics.

Don’t forget to leave some space (for the eye to rest).

You don’t want the entire bookcase filled.

And it also doesn’t have to be done all at once.

Accessories collected over time are the best because then you’ve chosen things you love,

that mean something to you.

DECORATE WITH WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY!

Share your finished bookcase or built in with me on my Facebook page. Link at the top of the page.

I can’t wait to see it!