5 Quick Tips for Creating a Beautiful Bookcase!

My guest blogger this week is Shaelyn Heise.  

Hi my name is Shaelyn Heise.   I am 21 years old and recently graduated from the Interior Decorating program at Conestoga College.

I have always had a passion for being creative and using my creativity in my everyday life.  This is why Interior Decorating is a perfect fit for me.

When I was a teenager I developed very high anxiety, which really turned me towards organization and the more functional aspects of the Interior Decorating field.  With all my belongings organized and having a place to be put away in, I found my anxiety would stay at ease while in my home.

I am excited to be entering the Interior Decorating field with a passion for organization in my back pocket.

For first time home buyers, or those who are upsizing their home, filling a space beautifully without it appearing like an empty “showroom” can be difficult. With a few statement pieces in each room, a home can look complete and inviting. 

A bookshelf is a simple and inexpensive way of filling a large amount of space in a room while also providing a perfect opportunity for a piece of interest within the space.

Often these pieces are left unstyled or the opposite, they are overfilled with unused items you can’t find another place for.

Making a bookshelf the focus piece of your living room, office or dining room can provide colour, texture, dimension and a general accent detail to your space. This is easier said than done, especially if you are a first time home buyer without a fascinating novel collection.

With a few simple tips, it becomes much easier to tackle.

Quality vs Quantity 

 

• It is not about how much you have, but how you place what you have.

Overfilling a bookshelf, or any display area, will instantly make it unappealing to the eye.

Instead, leaving about 20% of the bookshelf empty, and placing things properly, can make your book display a work of art!

Mix Up Your Placement

• Arranging books in different ways on each shelf provides harmony and contrast at the same time.

Turning books on their side, or stacking books and adding a small vase on top can provide dimension and texture to your styling.

Use of Artwork & Decorative Items 

• Adding a “DIY” art piece, or a piece of artwork you love into a bookcase arrangement is a great addition.

Any items that you love the look of, such as decorative mugs or candles add texture and colour to a bookshelf and give you a place to keep those items on display!

Fresh Flowers & Greenery

• Bringing nature into the home in general is a favourite technique of mine for home decorating and staging, so naturally adding fresh flowers or a small succulent to a bookcase that needs some colour is perfect!

Natural items add colour, texture and often a wonderful scent to the space.

Double Duty “Bookends”

• Instead of buying a decorative bookend, why not use something you already have? 

Something that I always had a hard time finding a perfect spot for was my collection of essential oils.

Collecting them together into a decorative box and using this as a bookend created a perfect  home for them.

Combining any number of these tips will take your bookshelf from boring to beautiful while using items from your home. Budget friendly, bookshelves are a great way to add a decorative element to a room!