Bookshelves

Bookshelves

They are either functional...

Or decorative

Bookshelves are revealing.   They speak volumes of your life, your personality, the things you know or want to learn, places you've been and people you love.   When I go into a home, I love looking at the bookshelves.  They may just be my favorite thing in anyone's house. 

Bookshelves are often the center of a room or tucked in a quiet, unsuspecting corner of the house. 

Whatever you want your bookshelves to say about you, here are a few simple tips to consider when decorating all those fabulous shelves.

• The goal of a decorative book shelf is to keep the eye moving from one shelf to the next
• If the shelves are movable, try going for an asymmetrical look rather than lining the shelves up
• Go bold when mixing accessories with the books. 
• Keep collections and like items with like items, especially if your collection is small in scale
• Remember to keep the shelves balanced.  Don't let one shelf hold heavy, overpowering items while a shelf below is dainty and sparse.
• Decide how you want to arrange the books, mix it up.  Stand some upright with an attractive book end and stack others
• Don't be afraid to use books as risers to place an attractive accessory or small picture frame on. 
• You can arrange books according to color, size or genre. 

Join me on Wednesday for some really cool book shelf ideas.