25 Sep 2015

Creative Ways To Decorate Bookshelves For Your Living Room

Many people fail to see their bookshelves as more than a place to store their never-ending novel collection. When the bookshelf is on display in the living room, however, it’s important that you treat it as a part of the décor. This will ensure that your books don’t stick out like a sore thumb, that you have an alternative means of display, and that you look like a decorating pro.

In the list below, we have outlined some of our favourite and most creative ways to decorate your bookshelves:

  • Balance with decorative items
    To prevent the shelves looking too book-heavy, you can create balance using some decorative items. These items could include vases (with or without flowers), statues, candles and even framed art.
     

    bookshelves-decorating-ideas

     
  • Leave some empty space
    We know that the temptation to cram books into every free inch can be difficult to overcome, but leaving some empty space can create a clean-lined effect. This is particularly useful in small living rooms.
     

    bookshelf-symmetry

     
  • Stack books for some variety
    Instead of placing your books vertically, as most people do, why not stack some of them horizontally? This can add some diversity to the space, which is particularly useful if you’re only displaying books.
     

    modern-minimalist-bookshelf

     
  • Arrange books by colour
    If you’re the kind of person who loves order, we recommend colour coding your novels. Some people even arrange each colour group from darkest to lightest, so they flow into the next one organically.
     

    bookshelf-arranged-by-color

     
  • Paint the back of the shelves
    This is perfect for those who are wary of committing to a bold colour for the entire room. The colour will peak above and through your novels and décor, really making these items stand out against the wall.
     

    bookshelf-with-painted-interior

     
  • Hide clutter with boxes
    If you plan on using the bookshelves to also store items of ‘clutter’ (such as stationary and knickknacks), why not place them in some interesting boxes? The clutter is gone and a sense of interest added.
     

    modern-bookshelf-with-boxes

     

We hope that you have found an idea or two in the list above that you can use for decorating the bookshelves in your living room. Whilst we’re sure that you like the idea of your impressive novel collection being on display, it’s important to realise that sometimes stuffing shelves full with books isn’t a good look. Simply change a few things up and you’ll give the space a new lease on life.