moon on a leash

BOOKSHELVES

I live in New York, so maximizing space is a must. That means that organization and decoration have to go hand in hand in order to make the space we live in feel bigger, while still being able to accommodate all our storage needs.

I’ve been getting a lot of compliments and questions about the bookshelves in my bedroom lately, so I figured… let’s do it. Let’s talk bookshelves.

Everyone has one (or two, or three) around the house or apartment. We use them to store books, CDs, DVDs, boxes, knickknacks, you name it... But bookshelves can be much more than just storage. They can be a great way to make a visual impact in a room, small or large. The trick is in the arrangement of the content, and following what I consider to be the basic rules of threes. That’s one part books, one part decorative items, and one part empty visual space. The breakdown helps keep the bookcase visually interesting, while the negative space keeps it from looking over crowded and chaotic.

Here’s what I did in my room:

Since I knew I had a lot of books and travel souvenirs I wanted to incorporate into the decor, I chose two ladder-style, leaning bookcases with increasing sizes of shelves (the bottom shelf is about 8 inches deeper than the top shelf). This not only gave me a wide enough base at the bottom to add 4 large bamboo boxes for added storage, but it also provided a thin picture rail-like shelf at the top to balance artwork and provide a seamless transition into the wall. The simple framework allows my paint color to show through the back (I have a very light Orchid Green as a backdrop*) which adds to the airiness and empty space I so desperately needed.

*If you are planning on color-coding your books like I do, I suggest choosing a backdrop color that will function with any color scheme. Neutrals are always a simple solution, especially whites and off-whites. A dark color or pattern can be done, but it will no longer serve as empty space, which means you’ll need to leave even more room on the shelves to gain the same effect.

LET ME JUST SAY: I LOVE COLOR CODING! Not only do I love it, but I am seriously obsessed over it. I color code everything: my clothes, my shoes, my books, my jewelry, my art supplies, EVERYTHING. Call it OCD if you will, and I’ll even admit that at times it can be a problem, but for me it’s also an incredible solution. Especially when it comes to my books.

Color-coding is not only visually pleasing, but it minimizes the chaos of a normal bookshelf. Instead of your brain processing each individual book as an item, it joins a series of books together (of the same color in this case) as one item. It decreases the visual clutter and adds to the simplicity of the piece. I’ve been doing it for years and I think it’s absolutely brilliant. (I have a visual memory, so I tend to remember what color each book I’ve read is. If you have too many books to browse through, or you need a more traditional system to find them (alphabetical or genre based) this might not be a great solution for you).

Check out some more awesome examples of color coded bookshelves from other crafty decorators!

If you don't want to try the color-coding technique, but you like the pop of color it provides, try painting the back of your bookcase the same color as your wall or a coordinating complimentary color.

Patterned wallpapers can also look great as a backdrop, but again, make sure you de-clutter the shelves even more to maintain that visual space.

You can even add a mirrored backdrop if you chose, but I would keep the items on the shelf as depthless as possible so the mirror doesn't duplicate every item is reflects on the shelf.

If color is not your cup of tea, but you like this look, you can go for the simplicity in a monochromatic tone. Maybe try the Spine Facing Backwards look like these guys did…

Or even the Covered in Paper look like the ones below. (I love the monochromatic look, but personally neither would work for me. I like my books to be easy to browse though and to retrieve.)

Another great way to use bookshelves as a statement piece is to set it up as a room divider. They’re a great way to break up a small living area into smaller cozy sections, or to separate the bedroom and living areas of a studio like the photos below show.

And in case a normal bookshelf isn’t the look you’re going for, there’s always a new design out there made to impress, shock or simply beautify your space.

With that said, I’ll leave you with some inspiration. Maybe you'll make some artwork from your books and shelves...

Happy reading!