Recently, I was excited to learn that my tip on organizing bookshelves was published by “Oprah Magazine.” I want to share the highlights of my tips here, so that when you decide to tackle your bookshelves, you can put these strategies into play.
With any organizing or design project we always start with a clean slate. Removing everything from the shelves removes the visual clutter and allows you to start fresh. Trying to shuffle books or accessories around from shelf to shelf inhibits the creative process. Clear the decks and start fresh. This process also weeds out items that no longer spark joy. We achieve a more attractive presentation when we reduce the volume of books and accessories, and it gives us the opportunity to clean and dust before replacing items.
This editing process also allows you to group similar accessories that look great when displayed together. Balance is important when looking at shelves. For example, if you have a large accessory like a glass bowl on one shelf, you’ll want to counterbalance it with a large accessory elsewhere.
Grouping smaller similar items (collections) makes more of a statement than spreading them out, where they get lost amongst the books and shelves.
Enhance visual interest by placing some books upright and others stacked. Larger books look great stacked next to upright books. And placing a stack of books (large to small like a pyramid) and then placing an object on top is simple and pretty.
Simple Tips & Tricks
If you find your collection of books is creating visual clutter, there are some simple tricks you can try to “quiet” the space.
- Group the books by color
- Group by topic but remove the multi-color dust jacket
- Create “white space” by turning the books around to show pages, not the spine.
Showing the pages may seem odd but it is a nice backdrop for your display items. The white pages of the books pop against a darker shelf and also bring more attention to your accessories.
Here are some tips for making a statement with your accessories:
- Use personal items you love and have meaning to your family.
- Mix old and new; or different textures; or different size books
- Add some faux greenery like succulents or boxwood
- Avoid old-fashioned ivy or large plants.
- Use a pop of green color from select few plants to bring the outside in.
Don’t forget to give your eyes a chance to rest by placing empty spaces as breathing room between books and accessories.
Bonus Tips:
- Paint the bookshelves using hi-gloss or lacquer paint the color of your walls to add a built-in feeling
- Paint or paper just the back of the bookshelf to personalize the space.
- Hide less attractive items by using baskets, lidded boxes, or magazine files to disguise papers, files, magazines, etc.
- Using the same style or color of the storage container and placing them strategically for balance will help make the shelves pretty and functional.
There’s never a precise formula – use these ideas to approach organizing and staging bookshelves with your personality. And, when you are done, please share the results with me.