Looking around your house thinking maybe that bookcase or shelf could use a little refresh? Well, you are in luck! Today we want to share a couple of our styling tips with you. We hope this inspires you to get creative and change things up!
Tip #1: Scale & Balance
Scale is arguably the most important element of design to follow when styling a bookcase. Make sure you start with items that are size appropriate to the bookcase you are putting them on. Having a collection of the same items in varying shapes and sizes is an option and will help you to create visual interest and dimension. Start with your largest objects and place those in a way that bring a sense of balance to the overall look. Once you have your largest items placed, start to fill in around them. As you are placing items, step back and take a look from different angles to be able to get a good perspective.
Tip #2: Collected Items
We encourage you to collect items that have sentimental value or tell a story. Whether it is a keepsake passed down to you or a unique flea market find. Mixing collected items with new items help to create a beautiful layered look. Other additions to consider are mirrors, artwork, and photographs. A beautiful little piece of art layered with interesting accessories or even mounted to the front of the bookcase can really set your bookcase apart. If you are not one to collect artwork, family photos can add a great personal element. The addition of different materials such as ceramics, wood, glass, metals, and organic elements all contribute to a wonderfully blended look as well.
Tip #3: Books
This may seem like an obvious tip, but oftentimes we see bookcases that are lacking actual books. We strongly believe every bookcase deserves to have books on it. Now the number of books is something that you can adjust based on your personal preference. For instance, the bookcase in an office might have more books than the bookcase in your family room. So just adjust the amount of books to what makes sense for the given setting. We typically suggest using hardback books if possible, keeping in mind the color combination of the spines and how they relate to one another and your room. You can stack them horizontally or vertically based on what looks best with your other decorative items.
