Bookshelf Styling & A Mini-Makeover

We’re just about ready with our Ikea bookcase upgrades (it only took us three weeks 🙂 ) and I couldn’t be happier with how they turned out. I’m still trying to figure out how to best style them and fit all of our things (i.e hide all the ugly stuff) and still have them look pretty. In the meantime, here are some different configurations I’ve been contemplating for arranging our books. There are certainly many schools of thought on the subject, and everybody likes different things.  Some prefer to arrange their books by color & size, with spines reversed, upside down, with/without protective jacket covers for a monochromatic, unified look… there are so many ways to go about this!

So far, I’m a fan of keeping it simple and arranging them by size and theme, spine forward and no dust jackets, rather than by color, but I’m experimenting with different configurations. After looking at many of my favorite bookcase images collected over time, I realized I also really, really love the look of bookshelves that are full, maybe 97-98% books and only the remaining 2-3% decorative objects (blue and white porcelain, picture frames and/or boxes, shells and other bits and bobs). How about you? Do you have a favorite way to style your bookcase? Do you display more books, or more decorative objects? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this…  In the meantime, here is some Pinterest shelf-candy!

Mark D. Sikes

Something’s Gotta Give

Matthew Patrick Smyth

Carolina Irving

Pinterest

Robert Kime

Jeffrey Bilhuber

Jeffrey Bilhuber

Plum Sykes

Pinterest

Meredith Ellis

Mark D. Sikes

Mark D. Sikes

Nicky Haslam

On another note, I also found two pretty frames at a local thrift shop. On a good day they have the greatest things – silver and pewter trays, cups and small vases, lamps and picture frames (the things I’m usually hunting for). So, I found this pair of small frames that look really old. They were a steal too, at only 50 cents the piece, so I grabbed them and figured I’ll find a place for them later. And I did! After giving them a good clean and removing the old prints (bye, bye postcards from the 80s!), I was torn as to what to replace them with.

…until I remembered I had some black and white botanical prints from an old field guide. They were the perfect size and worked with the frame but I didn’t want to ruin the prints on the back so, I had them photocopied on thick, textured paper and placed them neatly within the frame. Voilà! Aren’t they pretty? I may move them around based on the artwork I’ll choose for above the sofa. We’ll see…

And those pretty blooms in the vase are my first attempt at drying hydrangeas. I love them but Ivan is terribly allergic and unless I find a way to contain those tiny specks they shed, they’ll have to go… I also went ahead and ordered this sweet little stool for placing flowers and refreshments by the wingback chair, Isabella’s favorite perch.

I initially wanted a thin metal tray table but I fell in love with this little guy. The room needs something casual, and warm, with more texture.  I also ordered a pair of sconces on either side of the sofa and they’re on their way.

Slowly it’s starting to feel like home, progress every day… Pillows and artwork above the sofa are next, if only I could narrow down my fabric choices!!! They’re changing daily!

xo,

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