Open shelves are typically thought of as
storage—somewhere to stack old encyclopedias, a place to shove boxes
full of random knickknacks, and the go-to spot for things you don’t
want lying around on your living room floor.
Beyond storage, however, shelves can act as visually interesting enclaves that can display a certain mood you’re in, a particular style you’ve taken interest in, or an eclectic mix of items that showcase where you’ve been and where you hope to travel.
Maximize both form and function by restocking your shelves in fresh, new ways that won’t break the bank.
Add a pop of color or print
There is more to shelving than what you store in them.
Refresh your bookshelves by redecorating their inner surfaces. A fresh coat of paint in a bright hue can offer an unexpected pop of color.
Or use wrapping paper or old rolls of wallpaper to create a surprising background of subtle patterns one can only see when looking at your displays up close.
Color block your books
It may make sense to follow your library’s Dewey Decimal System and arrange your books by genre and alphabetically. Sorting everything by height may also seem like the obvious solution to arranging your books.
However, you may want to consider grouping your titles by color instead, to create a Pantone swatch-like effect of gradated colors along your shelves. Having one row in red and the next in green or blue doesn’t only make for a fun display, but will also enable you to find just the right colored accessories to put alongside your books.
This technique can do wonders for your bathroom too—keeping towels on display by color can make them easier to organize and give your shelves a more unified look as well.
Mix and match different items
Think out of the box and create vignettes out of mixed and matched items.
A family heirloom like an old snow globe can sit thoughtfully beside large coffee table books and a framed postcard from a dear friend. Or, a precious vinyl record cover can be the perfect complement to a stack of vintage magazines and your mom’s Polaroid camera from the 1980s.
The more varied the items you use, the more interesting your shelves will be.
Fill glass jars with pebbles or everyday objects
Even the most mundane objects—colored paper clips, gummy bears or little pebbles will look polished when collected in glass vases or clear Mason jars all stocked in rows along your shelves.
Arts and crafts aficionados will love a jar filled with colorful Japanese origami paper cranes, for example, while a glass filled with bright yellow sharpened pencils can make a colorful impact against a muted surface.
Beyond storage, however, shelves can act as visually interesting enclaves that can display a certain mood you’re in, a particular style you’ve taken interest in, or an eclectic mix of items that showcase where you’ve been and where you hope to travel.
Maximize both form and function by restocking your shelves in fresh, new ways that won’t break the bank.
Add a pop of color or print
There is more to shelving than what you store in them.
Refresh your bookshelves by redecorating their inner surfaces. A fresh coat of paint in a bright hue can offer an unexpected pop of color.
Or use wrapping paper or old rolls of wallpaper to create a surprising background of subtle patterns one can only see when looking at your displays up close.
Color block your books
It may make sense to follow your library’s Dewey Decimal System and arrange your books by genre and alphabetically. Sorting everything by height may also seem like the obvious solution to arranging your books.
However, you may want to consider grouping your titles by color instead, to create a Pantone swatch-like effect of gradated colors along your shelves. Having one row in red and the next in green or blue doesn’t only make for a fun display, but will also enable you to find just the right colored accessories to put alongside your books.
This technique can do wonders for your bathroom too—keeping towels on display by color can make them easier to organize and give your shelves a more unified look as well.
Mix and match different items
Think out of the box and create vignettes out of mixed and matched items.
A family heirloom like an old snow globe can sit thoughtfully beside large coffee table books and a framed postcard from a dear friend. Or, a precious vinyl record cover can be the perfect complement to a stack of vintage magazines and your mom’s Polaroid camera from the 1980s.
The more varied the items you use, the more interesting your shelves will be.
Fill glass jars with pebbles or everyday objects
Even the most mundane objects—colored paper clips, gummy bears or little pebbles will look polished when collected in glass vases or clear Mason jars all stocked in rows along your shelves.
Arts and crafts aficionados will love a jar filled with colorful Japanese origami paper cranes, for example, while a glass filled with bright yellow sharpened pencils can make a colorful impact against a muted surface.
Choose shelving material to set the mood
Your shelves themselves can help set the mood for any room. Steel framing is sparse and modern, while old wood is traditional and warm. Bleached wood is minimalist without being too harsh or cold, while refinished wood in bright coats of paint takes on a homier, more DIY aesthetic.
No comments:
Post a Comment