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Bookcases.....They're Not Just About Books!
Most of us treat our bookcases as the "catch all area" in our
Homes. The telephone books, magazines, DVD's and anything
else we don't know where to store, gets crammed full in our
bookcases.
Sound familiar??
When addressing this piece of furniture, yes, I
did say furniture, let's first ask ourselves a few questions.
"Do I really like the way my bookcase
looks in it's present condition?, and, "what is my bookcase telling
visitors about me?"
If you answered "No,
everything looks cluttered and in disarray," and, "I am embarrassed for
anyone to notice as it is now", then let's think about how we can turn
these negatives into a positive.
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Clear out
the bookcases
and determine just what you want to keep.
Consider hard cover books only, and store the rest.
Once you have "weeded out", you will have a much better look at the
shelves as a whole, and it will be much easier to determine what else
you can add to the mix. Remember, you want a balanced arrangement
regardless of what you decide to showcase.
-
Look
around the house
and see what other small items you love.
Display a favorite collection, colored glass items, anything that
reflects your style and personality. Remember... there is no right
or wrong. If you love it, show it!
-
Keep in
mind the colors and feel of the room where the bookcase is located.
If some books you have chosen have nice jackets, by all means showcase
them...they are now works of Art!
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Look for
items with a central theme. For instance,
colored glass in one color, a collection that matches in color.
Small vases, small pictures, figurines, miniature boxes, baskets, live
plants..your options are endless!
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Stagger
your look, and mix for visual interest. Add
collectables to a stack of books. Look for items that match in
color to books with a nice jacket or cover.
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Create
"peaks and valleys" in you display. Everything
the same height is boring to the eye.
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Books
do not have to be placed side by side..BORING. Have fun
with it, graduate a stack of books, lay some on their sides, stack some
at an angle. If space permits, place a small item atop for
interest.
-
If you have books and collectables from a
favorite vacation...add a small picture to remind you of a
wonderful time.
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Create spaces for the eye to rest,
if you are lean in you options, remember, less is better.
The pictures
below will show you that a bookcase is not just for books...
Do you
recognize some of the techniques we mentioned?
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