Furnishing a bookcase means highlighting our greatest passions. Yes, because a shelving unit can hold CDs, records, DVDs, and, of course, your favorite books. But a bookcase also has room for plants, ornaments, candles, paintings, and many other items that can make it even more beautiful.
Adorning a bookcase and showcasing it to its fullest is a smart and fun way to make it shine even more and create movement in the room. Of course, we tend to imagine a shelving unit as the most classic of living room furnishings, but a bookcase can also be found in a bedroom or a study.
If you're looking for ideas to beautify a bookcase and showcase it in an original and imaginative way, you've come to the right place! In this guide, you'll find plenty of inspiration to beautify your bookcase and transform it into a truly unique piece of furniture.
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An important premise: not all bookcases are the same. Before deciding how to decorate a bookcase, you should keep in mind three important golden rules for making the most of these furnishing elements in your home.
1. Where to place the bookcase?
The first decision you need to make, the one on which everything else depends. Having a bookcase in your home is essential, a very useful piece of furniture that can be used in different ways depending on its placement. You can use a bookcase to ideally divide the "zones" of your home if you want to furnish an open space, but you can also use it as a basic element to create a reading nook. In short, carefully consider the function of a shelf before thinking about how to furnish it!
2. What size should it be?
Once you've decided where to place a bookcase, start thinking about its dimensions. Of course, everything depends on the size of the room, but keep in mind that shape and size impact the layout. A column bookcase and a cabinet with a ladder or square compartments require different attention to detail and the decorative elements you choose.
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3. Which style? And which colors?
Here we enter the realm of personal taste! There are bookcases to suit all styles: when choosing one to buy, consider your home's decor and choose a model that best suits it. The color and design of the bookcase are two essential aspects to consider!
Have you chosen the bookcase that best suits your tastes and needs? Perfect, now it's time to fill it! Here's a guide with lots of useful tips for furnishing a bookcase and making the most of it!
How to furnish a bookcase with books: inspiration and style tips
Your favorite books deserve the right visibility, there's no doubt about that. Not only that: books are also the decorative element par excellence for a shelving unit!
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How can you arrange books in an original way to embellish a bookcase with your creative touch? You can play with books and magazines and create a display that will enhance your shelf even more in many different ways: here are some tips!
- Organize books by color and create a visually appealing display! This way, you can decorate your bookshelf with a harmonious color palette that will bring new life to the entire room.
- A quick and easy trick is to arrange your books in a zigzag pattern! Tilt them forward and backward to add movement to your shelf and break up the monotony of a row of aligned books.
- Play with solids and voids! Leave empty spaces or small open areas between groups of books to create a sense of balance and lightness within the shelf. These spaces can be filled with decorative objects.
- Alternate the arrangement of books horizontally and vertically on the same shelf or between different shelves. A truly practical idea for enhancing a bookshelf by varying the overall look of the arrangement.
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- Create a themed bookshelf! If you love a particular literary genre, or if you're passionate about specific subjects, here's a great idea for beautifying a shelf by creating a thematic arrangement. A practical example? You can decorate a bookcase dedicated to travel, perhaps featuring maps, souvenirs, and travel books.
- Finally, have fun arranging books according to the seasons! You can decorate your bookcase by choosing books dedicated to the seasons of the year or holidays to add freshness and seasonality to your shelf.
Experiment with these ideas for creative book arrangement and furnish your bookcase with a personal touch! Remember that there is no fixed rule, and the arrangement of books can be an expression of your personality and taste.
More than just books! How to decorate a bookcase with the right objects
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A bookcase can be enriched with a variety of objects that add personality and style to your space. Ultimately, books aren't the only solution you have to fill a bookcase!
Here are some inspirations for beautifying your shelf with the right objects and ornaments:
- Decorative objects: Vases, sculptures, figurines, or art objects are great ideas for decorating a bookcase and filling spaces you don't use for books!
- Photo frames: Display your favorite photos or artwork in frames that complement the style of your bookcase.
- Scented candles: Candles can add warmth and a welcoming atmosphere to your space. They're a great way to spruce up a bookcase and transform the atmosphere of the entire room!
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- Decorative boxes: Artistic boxes or containers can hide small items and create a neat and organized look. They also make perfect decorative elements for a bookcase!
- Thematic objects: Have you decorated a bookcase with travel books? If so, a collection of souvenirs will be perfect for beautifying your shelf!
Have fun choosing the right objects to add to your bookcase! Again, follow your instincts and taste, but always try to follow a stylistic thread to decorate a bookcase that's consistent with the mood of your home.
How to decorate a bookcase with plants: a green corner in your home!
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Decorating with plants allows you to add freshness and color to your home, and what better way to create a small indoor greenhouse than with a bookcase? A bookcase filled with plants will make your shelf much more beautiful, vibrant, and dramatic!
Alternate pots with books, and your shelves will begin to explode with color and freshness! Not sure which plants to choose to decorate your bookcase? Here are some varieties you could use!
- Pothos and Sansevieria: Two perfect plants for decorating a bookcase because they're easy to care for and very dramatic. A cascade of green leaves worthy of a trendy "urban jungle" will definitely enhance your bookcase!
- A well-maintained bonsai can be a true work of art and can be placed on a central shelf of your bookcase to draw attention. It requires careful care, but the result can be truly captivating.
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- Begonia Rex: A plant that can add a touch of artistic beauty to your bookcase. Choose a variety with bold, colorful leaves to add a touch of elegance to a shelf!
- Calathea (Calathea spp.): Calathea plants have leaves with truly intriguing decorative patterns. Place it on a low shelf of your bookcase to allow you to admire its leaves from above.
- Cactus: A small succulent in a terracotta or wicker pot is a truly interesting idea for decorating a bookcase! Cacti survive with little water and can add a touch of boho chic and ethnic charm to your shelf.
Decorate your bookcase with a few plants and you'll enjoy a small, colorful, and lush green oasis in your home!
How to decorate a bookcase by enhancing the shelves: movement, color, and style!
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Finally, some tips for making the most of your shelves! Yes, because shelves and ledges are "neutral" support surfaces that don't just need to be arranged with the utmost care, as we've seen so far. You can decorate your bookcase and make it more beautiful with a few small touches to your shelves.
Here are some ideas to get you started!
- Color harmony: pay attention to the colors! We've seen that you can have fun arranging books according to specific color palettes, but always remember to create the right combination with the color of your bookcase.
- Play with lighting! Add LED lights or spotlights inside the bookcase to highlight specific sections or special objects. Lighting is a great way to enhance a bookcase and showcase your book collection or the objects you'll be using.
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- Add back panels: Installing decorative panels on shelves is a great way to create visual contrast and will make a bookcase even more beautiful. These panels can add depth and character to your piece, so choose them carefully to create a harmonious effect that complements the room's decor.
- Shelves at different heights: Don't have space for a bookcase? If so, hang shelves in a staggered arrangement. A creative and incredibly simple solution to add dynamism to a wall and further enhance books and small ornaments!
By enhancing your shelves or racks with these simple ideas, you'll achieve a truly spectacular visual effect. Your collection of books and ornaments will shine with a different light and stand out even more!
In short, furnishing a bookcase and enhancing it with books, decorative objects, and plants isn't that difficult. With these inspirations, we're confident you'll be able to transform your piece into a statement shelf, brimming with style and personality!
