Arranging your bookshelves in the bedroom involves a mix of organization and styling to create a visually appealing and functional display. You can achieve a polished look by combining books with decorative elements, artwork, and personal mementos.
Getting Started: Clear and Curate
Before you begin arranging, it's helpful to clear your shelves and sort your books.
- Empty the Shelves: Remove everything to start with a clean slate.
- Sort Your Books: Group books by size, color, genre, or frequency of reading – whatever system works best for you. Decide which books you want to display prominently and which might be stored elsewhere if space is limited.
- Clean the Shelves: Wipe down the shelves to remove dust and prepare them for arrangement.
Arranging and Styling Your Shelves
Now comes the fun part: arranging your books and adding decorative touches. The goal is to create balance and visual interest.
- Vary Book Orientation: Don't just stack books vertically. Mix orientations by stacking some horizontally and standing others vertically. This breaks up uniformity and provides platforms for displaying objects.
- Group Books: Arrange books in groups rather than spreading them evenly across the shelf. Groups of 5-7 vertical books or 3-4 horizontal books often work well.
- Incorporate Decorative Objects: Add items other than books to add personality and visual breaks. These can include:
- Vases
- Candles
- Figurines
- Small boxes
- Plants (real or faux)
- Display Artwork and Photos: Personal touches make the shelves feel more "you".
- Lean Frames: As mentioned in the reference, you can lean frames against the wall on the shelves instead of hanging them. This adds depth and an informal, layered look.
- Use Objects to Elevate: Use decorative objects, such as an easel, or use books to elevate your artwork and photos, giving them height and prominence on the shelf.
Creating Visual Balance
Think about how the items look together across the entire shelving unit.
- Mix Textures and Materials: Combine different textures like wood, metal, ceramic, glass, and paper (from books) for a dynamic look.
- Stagger Heights: Place taller items next to shorter ones or stacks of horizontal books to create an appealing visual flow.
- Leave Some Empty Space: Don't feel pressured to fill every inch. Empty space allows the eye to rest and highlights the items you've chosen to display.
- Consider Color: You can arrange books by color for a striking look, or simply ensure the colors of your decorative items complement the overall color scheme of your bedroom.
Examples of Shelf Styling
Here's a simple breakdown of elements you might place on a shelf:
| Shelf Section | Primary Items | Supplementary Items | Styling Technique |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section A | Vertical Books | Small plant, bookends | Grouping, adding greenery |
| Section B | Stacked Horizontal Books | Photo frame (leaned), decorative object | Varying orientation, leaning |
| Section C | Vertical Books | Candle, small sculpture | Mixing items |
| Section D | Stacked Horizontal Books | Small framed art (elevated on books) | Elevating, layering |
By mixing these techniques and incorporating elements like leaning art and using books/objects to elevate items, you can create an attractive and organized bookshelf display that enhances your bedroom's feel and look.
