A
book shelf is not only a book lover's choice but also a great decorative
piece of furniture for any home. Most of the people, till now, prefer to
have
wooden bookshelves. They are
not only durable and sturdy but can also be matched with the decor and color
of the rooms by just painting afresh. Here are some tips on arranging books
on a wooden book shelf as well as using them to decorate the whole
surroundings.
- First of all, take out all the books and all other things on the book
shelf and make it empty. Dust it for a clean look and dispose of books
that you no longer require. This will give it a clutter free look.
- Wooden racks of a book shelf,
although strong, need to be used judiciously. Keep heavy books on the
bottom most rack. Heavy books on top or middle shelves can bent the wood
as they don't have any support. The bottom shelf has the support of
floor beneath it.
- You can even keep some other heavy objects on the bottom shelf like
some decorative basket, wooden planters
or some big animal or human sculpture. A combination of books and
decorative items can also be made at the bottom shelf.
- Middle shelves are best for decorating. Place books side by side on
the shelf. Don't fill the whole length of the middle racks. Use them as
a wooden cupboard for displaying
your decoratives. You can do it by placing books in half of the shelf
and using the half portion for placing decorative
wooden boxes, vases or photographs
etc. Alternatively you can make a stack at one end of the shelf, put
some decorative piece in the middle of it and again put a stack of books
at the other end of the shelf.
- For giving a nice look to the book shelf, use different book
arrangements on these shelves. Stack a few books and then place a small
photo frame or statuette on top of them. Make three stacks of books and
keep them side by side. You can even stack two or three books and then
keep other books on top of them in standing position.
- Use the top shelf for organizing smaller sized books side by side. If
they run the complete width of the shelf, it is their best visual
presence.
- The top of the book shelf should never be left empty, for it brings
out the true beauty of your wooden book case. Place some paintings or
vases here. You can even use this space for displaying beautiful silk
plant and foliage arrangement. And if you want to bring some mood in the
whole room through lighting, place a lamp on both the sides of your
decoration.
