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.
