in this time of "social distancing" and "shelter at home" when we are meant to remain within the confines of our houses we probably have a bit more time. it is the PERFECT opportunity for interior improvement projects. channel your boredom and extra energy by reorganizing your bookshelves to maximize their visual impact. thoughtfully arranged bookshelves add life, color, warmth and intimacy to a room. bookshelves can provide amazing insight into your loves, interests, travel, collections and favorite authors, personalizing your home and making it unique. following are tips for turning what is often only a functional aspect of a room into something that enhances, informs and brightens the space. 

• in addition to your books, include meaningful objects: framed photos, travel momentos, sculptures or other small works of art and interesting collections. perhaps you collect vintage phones or radios or vases or driftwood and seashells from your beach holidays - give these special items their due on your bookcase. placing different shapes and silhouettes among the rectangular blocks of books makes the bookshelf more visually intriguing and gives the eye places to pause and consider.

(there are ceramics, framed art pieces, photos and sculptures tucked into this boulder bookshelf.)

(the collection of black and white vases adds interesting shapes and texture to this 1085 bookshelf.)

• colorblock your books. (you may want to do this within categories: novels, biographies, non-fiction, etc. so that you have a good chance of finding a particular book in the future.) creating color patterns in the bookshelf makes the arrangement look more intentional and compelling.

(using primarily white books on this regis bookshelf gives the arrangement a calm, soothing quality.)

• vary the layout - stack some books horizontally (you can place some of your meaningful artifacts on top!) and arrange others vertically so that you create “moments” and interest in your shelf.

• display paintings on your bookshelf: hang them on the front of the shelf frame, lean smaller pieces up against the books or place artwork on the top shelf.

• include plants or greenery in your shelves. a little nature adds a fresh, organic element to your book collection.

(this bright green plant has an interesting shape and injects color into the peloton bookshelf.)

photos: HBK photography

to read more about these projects click boulder or 1085 or regis or peloton