There's something about a well-styled but still practical bookcase that makes my soul happy. Like these...oh my heart is smiling...
This bookcase is styled simply, with two groupings on each shelf, each grouping the same scale. It feels balanced and effortless....plus I love a brass bookcase :)
The styling of this bookcase is so good. It's well balanced between books and vessels, with added storage (those baskets), and I love the color coded books....This is the Expedit bookcase from Ikea for anyone interested, this is the one I planned to put in my living room originally, until I saw the shipping price...shame on you Ikea, shame on you...
Another styling by Emily Henderson, and it's perfect. A perfect mix of large and small objects, still at a perfect scale of size and color. The layering is so good in this one. Also you'll notice that when you look at each shelf you see pairings of three, which is kind of the golden rule when it comes to this type of styling...
This is what I imagine Martha Stewart's bookcase would look like...only in my mind, they are only books she has written, that have her face on the cover...oh Martha...And again you'll notice the small groupings of two or three...
While, I'm not an expert, I have learned a lot about styling bookcases in my few short months of school, but even more from other bloggers and stylists. Here's a few tips:
- Start at the back...I love an open backed bookcase like the Expedit, but with regular bookcases try dressing up the back like I did in my bookcase in my living room. This could be with wallpaper, paint, or fabric (which is what I used).
- Layer....Start with bigger items and fill in the blanks...it's that simple....A bookcase needs depth and interest. In the styling by Emily Henderson, you'll notice that she doesn't just have a few items in a line across the bookcase. When styling a bookcase, you have to think in layers and once again, start in the back. You'll also notice she adds balance, by stacking the books, which alternate sides on each shelf. All different textures and colors add to the appeal of this style of bookcase.
- Mix it up....Did you know there are 7 ways to stack books? There is a great post on The Art of doing stuff about all of them. It's great to mix it up, it keeps your eyes moving and keeps it interesting.
- The Rule of Threes...Did you know it's easier on your eyes to see things in odd numbers? Hence the rule of threes. Objects tend to look better when gathered in odd numbers, and the basic design principle of the rule of threes is a good one to remember, but for a more general rule, try to group things in groups of threes or fives.
Any other great styling tips out there? I'd love to add them to my list :)
