Bookcases are not just for books
DEAR GAIL: We have a wall unit in our family room with a set of bookcases on each side of the TV armoire that’s just been junked up with books. We have a lot of books we’d like to keep but some can go. How do I go about decorating them so that they look nice? — Carolynn M.
DEAR CAROLYNN: Just because it’s called a bookcase doesn’t mean that it needs to be filled with books, just as a china cabinet doesn’t need to only hold china. Neither one is really meant to be used just for storage, but as areas where you display your books and china. You are not alone in this as most people are stumped on what to do with these pieces, which is why they become storage spaces.
First, completely empty them. Start unloading from the bottom up, especially with a china cabinet. You do this so that in case you drop anything, there will be nothing below it on a shelf that can get broken. Sort your hardback books from your paperbacks because it’s time for your paperbacks to be stored somewhere else.
Now I want you to take out all the shelves. Just because the piece came with four shelves that can be placed evenly apart, doesn’t mean that’s where they need to go or that you have to use all of them. This is secret number one to accessorizing bookcases.
Next, look around your house and gather up anything that you like that has been hidden away or unappreciated where it currently is. Do you have any tall accessories, artwork or mirrors to add color and light? If you have an electrical outlet in your unit, do you have any small accent lights that can be placed on a shelf? How about extra greens to soften the edges of your books and shelves?
If your bookcases go from floor to ceiling, the bottom shelf is a good place for a row of larger books or a series of books. For anyone who is not using a lot of books, you’ll start with your visually heaviest accessory. This will balance the weight in your bookcase from top to bottom. You don’t want to have your most delicate piece of china on the bottom with a heavy clay vase or bowl above.
Now secret number two. Pull out the tall accessory, artwork or accent lamp you’ve found. Place it at eye level and put in your next shelves above and below. You can off-center the item and place an accessory or a group of books on the other end of the shelf. If the piece is very large, it’s OK to center it so that it’s the focal point on the shelf.
Next, secret number three. Zigzag the weight from shelf to shelf. Don’t completely line up items across each shelf, but zigzag them from corner to corner. Think of a Z. Start at the bottom and place a stack of books on the right side of the shelf. Step up to the next shelf and place a stack of books on the left side of the shelf; on the next shelf place the stack on the right side, and continue zigzagging from side-to-side. You are not filling the shelf, just placing a group of books on each side. When working with books, all of them do not need to be standing up. Alternate them from standing to laying down to a combination.
If you’re not working with a lot of books, you would be placing accessories in these spots.
What zigzagging accomplishes is keeping your eyes moving up and down the bookcase instead of just stopping on the shelves where items have been lined up. It also eliminates eye clutter.
The next step is to continue to add to each shelf. Start again at the bottom and place an accessory on the other end of the shelf. You can have a group of frames, a large decorative accessory, a small piece of artwork or decorative plate on a plate stand. If your bookcase is deeper than 12 inches, place the taller pieces in the back or raise up small items with books, glass blocks or accessory risers. Incorporate greenery with your books and accessories to soften the look. Place a small accessory or green on top of the books you’ve placed on their sides.
The final step is to step back and look to see if you’ve zigzagged from corner to corner on each shelf. Also check to see if you have balanced the weight of your accessories from top to bottom. Look for some empty space between the groupings on each shelf. It’s OK to leave empty space on a shelf so that the eye has some place to rest.
When you’re done, you’ll have an attractive, interesting and decorated bookcase, and not just book storage.
Gail Mayhugh, owner of GMJ Interiors, is a professional interior designer and author of a book on the subject. Questions may be sent by e-mail to: gail@gmjinteriors.com. Or, mail to: 7380 S. Eastern Ave., No. 124-272, Las Vegas, NV 89123. Her Web address is: www.GMJinteriors.com.