# Friday, October 09, 2009
Make Your Bookcase into a Work of Art

Interior design ideas for bookcase "art":

A bookcase is so much more than a place to store books! It doesn’t matter if you have a lot of books or a few books – or maybe even no books. It doesn’t matter if your bookcase is low and wide or narrow and tall. The approach is the same.

Look at the outside frame of the bookcase as the frame for the “work of art” then fill the center with your “picture”. Start with placing your books, provided you have some, (no paperbacks - please!). Be sure to place some standing upright and some lying on their sides. You can also lean a book with a beautiful cover against the back of the unit.

Add Your Personality

 

“Personality” items include framed pictures – can be people or scenery. I love taking close-ups of nature when I am traveling and then frame those photos as mini abstract art. Pay attention to your frames. Choose an interesting mix – They don’t have to be fancy or expensive. I have one frame with seashells glued on that my grandkids collected here on Clearwater Beach. But be careful not to have any one frame too heavy and jump out at you – keep everything in balance.

Next add some other interesting pieces. For instance, I have a small wooden bowling pin that my aunt won as a trophy in 1929. I also have an adorable ceramic music box my daughter gave me with little birds that move up and down. Then I have an exquisite crystal sculpture – the award for my store design in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.  And, on and on, so you get the idea of adding your “personality” to the mix.

Strike a Balance
 

While adding your personal items is key—there’s a fine line between creating clutter and creating an interesting mix. So be sure to carefully place your items, balancing off the books and creating your work of art - “picture in the frame”.

Keep in mind, sometimes less is more. So go with what you have. Maybe you are just starting out and don’t have a lot of books or items to put on your shelves. That’s OK. Just create a nice balance with what you have. Then it is fun to look for things at art shows or when you travel. But don’t go shopping and buy stuff just to fill your shelves – it is so much more satisfying to add meaningful things over time.

Finish it Off

Finally, small plants are a great way to add more interest if you feel your “work of art” needs it. Sometimes plants are essential and sometimes they are not needed at all. Just continue to create balance if you decide to add greenery to your mix. And, be sure to choose only high quality plants – remember this is your personality you are creating!

So, go for it! Make Your Bookcase into a Work of Art

Need some guidance? I welcome your comments and questions along with any photos you can send and I will be happy to give you additional interior design ideas and tips.

Barbara Krai Interior Design serving Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Palm Harbor, Oldsmar, Dunedin, Odessa, Safety Harbor, Lutz, Avila, Cheval, New Port Richey, Bradenton, Lakeland and all
surrounding Tampa Bay Beaches and regional areas along the West Coast of Florida.

Friday, October 09, 2009 2:39:35 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Comments [0]  | 
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