Don't delegate your book case to just simply housing and storing those books. Use these quick, easy and frugal decorating ideas to give that bookcase the design attention it deserves. Make it a design accent in any room.
Decorating Idea 1: Paint
Decorative Shelving
Painting your bookcase is a wonderful way to give it a fresh new look, create a focal point, or even make a small room appear larger!
To make the room appear larger, paint the bookcase the same color as the wall. To make your bookcase a central attraction, paint the back of the book case different colors in a uniform pattern, or add wall paper to add dimension.
Decorating Idea 2: Illuminate
Add easy to attach focused battery operated lights to the ceiling of one book shelf to highlight a shelf underneath. Or, install an electric picture light to the top of the bookcase to illuminate the entire book shelf arrangement.
Decorating Idea 3: Decorate
Don't limit your bookcase to just the display and storage of books. Break things up a bit by alternating groups of books with accent or decorative favorites. Add nicely framed family photo's to one shelf, decorative glass or a sculptured collectible to another.
Decorating Idea 4: Weed
Those tattered, outdated dusty editions of books you may never read again could be donated or tossed. Group the books you REALLY must keep by size color or shape.
Vertical arrangements are fine, but break them up not only with your decorative pieces but with some horizontal groupings as well. Size arrangements are more attractive then books of differing sizes mixed together.
Place the largest books at the bottom of the bookcase, the most attractive on the middle and the smallest at the top. Remove some of the paper sleeves for hard back distinction.
Decorating Idea 5: Hide
If you have books that just don't look good but you simply cannot part with them. Hide them behind your accessories, horizontal book arrangements or add some decorative boxes to the shelf to house them.
Decorative boxes can also be used to store little odds and ends that you want to keep on the bookcase for convenience but don't necessarily need to see. This could be your incoming mail, household keys, remote controls, etc.
Decorative boxes are not only wonderfully functional but delightfully decorative. Make your own to tie in the theme of the room with a decoupage DIY project or, visit a decorating store to find a unique, just for you look.
By incorporating these 5 simple ideas to your bookcase, it will become a star attraction in any room.