4 Ideas for Book Smart Décor
When it comes to d̩cor, sometimes the most fabulous finishing touches are as simple as incorporating everyday objects you already own. A great example is books Рthere's nothing like the simple sophistication of well-read d̩cor, so get out your reading glasses because here are some ways to let literature complete your look:
1. Beautify your library
Be honest – how many leather-bound books have you read lately? If you're like me, your book collection is probably a medley of hard cover tomes mixed with paperback beach reads – no shame in that! But don't toss aside those paperback books – instead, recover them in a paper that's more suited to your taste. It's an easy and fun way to let your bookcase reflect your personality and style and gives your new accent pieces amazing versatility.
2. Color coordinate your shelves
I tend to like pops of color in my home, so if you're like me, a great way to make your book collection pop is to organize your shelves by the color of their covers. If you don't have a lot of similarly colored books, use the previous tip and recover them to complete your color scheme. 
3. Get stacked
Stacking is a less conventional way to showcase your books and makes great use of smaller spaces like short shelving or coffee tables. For the best effect, either stick to books of the same size or taper the sizing from large on the bottom to small on the top – this will draw the eye and prevent your stacks from looking cluttered or unkempt. 
4. Accent your collection with chic bookends
My friends recently gave me these gorgeous antique bookends, and they're a perfect example of how a fabulous accessory can make even the simplest items look stylish. Here are some other winners:
Jonathan Adler Mod Owl Sculptures
Turquoise Foo Dogs
Dr. Livingston Monogrammed Bookends
Malachite Composite Bookends
Steer Horn Bookends
There is no shortage of fab bookends on the market Рjust take a look around your favorite d̩cor store and you'll be sure to find something that fits your taste.
With your household book collection, you have such a wealth of versatile design accents so be sure to put them to good use!
How do you incorporate your library into your interior design? Tell me about it and upload pictures to let me take a look!
Related Stories:
Get Stoned: Malachite
Eco-Chic: My New Vintage Wood Floors
How To Decorate a Room Over Time
Redecorate a Room in Five Steps
Photo Sources: Twig and Thistle, Design Sponge, Sunset, Creamy Life, Material Girls, Mimi and Meg
17 comments
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The book wrapping idea is wonderful. It makes such a pop with all that color. Thanks for the idea!
http://yorkieprincess.wordpress.com
KarLynn -
Make thet cheery! lol Is there a way to edit posts? I always find a typo after I hit "add response" :-/
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These are beautiful ways to elevate a regular book case to an actual home decor element! Love the idea of color coding all of the books so they compliment each other! These photos are wonderful. Thanks for sharing!
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like the idea of covering the books, and also the stacking, good idea for old books laying around
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Love these ideas! You can also have an instant bookend by using a spare brick. I like the idea of pray painting it metalic gold or covering it with scrapbook paper (which is what I ended up doing here).
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I do Love your ideas!! It's funny because I just bought a"Victorian Style" large book that caught my eye! You know how I Love the Victorian Era!... They have the San Franscisco Victorian Houses, Rows & Neighborhoods in this book! The antique furniture is also beautiful! They show many areas in the interior of the home!!..... I do display some books on my coffee table, stacked up! I just added this to the collection! I have the books on a off white wood "Shabby chic" tray tilted sideways! I have a round low bowl filled with my daughters collection of different colored gem stones next to it! Use to be on top, but love the cover of this book!... Anyway on my Round table in the center of these tables, I display your new book, celebraTORI! That one sits all by itself in the front! I have a cranberry glass vase in center & 2 glass candle holders on the side!...... I do have a wall unit, but have it set up with my vases & different things.... I think I will go with one of your pics, putting something small on top of the books! I Love the candle idea & little candy dish!.... By the way, I have those Foo dogs in green & yellow with brown pedestal! Love them! I got them from Newport, R.I. before moving to Fl. The Vanderbuilt Mansion was Gorgeous!!.... They must be 30yrs old! ...Love your turquoise ones too! The Gold antique ones are also a winner & of course the Owls!! Malachite too!... Great Advice & ideas from you once again! Of course I wrote too much once again as well!!! Ha ha!! Xo :))
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Oh, I really like the idea of covering my books so they match better! Had never thought of that. My home is so cluttered, half with books & half with ... lolz ... clutter (!!!) that this would def. go a long way toward building cohesion in our mess. Thanks for the suggestions --- think we'll be starting our new, fun project this weekend. And if I get baby girl to help, she can add her own art to the front & back covers, while I maintain control of the spine, which is the part that would actually be showing in either a stacked or upright position. Holy cowz, I am so excited over this!!! Can't wait till she gets home from school so we can start!!! (Obviously not waiting till the weekend, lolz!)
Andi-Roo /// @theworld4realz
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We love displaying our books. We're looking to build a wall display similar to one shown in the picture above. Fashionable and functionable. Love it.
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I posted photos of my book mess, Jeff Lewis would keel over if he saw it. lol We were watching Interior Therapy and I notice that Jeff gets rid of all the clutter. I thought of doing that with my books but I LOVE to display them. I like the "get stacked" idea I might try that. :)
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Hei !
I love your ideas :D I was just wondering when you are going to anwser the questions we have asked you <3 because it was standig that you were going to anwser them in the end of april <3 -
Hi Tori,
These are beautiful ideas- I especially love the stacking to organize "chaotic" bookshevles (like mine!!)
Breanna
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Ever since I lived on my own, I used to display all of my books. I am an avid reader, so already had quite a few and through the years gathered even more. I was a big fan of the stacks of books, also used them as coffeetables or little stools. And then came last year, and I really got fed up with the look of all of them in my moderate size livingroom. I would love to have a room that I can call my library (think British countryhouse), but as long as I cannot afford them I have them in oakcoloured Billy-bookcases (Ikea's bestseller!) on the corridor of the second floor in our house. That way I keep my livingroom tidy and not so clutteredlooking and still have to keep them. An secretly I call it my aspirant library! A girl can dream, can't she?
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