Interior Architectural Feature #2: Built-in Bookshelves

Remember a while back when I shared a little design philosophy with you about where I like to start when "re-designing" a room? The first thing I do is focus on the architectural elements in the room and ask myself: How would the room look without anything in it? The first interior architectural feature I posted about were interior windows. Today it's built-in bookcases along with some tips from designer Charlie Birdsong for displaying books, art and collectibles on bookshelves.

Laudem Gloriae

Tip 1: Use a tapestry of textures. Incorporate ceramics and leather or wood and silver. Be sure that the small items aren't so small that you can't see them, and keep the presentation of a collection from being so scattershot that it makes no sense.

Cym Lowell Blog

Domino Magazine

Tip 2: Realize you have fewer books than you think. Clients often tell me they need vast bookshelves because they have so many books. In truth, that is rarely the case. The boxes of books they have stored away will fill only a fraction of the space.

You also don't want to be stingy with books--there is something innately sad about thin clusters of books spread around vast shelves. In this case, too many is just right.

Full House

Tip 3: Place books loosely in some places and snugly in others; arrange them vertically and horizontally. If there are ample coffee table or art books, stack them horizontally with the spines telling a story--all on individual artists, gardening, or travel destinations, for example.

If a dust jacket on one of your large books is a favorite, try leaning it against the back of the shelf (like a painting). Or if you have a small painting that gets lost on a wall, place it between books on a shelf.

Domino Magazine

Country Living

Tip 4: Work all over the place at the same time. This means work from the middle, side to side, and up and down as you go. This will add balance and ensure that all your favorite items are scattered throughout, rather than clustered in one spot.

Country Living

Tip 5: Think about how your items "move" within the shelves. Pay attention to varying heights. Grouping books that are all the same size can give a law-office feel--stiff and uninviting. Bookcases that are too carefully arranged have a do-not-touch quality.

Erik Kvalsvik

Tip 6: Consider placing furniture against your bookcase or hanging a painting on the face of the shelves, letting the books double as a background for the vignette.

Antoine Bootz

Tip 7: Painting or papering the backs of bookcases deepens the space. I like to paint them dark olive drab. When papering, a good rule of thumb is to use small repetitive prints and paisleys.

Note: Painted shelves should be a deeper shade to suggest shadow and depth.

Michael Arnaud

Tip 8: Lighting is important. I like down lighting the backs of shelves to remove shadows and uplighting the fronts to illuminate the spines of the books and objects placed alongside them.

Sometimes there is a spot on a shelf for a small lamp. Sconces on the outside of open bookshelves are lovely with opaque, half-round shades. That way, light is directed just at the shelves and does not interfere with lighting in the rest of the room.

Whether you have a single bookcase or an entire wall of bookcases, they can be a significant feature in your room. I particularly like the idea of using bookcases to display collections and small pieces of art as well as books. Are you inspired to do a little rearranging? Have fun!

Michelle

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