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Monday, August 13th, 2018
See both beauty and function in this Fine Furniture Design Cachet Bookshelf.
Bookcases or bookshelves, more often than not, become the permanent homes for most college textbooks or personal collections that you can’t seem to have the heart to throw or give away. This piece of furniture may seem like another furnishing in your home but its rich history reveals that there is a lot more that it can offer any modern home.
At about the time when the codex was first seen in the first century, open bookcases housed to forms of books – the cylindrical rolls as well as the flat and rectangular codex. These were slowly seen as not-so-pretty ways of binding books so people began hiding their books while some built trunks and armoires for the sake of transporting their book collections.
Yet these trunks were not easily accessible so the bibliophiles had to think of ways to have their books within sight and easy reach. The next 1,400 years showed shelves that displayed books the conventional way – spine out and piled horizontally.
Bookshelves became popular in the ‘30s as publishers and architects, alike, promoted this piece of furniture. This joint effort became a way of encouraging people to buy books.
Bookshelf as a Piece of Art
One good way to be different when decorating your bookshelf is to see it as artwork. To do this, you must, first, have an outline of what you would want to accomplish. And since this is a piece of art, it must have some sort of organization. It must also be flexible since you will constantly add and take away contents from it.
Do not be afraid to unleash your creative side. Only the most creative minds can see a bookshelf as a sort of art installation. It must show meaning and purpose. The overall look must be a fusion of shapes, colors, and style which reflect the theme that you used in your home.
The most common rooms where bookshelves are found are the living room and the office. With this in mind, design your bookcase in a way that it also becomes a conversation starter.
Order in Chaos
As soon as you have decided on the kind of shelf that you’re going to use, it’s time to put order to chaos. Begin by finding a clean spot in your home then layout out all the books and knickknacks that you would use in stylizing the bookshelf.
It’s not bad to be picky about the stuff that you will use. Pick pieces that will help tell a story or even evoke memories through their shapes and colors. Once order is done using colors or shapes, then clutter is visually reduced and the meaning that you’re trying to convey now becomes more powerful.
Of course, the easiest things to consolidate are your books. If you like referencing, then you can organize the books according to their genre or to their design. If you’re more moved with visuals then go for color and size organization. You can also restack the books from smallest to largest or vice versa.
As soon as the books are organized, you can then move to the objects. Use anything from vases to bowls, even small clocks, and decorative boxes.
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The Stabilizing Bookends
What better way is there to stabilize books than to use bookends? The right pair can add to the style of your bookshelf this is especially when you don’t have a sculptural object to display.
Bookends have a great beginning. These are those pieces of art that can be used to hold the books on both ends just like an anti-diluvial. Bookends logically hold the books that are arranged vertically. They do not just help the books stand erect, they also preserve the books by preventing them from being deformed when they lean for an extended period of time.
Tags: bookcase, bookends, bookshelf, decorating the bookshelf, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Living Room Design | Comments Off on Bookshelf Fashion
Wednesday, July 20th, 2016
FFDM Antebellum Collection: This is a classic take in setting up a library.
Organizing bookshelves may not be your idea of spending the weekend but there are actually people who are extreme enthusiasts. The bibliophiles even think that books have their own personalities, even histories, thus, they should be displayed for the world to see, not hidden. You may not be as extreme as these people but it is, nevertheless, needful to have books organized.
The Book Organizing Project
It might be a bit challenging to begin organizing your book collections but your efforts will not be wasted, you’ll see. Once every book has a place to call its home, you will soon feel the joys of clutter-free surroundings.
Consider also if there are books that you would be willing to donate. Once you have segregated the books that you still read and those that you will give away, then it’s time to see what sort of bookshelf you will be investing in.
A Place to Reflect
You don’t have to be obsessessed with books just to organize your own library. Actually, it doesn’t even have to be a designated library. There are corners and spaces in your home that are not used or misused. Find those areas and consider setting up your bookshelves or book cabinets there.
If you have a huge collection of books, though, you can make the library as the heart of your home. You can combine the first and second floors of your home then have a circular staircase complete the two-storey library. The double-height book home will surely be more enticing if the stairs are made with elegant oak.
Other options for larger book collections is for the shelves to run from floor to ceiling. You can have a special ladder to go with these shelves. This is the best tool for easy browsing among these shelves.
If you are feeling more magnanimous with your budget, then have your house built around your book cabinets or shelves. These shelvings look best with exposed wood beams and other industrial theme elements. Your book volumes could also stretch up to two storeys accessible by a wooden staircase. The top can have a simple desk overlooking the garden right outside your home. Picture yourself reading a book here while you peek – once-in-a-while – over the top of the novel that you’re reading.
With smaller collections, you can make do with a book tower. Build this by simply stacking books on the floor. A small wooden desk can also hold your small collections.
Another choice that you can make is to convert an unused corner into your reading nook. Have a designated desk and chair by that corner and have a small stack of books placed on the desk. If you install a corner shelf to house your books, then make sure that it follows the ceiling’s angle. Yet another wooden ladder would make accessibility a breeze.
A crafts desk could also serve as a companion to your bookshelves. Here, you get to hang your arts and crafts on the wall where the desk is nearest. The books can be organized according to the color of their spines if you want to up the level of artistry in that corner.
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A Last Reminder
No matter what you decide to come up with regarding your home library, the key is to be able to display the books in a manner that won’t look boring. These books, after all, are meant to be shown. Add a personal touch by mixing a photograph or two in the bookshelves. Remember that saying which says a picture is worth a thousand words? These framed photos should make the display a lot more interesting.
Tags: book collection, book display, book organization, decorating the bookshelf, display tips for books, displaying book collections, displaying books, home library, how to display books, library in your home, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, organizing books, setting up a home library, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
Saturday, June 4th, 2016
Cynthia Rowley for Hooker Furniture Home Office Skyline Bookcase 1586-10446A-BLK3 is not your ordinary bookcase. It’s both functional and fashionable.
The U.S. President Thomas Jefferson once stated that he cannot live without books. Book collectors and bookworms all know this feeling. Having a library at home and owning various book collections may not be realistic for many. If you are one of the book lovers who wish to have a home library but do not have the budget for it, then you can always settle for a reading nook.
Creating a small home library is not always about housing leather-bound books, installing wood paneling or investing in heavy furniture. There are no right or wrong ways in designing your own book haven. You just have to ask the correct questions from the onset such as –
How do I organize my books?
How do I find shelves that would house my small collection?
The creation of a home library can be a wonderful opportunity to express your personality. This can also be a fun way to display your interest in reading.
Home Office Uttermost Annileise Bookshelf 24326
First, Pick a Room
Reading inside a room with huge windows, with lots of natural light might sound like a wonderful idea to you but for the books, all that sunlight would do them more harm than good.
Find a room that isn’t too dark or too brightly-lit. Basements and attics come with heavy humidity which will attract insects and mold. Also, basements are more prone to flooding so it is best to keep your books out of such an area.
Organize
Did you notice how, when you began using the public library, that there is a system of organization there? The orderly line of books is no less than the Dewey Decimal Classification System at work. This system offers 10 categories in organizing books such as arts, philosophy and religion. Every category is given a number assignment so if you want a book regarding Modern Art, you will just have to look for those with the 700+ numbers.
Bigger libraries make use of the Library of Congress Classification System. This categorizes books in a more specific manner. Subjects are used as categories where law or medicine can have up to 21 categories at a given time.
Your home library is, of course, not as large as the public library so you don’t need to have an intricate system of classification. All you have to do is to categorize according to subject matter or even color! Aesthetic organization through the spine color is quite effective to some as they can find their favorite book according to their favorite colors.
You can also highlight your specific passion such as photography or history.
You can also categorize by alphabetizing the works of certain authors.
Another way to organize your books is through prioritizing them according to the time when you would read them. You can do this by keeping the unread book at the forefront while the ones that you have already read take a backseat.
As soon as you have organized your book collections, it’s time to find the furniture that will hold them.
Bookshelves and Cabinets
It might be difficult to spend your money other than your beloved books but it is also essential to buy a home for them. At some point, you will need to invest in a bookshelves or cabinets that will save you some space.
Freestanding bookcases come in various colors, sizes and price. For some whose homes have limited space, there is always the option to install hanging bookshelves. As more and more books occupy your hanging bookshelves, you might eventually need a library ladder to reach your collections. A step ladder or stool would do but rolling ladders would add an elegant touch.
Tags: book collection, book display, book haven, book organization, decorating the bookshelf, design for home library, display tips for books, home library, home library design, how to display books, library in your home, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, organizing books, room for books
Posted in Interior Design 101, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
Monday, April 4th, 2016
Hooker Furniture Home Office Adagio Double Bookcase with ladder & rail.
If you have an insatiable passion for books, then you know how you could spend countless hours just perusing your favorite collections and those indispensible stacks. This burning urge to read is tripled if you are a collector of rare books. You can surely understand the need to ensure that these books remain in good condition for many more years to come. Setting up a home library can be an enjoyable task for any bookworm. Here are some tips on how to begin –
Ala Bookstore
First, there is a need to declutter. If you have allocated a space or an entire room for your home library, then make sure that you clean it up first. See also if the current paint in that room is conducive to reading. The whole array of neutral colors is a good palette to use. Earthy colors are also wonderful especially when you have a collection of leather furniture pieces.
You can create bookstore-style as your theme for the home library. You can sort the nonfiction books according to their subjects. There are some who prefer to do it alphabetically and by the name of authors (for those who have a bigger collection).
Home Library by Theme
This can be a fun way of sorting especially for the most creative people. Try it with a broad theme at first such as beach, for instance. You can group all books pertaining to beaches, beach travels, water gardens, fish recipes, etc. under this category.
Home Library Color Organization
When it comes to sorting, there is nothing easier than to organize through color. This is best for the visually-oriented ones. Visual learners would find joy in organizing the library in this manner. Ain’t it a lot easier to find a book if they are organized based on the color of their spines?
Of course, you don’t have to stick to the color-coordinated theme all of the time. You can also base the color coordination on your current decor or your favorite color. The color blocks may be limited to just a few hues while those books that have no way of joining the color scheme should be shelved in a different section of the home library.
Try this on your cookbooks alone and you would see how delightful it is to have the colors beautifully arranged.
Assign a Stand for Oversized Books
Wouldn’t it be nice to flip through the pages of that huge dictionary without hurting your arms as you lift it?
Have it cradled on a sturdy stand so you can feature this useful book at a corner or the middle of your home library.
Set up a coffee table where you could place your favorite picture books. Create a small pile of
Book Rotation
As soon as the bookshelves are delivered, then set the library up according to the theme that you have chosen. Rotate the books according to topics, color size in order to spark interest. Use picture shelves as a means of displaying books as an artwork. You can also top a beautiful credenza with visually pleasant books.
Vertical Home Library
If you happen to have a small space, then why limit your book collections? Invest in shelves that can be stacked vertically in order to maximize the square footage. Just make sure that there is a counterweight at the base of the shelf. Be sure to stack the bigger books at the bottom to prevent tipping.
Be Creative
Books can be inspiring in so many ways. If you are an architect, you can also use your profession as a theme for your home library. Stack architecture books near your desk. If you are a writer or a poet, then find joy in stacking volumes of poetry on a lovely shelf. An artist can paint the back of the library shelves with vibrant colors.
Don’t forget to leave some room for improvement. You might not stick with a particular theme for a long time so play with neutral colors or invest in furniture that can be used in many different themes.
Fine Furniture Design Living Room Library Lamp Table 1370-973
Tags: book display, book haven, book organization, decorating the bookshelf, designing a home library, displaying book collections, home library, home library decor, home library design, home library theme, home library themes, how to display books, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, organizing books
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
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