Using Books as Decor: Creative Book Storage
During a Q&A a couple weeks ago, someone asked for some creative ways to store and display their books beyond the obvious shelves. Some of us have limited space or we just don’t want to overwhelm our spaces with stuff. Is it just me or does an excess of “stuff” make anyone else anxious? Here are some ideas to save space and make your books part of your decor. When it comes to this bathtub library…a gal can dream right?
Creative Ideas
Book Tower—I think these are such a cool conversation piece. They look so lovely when done in rainbow order or color coordinated. Plus, people are generally shocked to learn there’s more structure to them!
Organize by Rainbow—I was not a rainbow library kind of gal but then I tried it and I have to say, it’s quite satisfying. I keep my shelves in my office in rainbow order and it creates a nice calm work environment.
Book Cart—I love these craft carts. They’re easy to put together and are quite sleek. I use mine as my TBR cart so I keep the books highest on my TBR, as well as my ARC copies, at the ready.
Book Bench—I dream of one day having a window bench between a gorgeous wall of shelves. But until then, I love the idea of a book bench! It’s dual storage. Use the shelves for books and the inside for extra sheets or bulky sweaters.
Floating Shelves—If you have special books, maybe special editions or signed copies, maybe those lovely clothbound classics, use floating shelves! You can mount as many as you like but I think they work for a minimalist vibe. I also think they could be a cool way to add dimension to a gallery wall.
Corner Mounted Shelves—A classic, but a great way to make a corner feel dynamic. Plus, it can be relatively inexpensive!
High Shelves—I love the idea of these high shelves! I love the look of them being above a doorway but I also think it could be a cool way to line a space. You don’t lose wall space and it will elongate your walls!
Modern Book Tree—These book trees are definitely a cool piece if you’re in the modern style. Another great way to display those particularly special books.
Book Nook—I saw this photo of the book nook in an apartment with exposed brick but I think if you have an odd spot in your home, you could utilize it this way. We have a nook in our that I think would be suited to this! No brick sadly but that’s okay.
My Shelves:
Ladder Shelves—I’ve had these for years and now we have them on either side of our TV.
Filing Cabinet Shelves—These are on either side of Nick’s desk and have been a game changer for our organization.
Carson Shelves—These were a wedding gift and I adore them. They’re inexpensive and look like they have crown molding on them. I have two in white in my office and one in grey in our living room.
Now, let’s crowdsource! How do you store your library?