Interior Decorating Tips: Jazz Up Bookcases
by Kate McIntyrekate.mcintyre@interiordesignschoolreview.com
Interior Design School Review Columnist
Built-in bookcases are a lovely, practical interior design feature. It seems, though, that anyone who has built-in bookcases falls into one of two camps: those with too many books to fit in the bookcase, or those with too few to fill the space adequately. Each camp has its own interior decorating challenges. As an interior designer, it is your job to create a design scheme for your clients that is both attractive and functional.
Bookshelf Decoration for Pack Rats
If your clients have too many books, your first task is to convince them that only a portion of their books needs to be on display. Cheap paperbacks with creased spines, for example, are best relegated to a closed cabinet. Art books and nice hardcovers, however, should stay. The biggest books should fill the bottom of the bookcase, with the shorter ones at the top.Bookshelf Design for Minimalists
If your clients have only a few books, put them in groups of five to ten for maximum impact. You can fill in blank spots with candles, vases, plants, and other small decorative items. It is easy to over-accessorize a bookcase, so after you place each item, take a few steps back to evaluate the overall impact.Arranging the Bookcase
As you arrange the books, keep in mind that you can stack them as well as stand them up end to end. Vertical stacks of books add interest. They allow you to display oversized books that might not fit in the bookcase otherwise, and you can use the stacks as bookends.Master Your Skills in Interiror Decorating School
The most appealing bookcases feature an eye-catching mix of books and other decorative items. Keep in mind the rule of odd numbers: one, three, or five candlesticks grouped together will always look better than two or four. This interior decorating maxim is one of many you will learn at an interior decorating school. These programs teach you about the art and the business of interior design.Sources
About the author:
Kate McIntyre is a writer in Portland, Oregon. She holds a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.F.A. in fiction writing from Oregon State University.
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