Basic Decorating Tips For Your Custom Solid Wood Bookcases or Shelves

 

You have wisely invested in custom made and finished solid wood bookcases or shelves from Amish designers and craftsman – now what? You have items you love and that need homes, but how best to display them to not only showcase the collection but to not detract from your beautiful heirloom furniture.

First, realize what you love best. Your home should reflect you, your interests and hobbies. A warm home is always reflective of you and your everyday life. Your kids’ framed artwork, your favorite books, even your baseball cards or other collections. The biggest mistake a home owner can make is to decorate for others. Your home should look like you and that can begin with the display on your book case.

Whether you opted for open or bookcases with glass front doors there are many ways to accessorize shelves properly. Don’t sweat the arrangement or choice of accessories since decorating a shelf can and should be changed easily and regularly. Remember, you can try something new, and if it doesn’t suit you or the season, try something else.

  • Create unity by grouping like items with like items. By grouping items by theme, color, shape, texture or material you get the biggest visual bang. You can create the illusion of hiring a curator who has organized your shelves to feel like treasures. You can create a visual pop by grouping like colors, such as white pottery, together. Placed against the dark wood of your custom stained shelving these items stand out. Grouping boxes, spheres, etc. create instant emphasis that cannot be duplicated when spread apart.
  • Instead of placing a few smaller knick-knacks on the shelf try to choose big, bold accessories. Select items that you can see it from across the room. Smaller items achieve more visual presence when you gather them containers. An old jar filled with vintage marbles, seashells collected at the beach or even a basket of loose family photos create interest.
  • Go for asymmetrical arrangements of three, five or seven objects. Also remember not to center them but place them off-center. Odd numbers are visually most interesting in interior design. Balance is good but if not done right can be boring. Use combinations of short, medium and tall objects to make the eye fall at various levels.
  • A very powerful statement can be created when there is nothing but art or photos on display. Try leaning your collection or overlapping edges. Mix up frame sizes, shapes and styles.
  • Shiny items add interest, too. Add glass, crystal and silver objects to make shelf arrangements literally twinkle. A mirror placed at the back or bottom of a shelf will also impact the visual effect of the objects placed in front or on it.
  • In modern or contemporary settings always keep it simple. A more streamlined approach is the best fit for contemporary and modern spaces. Minimalism does not mean any decorations of collections, just well thought out ones. Modern contemporary is based on form following function and it is best to go with shelves decorated in an uncluttered look. 
  • A little light on the subject is good. Illuminate your shelves by spotlighting the arrangements. If you did not opt for pre-installed lighting with your custom solid wood Amish bookcases or shelves, then add track lighting in the ceiling. A professional touch can be gained by discreetly tucking tiny up-lights behind a vase or other items, creating a backlight to the arrangement.

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