Room For Books
Summer is a time to lighten the home and books weave themselves seamlessly into the fabric of relaxed interiors.
Amidst the array of textures, colours, and forms that make up a home, there exists the timeless elegance of books. Conduits of culture and gateways to imagination, they are, in this age of gaming consoles, laptops, et al, even the stylish integrant of interiors-imbuing living spaces with depth, character, and intellectual charm.
True, several everyday items multitask as décor in homes. For example, pretty patterned plates make for great wall art; ceramic jugs filled with flowers make wonderful centrepieces; glass bowls stuffed with travel souvenirs are fantastic conversation starters, and so on. But books, when placed strategically, tell tales of a different kind. They are personal expressions that transcend aesthetics to reflect personality, passions, and your inner world.
The art of using books as décor, however, is no mean feat. Each spine tells a story; so, it is like orchestrating a symphony of colours and shapes. Whether arranged by colour, size, or genre, the arrangement of books on shelves is an art form that transforms mere storage into a captivating display of visual poetry.
life into shelves
So how do you curate bookshelves and other spaces of your home with your favourite reads?
To stack books aesthetically is to choreograph a dance of intellect and imagination. But, before you start stacking shelves, determine the overall aesthetic of your literary landscape. Is your home classic or contemporary? Or minimalist or maximalist? Depending on the vibe, consider the space you can and want to devote to bookshelf/shelves. If space is small and your home is minimalistic, think of small floating shelves at levels that are higher than the eye. If your space is large, a bookshelf or even one wall with shelves arranged asymmetrically can look stylish.
Thereafter, gather all books on a specific subject or language and group them by genre-art, travel, architecture, and more-to display both convenience and personal taste. Stack books horizontally or vertically to create different heights and textures and thus add depth and movement. Stacking in alternating directions is an option as is creating a small tower of literature. The idea is to imagine the arrangement of books not as a stack but a tableau of harmony.
colours as pop
For those who would find genre-grouping daunting, there is a simpler way to segregate. Grouping books together by colour make shelves pop. So, you can arrange them rainbow-style, with books transitioning from one colour to the next or create clusters in complementary or contrasting colours. Yet another way to marry book colour and décor is to place colourful books on either end of a row to serve as decorative bookends. Books with quirky covers can also face the front.
A collection of colourful books on a coffee table or side table can serve as a focal point in your living room or study, especially if your home has been done up in neutrals. Stack them or fan them out and you will realise that the art is not merely about aesthetics, but storytelling-each with its own narrative. Look for books with eye-catching covers or interesting typography to add an extra layer of visual interest.
break it up
Type Shelfie on Pinterest and your screen is likely to fill up with images of book arrangements that intersperse book stacks/rows with accent pieces that range from planters to bookends, vases, sculptures, framed artwork, and more. Nestled between literary gems, a collection of curiosities like a delicate porcelain figurine, or a weathered map that speaks of distant lands, small artworks, or souvenirs from your travels can punctuate the linear procession of books and invite the eye to linger and explore. Also, if you mix colourful books with framed artwork and photos, you have a dynamic gallery wall with a personality. To add drama, you could even remove a few wall shelves and hang a large painting.
If you are feeling adventurous, add patterns or colour to the back of your bookshelf with wallpaper or vibrant paint. Depending on length and width of the shelf, create diffused lighting with a lamp. Last but not the least, embrace the power of greenery to breathe life into the static tableau. A trailing vine from a terracotta pot, framed by sunlight streaming through the window, not only pulls in nature but also softens the look.
other places
Books do not belong to shelves alone; they can adorn any part of your home-even the most unexpected corner. On coffee tables, kitchen countertops, and compact rooms, they transcend the ordinary. On a side table, they add colour and visual interest. On a small shelf with knick-knacks, they celebrate the eclectic. In the kitchen, they become a testament to the artistry of gastronomy.
Picture a space beneath a staircase, where simply by adding a couple of shelves you can create a pile of well-loved tomes and a cozy reading corner. In every corner of your home, from the forgotten alcove to the most unexpected of spaces, books imbue charm and the promise of adventure.
