Decorating
Styling: 11 Creative Ways to Display Your Books
Unleash your inner bookworm and showcase your tomes in style
A favourite prop for us stylists on photoshoots (seriously, what will we do if e-readers take over the world?), the humble book adds a homely touch to any scheme. Here are some creative ways to house your collection.
Sneak them in all over
If you’re a book lover, make space for your beloved reads wherever you can. A short, slim alcove or recess might just be big enough to hold a set of paperbacks and can help soften the look of the room they’re in, too.
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If you’re a book lover, make space for your beloved reads wherever you can. A short, slim alcove or recess might just be big enough to hold a set of paperbacks and can help soften the look of the room they’re in, too.
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Embrace a novel idea
Turn your tomes into quirky statement pieces with the aid of some simple DIY. Fix a bracket to your wall then, taking a hardback book to form the base, stick a piece of Velcro to the inside of its back cover and underneath the horizontal section of the wall bracket. Stick together, allowing the rest of the book to cover the top of the bracket, then stack with enough books to hide the bracket altogether.
Turn your tomes into quirky statement pieces with the aid of some simple DIY. Fix a bracket to your wall then, taking a hardback book to form the base, stick a piece of Velcro to the inside of its back cover and underneath the horizontal section of the wall bracket. Stick together, allowing the rest of the book to cover the top of the bracket, then stack with enough books to hide the bracket altogether.
Fashion tidy piles
Imagine this room without these neat stacks of coffee table books: it would feel a little stark, right? If you have the surface space (and book collection), go graphic and cover your tabletop. Keep the look structured to avoid things feeling cluttered.
Imagine this room without these neat stacks of coffee table books: it would feel a little stark, right? If you have the surface space (and book collection), go graphic and cover your tabletop. Keep the look structured to avoid things feeling cluttered.
Switch out the spines
For a subtle look with a soft colour palette, turn all your books so the spine faces inwards, leaving just the page edges on show. This can be particularly effective for a collection of vintage books, where the discoloured pages can add texture through their various tones, and would work well in a neutral room scheme. Just don’t forget which order you’ve put them in!
For a subtle look with a soft colour palette, turn all your books so the spine faces inwards, leaving just the page edges on show. This can be particularly effective for a collection of vintage books, where the discoloured pages can add texture through their various tones, and would work well in a neutral room scheme. Just don’t forget which order you’ve put them in!
Mix horizontals and verticals
Play with your book arrangements to find the best configuration for your space. Mix horizontally stacked books with classically positioned uprights for an informal look. This is also a great cheat for any oversized books that are too tall to stand upright on shelves.
Play with your book arrangements to find the best configuration for your space. Mix horizontally stacked books with classically positioned uprights for an informal look. This is also a great cheat for any oversized books that are too tall to stand upright on shelves.
Colour-code your covers
Arranging your books by colour can make a huge impact, especially if you have lots of them, as here. A sectional unit like this works well for creating specific blocks of colour, or go for a graduating rainbow effect along a long, open shelf. Set aside an evening for this simple makeover fix.
Arranging your books by colour can make a huge impact, especially if you have lots of them, as here. A sectional unit like this works well for creating specific blocks of colour, or go for a graduating rainbow effect along a long, open shelf. Set aside an evening for this simple makeover fix.
Stack in style
Yes, it might not be that easy to get to that must-read at the bottom, but if you’re short on furniture or living somewhere short-term, this casually stacked pile of books certainly makes a statement. The on-trend rug keeps the overall look chic rather than shabby.
Yes, it might not be that easy to get to that must-read at the bottom, but if you’re short on furniture or living somewhere short-term, this casually stacked pile of books certainly makes a statement. The on-trend rug keeps the overall look chic rather than shabby.
A neat stack of books makes for a quirky, impromptu bedside table. Look out for pretty vintage books for a pulled-together look, and top with an industrial-style lamp to fit in with the eclectic feel.
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