‘’Fill your house with stacks of books, in all the crannies and all the nooks’’
Books…where would we be without them, hey? A simple set of pages has the ability to inform, to educate, to entertain and even to inspire people, regardless of who or where they are in the world.
Indeed, as the novelist Doris Lessing once said so sagely, ‘’A public library is the most democratic thing in the world. What can be found there has undone dictators and tyrants.’’
But if your home is full to the brim with books without the capacity of such a library to keep them neat and orderly, then you might be wondering how to store your books in a creative way?
The Roman philosopher Cicero had it right when he surmised that ‘’a room without books is like a body without a soul’’, so instead of putting your volumes, tomes and titles in storage, why not cleverly utilise your books in the interior design of your home? Here are 5 clever ways to use books as eye-catching décor in your home.
BOOK FEATURE WALL
A simple yet powerful way to add character to your home is to create a book feature wall. In any room in your property, a bookshelf that demands the entirety of one wall is an aesthetically arresting interior design choice that is both stylish and timeless.
What’s more, putting one up doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Decide which wall you’d like to become your feature wall, put up some shelves, and add your books! Don’t be afraid to mix and match genres and lay some vertical and others horizontal – doing so will create visual interest and contrast. We strongly encourage you to keep in mind that quality wall shelf brackets are fundamental here; if the whole thing comes tumbling down you risk injury. Or at least, a very loud noise.
STACKED ON A COFFEE TABLE
Don’t have the time or the skill set to install an entire wall full of shelves? Don’t worry, there are easier ways to decorate your home with books.
We’ve all heard the term ‘coffee table book’, right? So, keep things simple and use your living room coffee table as a picture frame or plinth of sorts, and choose two or three of your favourite books to show off.
Not only will this add personality to your room, but it’ll also spark conversations with guests; you could strategically place a particularly provocative title there if you’re afraid the evening’s conversation might err on the dull side.
Read: 7 ways to inspire sociability in your living room for summer
As a way to bond with your household, why not ask each member to pick their favourite book? Stack each one in a pile – playing around with size and angles – and you’ve created a piece of eye-catching décor that needn’t break the bank or your back. If your property doesn’t have a coffee table, this design suggestion also works well on desks, dining tables, and bedside cabinets, too.
PASSAGE PIECES
For the ultimate focal point in your room, why not really think outside the box with this décor suggestion…decide on your favourite passage from your favourite book, and have the entire section hung on the wall.
This can be a truly beautiful way to not only decorate your home, but also to honour your favourite book. This idea works even better if your chosen passage motivates, inspires or comforts you in your day-to-day life…as long as your favourite passage isn’t ‘live, laugh, love’, of course.
COVER ART
Alternatively, if turning a passage of a book into a piece of inspirational art is a bit ‘White Woman’s Instagram’, why not instead use the front cover of your favourite book as a framed work of art perfect for pride of place on your wall?
You could even create a collage of several of your favourite front covers, showing off not only your eye for aesthetics, but also your fantastic taste in literature. Talk about getting two giggles from one tickle!
UP THE STAIRS
Inspired by traditional library walls where a ladder is needed to reach the highest shelf, introducing your staircase to your books is a great way to add excitement to your property’s decor and create a sophisticated, chic vibe.
Have the books ascend in a way that draws people in as they climb your stairs. Be mindful here; unless you have an appropriate ladder that will stay by or near the stairs at all times, you probably shouldn’t put your most used books out of reach – even if it does look good.