Rethinking My Bookshelves

As much as I like the look of books arranged by color, this images has me seriously rethinking my approach to bookshelves...

I would love to have a colorful library just like this.



Image via See Saw Designs.

25 comments:

Adrianna said...

I like them arranged by color. Or even some covered in a thin zebra fur (faux of course). I like to pop bright ones where you wouldn't expect color in my house also. Love your blog, whatever you do I'm sure it will be done fabulously.

Tracy @ Comfort and Luxury said...

Love all that color. And I like my books kind of mixed up and not so contrived as organized by color. I do take most of the jackets off though so they're not so busy.

Dayka said...

I like both ways, but I really like them arranged by color. Your style is great, so whatever you decide will look great!

pve design said...

makes me want to read...
pve

fric and frac said...

Love this library! So beautiful and inspiring!

Ms. Bright said...

Whenever I see beautifully arranged shelves it just makes me want more books!! Can't wait to get the Coralie Bickford-Smith ones for Christmas!

Mel said...

Oh, what I wouldn't do for some big bookshelves like yours. I love to read myself and have a lot of books scattered around the house... Perhaps, one day we'll have a small library, as I've always dreamed of.

Your book shelves are fabulous, great job!

Sharon said...

I shelf by size, and I take the dust covers off my books for a more muted colouration.

the thing I LOVE about that image is the picture hung on the divider. I LOVE that look.

Rachel said...

I wish I had that many beautiful books ... and the time to read more!

tarheel said...

That is absolutely the most fabulous thing ever. I wish all the books I love to read always looked that good! That picture really makes me happy.

Em said...

So, what's a girl to do with the books we all inevitably own that aren't pretty cloth-covered hardbacks?

This is my biggest design quandry.

But this library is amazing, I concur.

CashmereLibrarian said...

As a librarian, I can never, ever arrange books aesthetically! No, I don't use the Dewey Decimal system at home, but I do order them by subject/theme. Although I do separate the hard covers from the soft.

Katherine said...

I never did understand why people style their bookshelves. I just can't bear to hide half of my books simply because they don't have coordinating spines. But then, I'm a lit. geek and I love the eclectic look of well-loved books ranged neatly on shelves, old and new, paper and hardback alike.

Renee said...

Funny. I am with the last two commenters. Could never even DREAM of arranging aesthetically, because I'd never be able to find what I'm looking for. But If you arranged your books alphabetically instead of by color, you'd probably fall into a natural looking colorful and eclectic look like this one.

If you ever find a "pretty" way to store CDs/childrens books/records/DVDs will you pass it on?

Anonymous said...

I like the look but I arrange mine by author.

Love that pic hanging there....

Hope you're feeling well r u getting close to your delivery date???

Have a restful week-end,
Kathy :)

Averill said...

I like a more mixed, up relaxed look. But I'm also anal enough that I sort my books by subject matter (though I haven't instituted the Dewey Decimal System just yet!) so color-coding is out for me anyway.

Stephanie Sabbe said...

me too! we had to sell/giveaway half of our books when we moved from a house to a teeny apartment.

Looooove all of your projects. I am slowly getting the courage to paint a few pieces of furniture that need it.

christine ruggiero mellert said...

I think the library pictured would be improved if not ALL of the books were arranged the same. I think a nice counterpoint is to have some books arranged the other way, stacked up on top of each other. I also am against the color coded shelves- too contrived for me. A nice mix and matched, random pattern is more appealing and allows for some practicality. I arranged mine (a rather large library completely lined with bookshelves on all four walls) in fiction, nonfiction sections. I also used several pictures hung on the outside of the shelves, love it!

VictoriaArt said...

Since most of us do not have leather bound volumes I love my shelves colorful and mixed....
I am bohemian at the bottom of it all....We have an Ikea wall unit with glass doors, almost 12 feet long, filled with books, more books, photos, mementos, vases, a clock and then some....

Hill Country House Girl said...

What a fabulous photo.

I love the colorful books, the hanging art, the mushrooms and the fabric on the chair. Talk about eye candy!!

court. said...

I JUST got called out on this last night while throwing a dinner party. Isn't color-coding your library standard around these parts??

Erin @ SYL: Slipcover Your Life said...

OBSESSED with these bookcases! But who ONLY has hardcovers like that???

Megan Biram said...

I decided that I'd cover all my ugly book covers with cute paper or fabric to make my bookshelves more interesting!

Katie said...

Oooh- like this too! I just spent some time rearranging my bookshelves and they definitely look better, but not this good!

Bookshelves said...

I recently changed my bookshelves, because I didn't like anymore the way they looked. Modern bookshelves are far more practical.