Got a bookcase in need of a makeover? Check out these five styling tips to make your bookshelf better fit in with the overall theme of your apartment.
It can be quite easy to pick out couches that match your apartment’s color scheme and style. You can even put a slipcover on your couches when it’s time to make some decor changes.
But, a bookshelf can be a little tricky.
Seriously, what can you really do to decorate furniture that’s only for holding and storing books?
Quite a few things, actually!
After all, you’re not limited to just painting your bookshelf in an attempt to fit your home. So, let’s review five easy steps you can take to style your bookshelf to match your apartment!
1. Figure Out Your Style
If you really want to have your bookshelf match your apartment, you need to figure out the style you’re going for.
Think about it.
It won’t make sense to style your bookshelf in a farmhouse style if the rest of your apartment has more of a modern look.
Here are some popular interior design styles that you might gain inspiration from:
- Contemporary
- Mid-century modern
- Minimalist
- Traditional
- Farmhouse or cottage
Once you decide on a style, you need to do a little of your own research. Focus on learning what makes each of these styles their own.
Is it a particular color scheme or pattern?
Or, is there more weight on the structure or the layout of the bookshelf?
2. Choose a New Color
The key to styling your bookshelf to match your apartment lies in the color choice.
So, think about the color of your coffee table or your entertainment stand. If you want all the furniture in your apartment to match, it’d be a good idea to buy paint that’s the same color.
And, you really can’t go wrong with a pure white or black.
But, maybe you want your bookshelf to be the focal point of your living room. If that’s the case, more vibrant colors like lime green, blue, or bright pink might be a better selection.
Perhaps you want more of a mid-century modern look. In that situation, you’ll want to keep that natural appearance and simply stain the wood instead.
What’s also pretty neat is the fact that you can use wallpaper to style your bookshelf. You can attach a patterned wallpaper behind the shelving for a more uniquely-styled look. This will pretty much guarantee that your bookshelf is the new focal point.
Some Extra Coloring Tips
As easy as it might be for you to pick out a color and paint, you need to make sure that you’re coloring your bookshelf the right way.
If you’re painting a wood bookshelf, you might want to sand down the wood first. You’ll then use a layer of primer before adding the color you’ve chosen. Just make sure that you’re painting with the grain for a smoother paint job.
In terms of the type of paint you should use, acrylic or enamel is probably best.
When it comes to staining the wood, you’ll also want to sand down the wood first. But, you want to focus most on being conservative about the amount of stain you’re using.
Make sure you’re cleaning up any extra globs that might be lingering for more even coloring.
3. Reorganize the Books
Once you recolor or wallpaper your bookshelf, it’s time to move onto the organization of your books.
Your home isn’t a library.
So, there’s no need for every single book to be in color order, alphabetical order, or even size order. Play around with how you organize the books on your bookshelf.
Experiment with laying them horizontally or vertically. Have a few sitting at an angle. Or, separate them by category or theme and decorate each shelf similarly.
And, you don’t have to showcase every single book that you own.
Since your bookshelf is somewhat of a focal point in your living room, you don’t have to put your boring college textbooks or yearbooks on display.
You can use individual books as centerpieces for a more decorative appearance. That includes the Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings series.
4. Include Storage Space
Since you live in an apartment, space might already be pretty tight. And, your bookshelf probably isn’t filled to the brim with all sorts of books.
So, why not use the empty parts of your bookshelf as storage space as well?
One great way to do this is by investing in several small metal or wicker baskets.
Since they’re not transparent, you can store your knick-knacks and not take away from your bookshelf appearance. Plus, you can easily match your baskets to your home’s decor.
You can declutter your living room without your guests even knowing!
5. Add Your Personality
Who said bookshelves only store books?
Get ready to add a little more style to your bookshelf. It’s time to add a little bit of your personality.
Think about the things you enjoy. Now, how can you incorporate these things into your new bookshelf?
Here are some examples.
Let’s say you like traveling. So it might make sense to add a mini globe to your bookshelf. Or create a picture collage of places you’ve visited. You could even frame the plane tickets from your favorite adventure.
Maybe you’re more of an artist. You might want to add tiny sculptures or mini paintings to a few of the shelves.
But, the options are practically limitless.
Here’s a list of things you definitely can add to diversify your bookshelf.
- Candles or diffusers
- Photos of people
- Your college and/or high school diploma
- Glass bowls or vases
- Indoor plants like cacti
- A fish tank
Try to include items and objects that show off who you are. After all, you want the focal point of your living room to represent your own personal style.
Conclusion
You don’t have to buy new furniture or accent pieces to style your apartment. You can play around with what you already have and make it your own.
One great way to do this is by styling your bookshelf.
Choose a style that fits your apartment and recolor the shelving as you choose. You might even get a little daring and add some wallpaper to the backdrop.
Then, take the time to reorganize your books and add some items that lend a little flair to your apartment. In a few short hours — the job is complete!
Author bio:
Caitlin Sinclair is the Property Manager at Vue at Belleair with five years of property management experience and many more in Customer Service. She shares her passion for her community and looks forward to making Vue at Belleair the place to call home.
