Using Bookshelves To Their Full Potential

We all remember how in college we stacked books

, movies and music on those shelves improvised from stolen milk crates or concrete blocks and two-by-fours.

If we had a real sense of style we spent a few bucks and bought the snap-together plastic shelves that tipped over easily and sagged in the middle.

Even though we're all grown up, many of us still don't think of bookshelves as any more than open storage. I am even guilty of piling my antique mission-style bookshelf, inherited from my great-grandfather, with too many books and little else. I need to visit stores that carry the best furniture Chicago has to offer and pick up an additional bookshelf.

Most of us are not using our bookshelves to their full potential. Being an avid reader, I have more books than space to store them, so I tend to cram my bookshelves full and not worry about whether they are balanced or visually appealing. I am aware of this flaw, but I do it anyway.

My resolution is to make my bookshelves attractive. When you shop at your Chicago, Illinois furniture dealer, notice how they mix books with collectibles and art pieces to be blend with the room. This also keeps the books from taking over so you don't feel like you're back in the university stacks.

First I'm going to cull a few more books. Even though I do this every few months they seem to multiply. Then I may relegate a few that I don't refer to very often to a closet or a bookshelf in the office where they won't be a focal point. (That's definitely the place for bulky textbooks, which are not usually very decorative and are heavy in weight and visual pull.)

Then I'm going to choose a few of my favorite frames photographs and a couple of collectible pieces to mix in with the books. I''m also going to experiment with placing some of the larger books in a stack rather than on end. This breaks up the linear look of the shelf and creates visual interest. High-end local Chicago, Illinois furniture stores also have beautiful entertainment centers which feature deep bookshelves that can hold books and movies two-deep. These, too, can help eliminate some of the cluttered look.

Designer Lyn Peterson encourages clients to read all the books--that's why we have them! She also suggests grouping objects like collections of glass or photos. Putting a few small pieces at one end of the shelf and a single larger piece at the other end keeps the theme while still breaking up the visual monotony. Check out the variety of materials and shapes of bookcases at the best Chicago furniture retailers. A bookcase can be a surprising way to bring a colorful or unique touch to your room.

by: Opal R. Chatman

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