subject: Decorator's Guide To Weaving A Story By Merchandising Your Bookshelves [print this page] Most people use bookshelves not only to hold books but also to display memorabilia, family photos and other decorative items such as handmade metal wall art. One way of combining books and mementos is to display them together in a complementary fashion that is not only decorative, but also tells a story.
Tell the Story of Your Family's History
Family pictures including vintage photos of forefathers, as well as other cherished family mementos can be blended together to tell the story of your family's history. Choose books that feature your family's country of origin, or books about the type of lifestyle your ancestors had. Books about your family history or family tree are also great to bring in to this type of collection.
Reminisce About a Favorite Vacation
Vacation photos and metal artwork souvenirs are also a great subject for a story bookshelf. For example if you recently went on a beach vacation, displaying sea shells that were gathered, and family photos that were taken, along with books about the beach or sea contemporary metal wall hangings can make a very decorative and meaningful display. Or, try creating a scrapbook page from mementos of your vacation and frame it in a twelve-by-twelve frame and display it on the shelf. Not only will you enjoy reliving the memories of your vacation, but it will also add a beautiful touch to the room.
Sports and Game Themes for Bookshelves
Sports are another great topic for a bookshelf. If you have a favorite sport or sports team, try combining photographs, autographed memorabilia, and other sports-related items with a book or two featuring the sport or team. For those who play sports, adding personalized sporting awards or other types of mementos can give a personalized focus to the display. Favorite games can also be used to great advantage to create an interesting bookcase display, perhaps by featuring a beautiful vintage game board or game pieces, a photo of your familys game night, and a book or two on the history of the game, or a rule book.
Telling a Story Only with Books
Although adding other items to your bookshelves besides just books can add a lot of visual interest to a display, it is also possible to tell a story strictly through the titles of the books on the shelves. Emphasize your favorite hobby by putting on display several books on the subject, or spotlight your favorite author by displaying their works on a single shelf. This type of display gives you the chance to display what you love while crafting a shelf that others will enjoy.
Creative Methods for Displaying Books
Instead of lining books up vertically in a row on the shelf, find other means and visually interesting ways to display them. Stacking half of the shelf vertically, and then positioning a bookend or heavy object on the shelf, followed by couple of stacks of horizontally stacked books can look very visually pleasing. Stacking one or two books as a platform to display another object, such as a couple books about the beach topped with a beautiful sea shell, is another way to combine objects to not only tell a story, but add beauty and interest to the room.
