Furniture Risers for Sofas: Styling a Bookcase

Ive mentioned here and there that Ive been working on revamping my faux-stained laminate bookcases, and I can officially say they are done & styled. Take a look

I LOVE a well-styled bookcase! A good mix of books, accessories, and personal momentos really brings life and character to a bookcase.

When we moved into our home a couple years ago, I was in a wood-tone state-of-mind, and chose these laminate shelves from Walmart for $99/each. They are not at all of great quality, but at the time they fit the bill.

Since then, Ive started transitioning to a whiter and lighter aesthetic. Once the decision was made to paint the front room a dark navy hue, the dark faux-stained bookcases blended in too much with the dark walls.

With the light green walls, they worked, but not so much now.

White bookcases were a must! Check out the result.

Huge change right?! I have an awesome How-To Paint Laminate tutorial coming soon, but in the meantime, this post is all about How-To Style a Bookcase.

Lets break it down.

Steps to Styling a Bookcase

1. Whether its a butt-load of books or simply a few, since it is a bookshelf, books are the best items to start with. Mix em up by having some vertical and others horizontal. Layer them on top of each other and in different ways on the various shelves. Then

2. Add the accessories. Layer accessories in front of the books, on top of the books, and/or in between the books.

3. Finish with the details. Add pictures and/or momentos that make your bookcase unique and personal.

You saw the one finished bookcase above, and here is the other

Want to see a closer view? Check out these up-close-and-personal shots

For the smaller paperback books, I layed them horizontally and in 4 piles with two set back in the center. Having them set back allows for the layering of accessories in front giving depth and an interesting way to view the books. I also like leaning pictures on the backs of the bookcases to add a pop of color.

Love my desk chair? You can learn all about it by clicking here.

I often get asked, Where do you find unique accessories to style the shelves?

Finding accessories that fit your style for a bookcase can sometimes be a challenge. One of my favorite go-to resources for accessories throughout my home is One Kings Lane. They have such a diverse selection and variety of accessories and furniture!

Starting today, OKL has teamed up with Martha Stewart to offer an eclectic collection of french inspired decor including furnishings, art, rugs, tabletop, etc. The Entertaining en Provence event an extension of an article in the September issue of Martha Stewart Living incorporates colors like pale greens, sages, creams and linens o so yummy!

The sale only lasts for 72 hours, so youll want to click on over and check out what Ms. Martha has pulled together. If you arent a member of OKL, no problem its FREE to sign up!

Heres a sneak peak at a few of the fab items that youll see at the One Kings Lane sale