Now, I already know some of you would never dream of taking up bookshelf space with anything other than literary gems. And you already know that I am willing to give up my shelf space for a bar. But, in reality, this is one piece of furniture that serves all sorts of purposes in the home (especially when we are talking apartment living).
When short on surface space, the bookshelf becomes a great go-to for some greenery. Not only that, but this little beauty doing a great job as a room divider.
Magazines take a back seat to this bottle collection proudly displayed on a smaller case.
Sometimes our bookcases also have to become a (ideally organized) storage solution.
Our bookcase at home definitely fills this role, and some of everything lives in it: tv, momentos, plants, small storage boxes, empty vases…and oh yeah, books.
I am curious, what else do some of you store/display in your bookshelves?
{images via : 1&5 via lonny | 2 aquarian fashion tumblr | 3 design sponge | 4 ikea family}
I love the first one, but unless it’s on some sort of sliding mechanism I can’t see how it’s practical. I also really love the plants! Really beautiful. My bookshelves have a mix of books, with the odd vase and statue thrown in – similar to the last image.
love the collection display photo. I saw a lot of apothecary glass when I was antique shopping last weekend. Not a practical collection while my kids are small, but perhaps in a few years!
I think my favorite is the last one, the catch-all. That feels more my style for some reason. Though I do love the collection display, I would have never thought to store wrapping paper in Hunter wellies! So smart. I only really keep books on my bookshelf with 3 or 4 framed pictures on the shelves of my and my dad and brother. I do have a small box or two of knick-knacks on the very bottom with my yearbooks, haha.
Just when I thought about rearranging our bookshelves you write about it and inspire me even more to do so. Right now we have the not so stylish catch all. I think it would still be a catch all but hopefully more stylish. Like the art display as well but worry about practicality…
Its mostly books, books and more books but also my photography equipment and blankets/throws 😀 don’t have anywhere else to put them anyway.
mine would resemble the last one. i love the eclectic vibe of books so i feel the bookcase is a perfect place to keep that going. i put little artwork sculptural pieces on it, found objects, small pictures, things my children have made – but mostly books. i am a book hoarder. big. time. i have four large sized bookcases in my main living area (i.e. my only living area) and they are all crammed with books on top of books.
I can’t work out which one I like the best, they’re all so great. I think possibly the last one would suit me the best as i’m a bit messy and I love ‘haphazard / arty’! 🙂
I love how that bottle collection is displayed, and using rainboots as a wrapping paper holder is just genius!
If I had a walk in closet I would so want to have there a bookshelf or similar to store clothes! And shoes! I don’t get why clothes cabinets are so deep that there fits one and a half piles of shirts and one and a half shoes. How annoying is that, bookshelf would be the perfect depth.
The painting in front of the books is super idea. Novels aren’t so often needed from the shelf that the painting would be on the way.
I agree, wasted space is never a good thing.
Oh mine is becoming a catch-all very quickly now, even though it’s supposed to be for books only. Sigh, I need to organize
A lot of my books are used in vignettes around the house – they’re great layered with objects sitting on top. That means our bookshelf has room for lots of my treasures – photos, ceramic bowls, glass bottles, a little blue lion 🙂 x
I like the description, “stylized catch all.” It beautifully describes my book shelf in the office. Along with books, photos, and craft/art supplies, my book shelf also holds my printer. It works out quite nicely.
I adore the painting on the bookshelf grid!
In my bookcase, I have an old tube radio, a vintage kaleidoscope, and other small decor items collected from travels.
The second picture reminds me of my bookshelves in college _I had my dad construct them for me….they held everything from plants, to my little TV, to a fish tank…..and yes books….