Ways to Decorate a Bookcase

Looking for a simple weekend decorating project? Why not finally declutter your bookcase and turn it into an attractive focal point in the room. Most of us have a bad habit of holding on to every book we've ever read, which makes a bookcase look heavy and worn down. Use these different ways to decorate a bookcase, and don't throw out any of your favorite books!

Use any, or all, of these different ways to decorate a bookcase and transform your cluttered, messy bookcase into something beautiful.

Remove the excess - The first step in decorating a bookcase is to remove all the excess junk. We're all guilty of haphazardly tossing loose paperwork and other miscellaneous items where they don't belong. Get rid of all the stuff that doesn't belong and toss it out. Anything that can't be thrown away should be neatly organized in wicker baskets or bins.

Paint the backing - Decorate a bookcase in a snap with a fresh coat of paint. To do this, paint the backing of the bookcase a bright color that will stand out from the rest. If the bookcase itself needs touched up, consider painting it semi-gloss or high-gloss white paint.

Wallpaper the backing - Wallpaper immediately draws the eye to the pretty pattern it displays, so if you really want to add a bit of flair to your bookcase, consider adding wallpaper to the back of the bookcase instead of paint. You'll require very little wallpaper (probably one roll or less), and it will take just an hour or less to decorate a bookcase with this method.

Organize - For those of us that love books, it's easy to get carried away with the amount we collect. If you can't force yourself to throw anything away, simply organize the books you have. Arrange them by size and spine color so that they are pleasing to the eye.

Light the way - One of the best ways todecorate a bookcase is by illuminating the shelves. You needn't spend a lot of money on expensive lighting, just use a few 'tap' lights or plug-in rope lighting. (Be sure to hide any cords behind books)

Add accents - To decorate a bookcase, you'll want to add a few simple accents to break up all the books. Add small sculptures, photos, flowers, plants, candles, and so on. Try to separate the groupings of books as much as possible without creating more clutter.

As you can see, with a little organization and imagination, you can turn your bookcase into the focal point of your room and finally be proud of the books you have on display. These same tips can be used to decorate a china cabinet or hutch too!

More from Jennifer Wagner:

12 Uses for Old Wallpaper Books

Storage Solutions for Small Spaces

Unique Uses for Leftover Wallpaper

SOURCE:

Personal knowledge and experience

Jennifer Wagner - Yahoo! Contributor Network

Jenny Wagner - Columbus Home Improvement Examiner