Whether paperback, hardcover or leather-bound, books represent one’s interests, pursuits and occupations — so people who incorporate them into their home decor put parts of their lives on display.
“Books are an excellent tool for showcasing the passions and interests of the homeowner. For example, when a client collects the work of a particular artist they often purchase books documenting their career,” said Haleh Nirro of Haleh Design. “These conversation pieces often inhabit a special place in the home to share with friends and guests.”
As accessories for designers, books “can be used as decorative pieces to enhance any space,” Nirro said. “We use them on cocktail or occasional tables, consoles, built-ins, countertops, islands and bathroom bookstands. The infinite variation that is books — shape, color, and size — and the art of the cover makes any environment more interesting.”
| Resources |
| www.aidandesign.com |
| www.bookdecor.com/ |
| www.halehdesigninc.com |
| www.designpartnersllc.com/ |
| www.chadalandesigns.com/home.html |
Interior designer Chad Alan loves to display books in unexpected ways. “Books don’t always have to rest on a shelf,” he said. “Stacks of them around a favorite leather chair not only make it easy to pick one up but they also hold a cocktail rather well. The key is to not be afraid to use your stuff.”
In his D.C. Design House space, Alan said he stacked books at the end of a Julia Gray four-poster bed, arranging them on a scaffold step ladder. “The idea was not planned, but I liked how the collection of art books looks on the paint-covered step stool,” he said.
Interior designer Nancy Colbert of Design Partners LLC in McLean used all white book covers to complement a white-on-white library she designed.
Arrangement of books requires some spacing, which can be accomplished by breaking them up with personal items.
“If you only have solid rows of books on a shelf, it can feel very imposing and creates a massive block that just moves the wall 12 inches forward into the space and shrinks the room that much,” Alan said. “Incorporate family photos, mementos, plants and anything that describes who you are to your guests.”
He added his own library shelves hold his favorites books and DVDs along with “a pair of work boots covered in rhinestones which were worn to a friend’s birthday party, a hat from the first opera I designed and an autographed Lady Gaga bra!”
Nadia Subaran, co-owner and senior designer at Aidan Design placed books at the bottom of a beautiful built-in display cabinet in a pool kitchen. The jewel tone colors of the books complement the neutral cookware and pottery.
“In the kitchen, we like to use the books with a cooking stand on the island countertop or a built-in,” Subaran said. “It is functional to have access to the cooking instructions while chopping or cooking on the range, but looks great as a decorative piece too.”
She said cookbook storage is an important part of every kitchen design and “having cookbooks easily accessible and often visible are key for many of our clients.”
To customize books try a site like bookdecor.com, which features antique books and book covers specifically designed for decorating.
Tips from a pro
Think of books as building blocks, extensions of furniture, talking points and a quick and affordable way to accessorize a room.
Depending on their size and binding, books can be used as a base for other objects, to provide color in a room, to balance other objects or art, to add height to a piece of furniture and to provide symmetry and balance to a shelving, a bookcase or a built-in.
Stack them both vertically and horizontally, and mix it up with family pictures as bookends and atop horizontal stacks.
Hardbound books work best for libraries and studies. Fill the cases using larger, table-style books horizontally to balance larger decorative objects and art and smaller books both vertically and horizontally interweaving them with decorative objects, bookends, art and photos. Mix things up by making sure no single shelf looks the same.
A bedroom should use books a bit more sparingly then other rooms in the house. Books should be contained to built-ins and atop or beneath bedside tables so the space is calming without a lot of clutter.
Display books to color coordinate them, creating a systematic aesthetic and focal point.
— Courtesy interior designer Zoe Feldman
