As a celebrity style news editor and organizing fanatic, nothing excites me more than when a celeb shares a glimpse of a stylish and effective shelf or storage unit in their homes.
Gabrielle Union, actor and star of '90s and 2000s classics such as Bring it On and 10 Things I Hate About You, recently shared a clip on Instagram of her living space, and I was immediately drawn to her unique living room shelving.
Rather than jutting out, the shelves are comprised of thin, black panels, which give an optical illusion of being attached to the wall. The shelves, with their varying lengths and widths, house accessories like vases and ceramics and an assortment of books. When considering how to organize a bookshelf, there is a lot to learn from Union's method.
Bookshelf organization is a fine art. We have all likely heard of and likely seen examples of Bookshelf Wealth, but ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to perfectly styling shelves. However, there are a few strategies that can be implemented at your discretion.
First and foremost, as tempting and natural as it may be, avoid filling the shelves to the point of clutter. Stuffed shelves, particularly in common spaces such as the living room, can verge on looking untidy. Be considerate of the items you are displaying.
As Gabrielle Union's home showcases, don't be scared to use your bookshelves to display more than books. Effective bookcase styling incorporates ceramics, sculptures, and vases alongside reading material. This leads to a much more visually dynamic setup with lots of open space, drawing the eye and creating interest. This is a chance to be creative and tap into your personality in the home.
When it comes to organizing the books, rotate between horizontal and vertical stacks. Vertical, spine-out books are a classic approach to shelving, while stacks of books have a casual feel and a multi-purpose function, as described above. There are plenty of other ways to organize books; rainbow organizing, alphabetizing, and arranging by size chief among them.
Finally, consider adding some greenery to open shelves. Decorating with plants (literally) brings life to any space, and placing one next to a stack of books immediately creates a cozy and calming area of the home.
Shop H&G's Open Shelving Edit
These storied and colorful elements would add a pop of intrigue to any living room shelves. No matter your style, you can't go wrong with a vase, tray or a set of candle holders.
La DoubleJ enlisted the help of historic Verona-based porcelain maker Ancap to craft this statement pineapple-patterned vase.
Sized to hold our most beloved jewels, this lightweight, hard-wearing, and artfully folded tray is almost as beautiful as the items it holds.
These candle holders will bring a boutique ambiance to any shelf. They're handmade from dark-brown ceramic with a unique finish.
Above all, ensure that open shelves are filled with items that bring you joy and feel like they fit in to your existing design scheme. As we can see in Union's space, bookshelves can be the ultimate background when styled well.
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