4 Tips for Refreshening your Bookshelf

I’m still on a spring cleaning kick over here.  I’ve reorganized just about every closet and cupboard in the house, and oh boy, it sure feels good to open up those doors and see it cleaned and organized.  It’s those little things, right?!  Next up is refreshing my bookshelf built-ins in our family room.  The bookshelves have been styled in the past, but they were looking a little disheveled, dusty and becoming a hodgepodge of random items.  The shelves definitely needed to be cleaned up and refreshed up.  You can add so much personality to styling your bookshelf or you can keep it more minimalist.  Either way make your bookshelves as showcase-worthy storage for all your fave items and style your reading material to look design-savvy.  But you don’t have to spend a fortune doing that, keep your budget tight and don’t stress.  Here are 4 tips for refreshening your bookshelf on a budget while keeping your bookshelves Pinterest worthy.

4 Tips for Refreshening your Bookshelf on a Budget

1. Flip your Books Backward--Turn your book spines to the back so all your see if the whites of the pages.  This trend is a way to keep the look of your shelves minimal and neutral while allowing for other design factors to pop out.  This is definitely a controversial trend but one that people are becoming more inclined to follow because well, color-coordinated design books can be really expensive and more thought has to go into the design process.  Flipping your books backward is easy and keeps it clean when styling your bookshelf.  I like to display books forward and back ways to create a more electric assortment of style and pattern.
2. Add greenery –Plants give life to a bookshelf and are a great way to add height and depth to your display.  I like to display succulents because they don’t have to watered as often.  Plants also soften all the hard edges and add texture and life to your bookshelf.  Choose a unique container for your greenery.  Make sure though to keep your greenery to a minimum so it doesn’t become too overwhelmed with…well, greenery!
3. Frame Artwork–Freshening your bookshelf is about crafting an eye-crafting display.  One of the easiest and simplest is to display artwork on your bookshelves, but it doesn’t have to be expensive.  Pull out old design catalogs, gift bags, wallpaper, fabric, calendar prints…any cool print that you love, cut it down to size and frame it!  This keeps your cost down to a minimum.  One thing I like to do is have a tear sheet box of past cool prints.  I hold on to any cool print that I love and put it in the box and then when I need artwork, I turn to that box first.
4. Head to the Flea Market for display pieces–You can find some great vintage pieces to decorate your bookshelf.  You can completely update the look of your bookshelf by mixing in 10 vintage items into your reading collection.  If you are shopping those vintage items right, you can find them for a small price.  Decorative dishes, marble bookends, brass letter holder and even designer books are great vintage items to look for.  I found the brass pineapple urns from a garage sale sight.  The pair was only $25.  Color modern glass vases are usually an easy find.  Hit up estate sales, consignment shops, thrift stores and/or check your local Facebook garage sale groups or even the marketplace for flea market finds.

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