STAGING A BOOKCASE IN MY LIVING ROOM

When it comes to decorating, one of my favorite things to do is stage bookcases. I love setting up displays and arranging items. I thought it would be fun to show you how I came up with my newest display in our living room. Some people don't feel like they are good at it so I thought sharing my process with you may be helpful. If not, you can just enjoy my pictures hopefully. I started out with boxes up items! Everything from picture frames, vases, collectibles and sentimental things.


I started with unpacking items to get a feel of everything I had. It really helps when you can see it all together. Since my bookcase is white, I wanted to make sure I had pops of colors in my display so that things would stand out better. Since I decided to display my Vinylmations in BILLY bookcases on either side of my large bookcase, I wanted to make sure my display was somewhat simple. The Vinylmations are very colorful.


For this bookcase display I decided to do a layout that I felt was "mirrored". I don't think designers use this term for arranging items, but I just did. (Maybe I should trademark it. HA!) I like to keep things pleasing to the eye and balanced. That's basically what I mean by mirrored. I tend to always decorate using symmetry. Here is an example...

I numbered each shelf of the bookcase. Number 2 and Number 3 are "mirrored" to look alike.
Number 1 and Number 4 are alike.

In the first example you can see that I used books to give the items some height in the bookcase.
I used similar hot pink frames and sat a Precious Moment figurine next to it.
It helps to make both displays match each other.


You can see how I did it above with the white vases and the silver picture frames as well.
I like that the displays are similar but not exactly the same.
I think it's very pleasing to the eye. Below is a sample of how Shelf 1 and 4 match...



I realize it may be harder for other people to have such a matchy look because they don't have as much stuff as I do.
(I swear I am not a hoarder.)
I am hoping this is helpful and inspiring.
My bookcase has a total of 8 shelves. Here is what my finally display looks like...



I am very happy with how my display turned out. It makes me happy! :)
Here are some more pictures, because I love pictures...

The California crate was left behind by the previous home owner! YAY!


The Precious Moment figurine above belonged to my aunt who passed away earlier this year.
She had a huge collection of them and I always remember as a child that the "one in the bathtub" was my favorite.
It makes me smile every time I see it.

I like to collect buttons and pins...


One of my favorite photos of my friends and I from over 10 years ago!
(Geez, I'm old!)
You can also see the photo on the right of my dad and I when I was around 4 years old!


So what do you think?
Doing displays are so fun to me. Putting things together and layering them.
My best advise would be to just try different things. It took me hours to get this display to look a way that I loved.
Use books, frames, art, collectables and vases.
Mix it up and have FUN!

Next step for my living room is painting some artwork!
You can see other bookcase displays I have done in the past by clicking HERE.
Tour my home HERE.

My Expedit Bookcase

I have wanted an expedit bookcase from IKEA for years! I kept holding off because I dread moving it every time we move. I was sick of my dining room having a big blank wall, so I just bought one!!! YAY!
I was even more excited to find out it now comes in high gloss white. I am glad I waited, because I really love the high gloss stuff that IKEA sells.
Watch my slide show to see my expedit come to life...

The bottom shelves will be full of photo albums and some pretty storage boxes. That's a project for another day! I am so excited to have something in my dining room finally! Our place is really starting to feel like a HOME.

My mom had kept all my plants for me when we moved out to Wyoming. We didn't have a safe way to take them with us and no extra space in our cars. I brought home a few with me after visiting, since I drove. My large Peace Lilly is so tall. It would not fit on top of any of my other bookcases without being smashed up against the ceiling. The expedit was a perfect place to house my plants.
I am so happy to have my greenhouse now! I wanted it as soon as I saw it on the IKEA website. We were going to buy seeds and try to grow herbs, but we just go to the store and stare at the selection. We bought jalapeno plants instead. Not sure what we will put in the middle pot yet. Hopefully I don't kill them.

I got some great cookbooks while in Ohio. One store I miss very much is Half Price Books. I paid less then $30 for all the cookbooks. If you ever get a chance to go to Half Price Books,...GO! The other great thing about the expedit bookcase is that I was able to pretty much fill it with all my last items that were homeless and stored in the closet. Somehow it all worked together I think! I still have a lot of Vinylmation Figurines that aren't displayed though. I hope to get a curio for the rest of my collection.
My dining area is a perfect place for my vintage pyrex, vintage glassware, teapots, Vinylmations and Alice in Wonderland stuff! I originally wanted a vintage buffet that I could paint bright yellow, but I am sick of looking. I have always wanted an expedit and feel it was a perfect fit. I really would love to get a bold printed rug for under the table and chairs! That I will keep looking for. Also my walls would be painted turquoise if I was aloud to paint! (So sick of rentals!)

See my precious post of my kitchen and dining area {HERE}

See my "wrapping paper" makeover in my bookcase that houses my Alice in Wonderland collection {HERE}

Wrapping Paper Bookcase Backdrop

After searching for months, I finally found some wrapping paper to put in the back of my large bookcase in my dining room. I wanted something turquoise. I had found some cool fabric at JoAnn's, but didn't feel like buying yards of it! A trip to the dollar store last week paid off.

I found some crazy blue floral paper. I purchased two rolls for $2. It barely fit! The rolls were only 15ft long and I really could of used 16ft, so there are a few places where the white backing of the bookcase shows. For $2 though, who cares! I can always change it later. It's crazy bright...

It really makes everything POP instead of looking so plain and borrowing!
I got some great Alice stuff for Christmas! My parents bought me the Alice Cookie Jar I really wanted...I had to rearrange my original displays in the bookcase to get everything to fit. The cookie jar is rather large! I think it looks so much better now! I also got the Alice Precious Moment that I have wanted for a very long time...
I love combining my Alice stuff with vintage Pyrex and other kitchen items!Above I have a teapot and Vinylmation sitting on a photo album I found at TJ MAXX for $7! I love the pattern on it so much! Below is just a photo of my favorite Alice Vinylmation, the White Rabbit...
I used my box of paint swatches to raise the Alice Book higher in this display...
When I first put the wrapping paper in the back of the bookcase I thought it might be way to bright and bold. I have lived with it now for over a week and it's grown on me, so I guess it stays!

Now I just have to still get artwork, a buffet and a new rug! It's all a slow process. lol
You can view my original Dining Room Post {HERE}

My BILLY Bookcase Decorated

Here is the BILLY Bookcase with all my stuff on it. I am very happy with the way it turned out. I bought a few new things from IKEA to put on the bookcase. I put our Vinylmation figurines on the bookcase! I think they look really cute. I am so glad I bought this limited addition BILLY bookcase! The design of the bookcase is full of quotes about friendship and LOVE. Very fitting for Cody & I.




New IKEA items

SALONG white vase
FARM Vase
Pink NYTTJA Picture Frames

{ Word of advise about IKEA products: There are many items that are on the IKEA website that are not even at my store for sale anymore. Always check the online stock or call the store to see if they have the item you want before driving hours to shop at an IKEA. }

Detailed Bookcase Arrangement

I love my bookcase in my living room so much, that I wanted to take detailed pictures of each shelf opening. I love arranging bookcases and shelves!






Click {HERE} to see photos of the bookcase

New Bookcase Arrangement

When I posted pictures of the apartment the other day I had mentioned that I was not happy with the arrangement of my dining room bookcase. I spent sometime the other day digging out different photos & items. Here is what I came up with...





The old arrangement wasn't horrible, I just wasn't happy with it. I felt it was to busy. I think now everything goes better together.



Here is the shelf that you can't really see...



Do you think I should paint the bookcase? I like it better white now that I changed the arrangement. I really am seeing pink walls in the apartment!!! I want to live here a month or so before I decide. I just hate the thought of having to paint it back. :(



I now have a bowl of Hello Kitties on my table. lol I had to put them somewhere!!

Arrangement by Jonathan Adler

Jonathan Adler inspires me more and more everyday. I have been looking at his designs daily to really see what draws me to his design style. I find that most everything that I love about interior design he has incorporated into the spaces he decorates. I stumbled across an article that he wrote about arrangement and found it very helpful. I wanted to share it with you!



I think when you have a pile of stuff and you start to place it on a dresser or in your bookcase, it can be very overwhelming. Hopefully these images and Jonathan's advise may be helpful to you and myself! Enjoy :)

{Artful design is all in the balance}

For arranging, this means juxtaposing silhouettes and colors – highlight differences between pieces or draw out their similarities.

Start by establishing framing

Items in a room or on a surface should be composed as you would paint a canvas, with scale, sequencing, and balance conceived from one specific vantage point. Consoles, bookshelves and artworks are generally viewed from a frontal perspective, while furnishings – such as dining room tables and coffee tables – are viewed in the round and should be accessorized accordingly.

1. For fool proof arrangements, start with SYMMETRY.



A pair of blue glass lamps anchors either end of the white dresser to establish the tone. Although the lamps are different sizes, symmetry comes through the repeated color.

I balanced the different lamp height by pairing the taller one with a shorter cluster of objects – and vice versa.

Hang plates in unusual locations to fill up white wall space and round compositions.

2. Symmetry is the easiest and most logical way to accessorize, while ASYMMETRY is more challenging – but also more fun!



Here, I grouped numerous items into series of little moments: one book is propped up vertically, like a painting; a stack of plates anchors a bud vase; another vase gets a lift from a Lucite box; etc.

3. Mix SYMMETRY and ASYMMETRY



One half of the tableau is arranged symmetrically, the other half is asymmetrical. Look at the overall composition, but break it down into constituent parts.

SOURCE: MSN
Visit his website: Jonathan Adler

Artful Arranging

A few weeks back Lisa from Little Lovables had this great image on her blog...



I love the way these items are arranged in the bookcase. I have lots of bookcases that will be moving with me to the apartment so this photo really inspired me. Check out Lisa's post {HERE} Original image source : DIY IDEAS: Artful Arranging