Martin is a book worm. I like books too but he loves them. Keeps saying to me that a house it not a home without books and that kind of thing. I've grown to accept that there will always be books around our house but I do think they mess the place up quite a bit. The spines are all different and they just create a busy background. I'm not keen on busy.
There are some things that can be done to make filled to the brim bookcases appear less visually disturbing. I find the best way is to organize books by color. I know some of you out there agree, but I also know quite a few people who cringe at the idea. I personally would love to keep all my white spined books in one room, all the green in one etc, but I do realise it's not very practical. You'd have to remember the color of the spine of the book you're looking for. So that's a no in our house. Unfortunately.
What we have done is a compromise. We've divided our books into subjects and instead of having a huge book case somewhere with all the books we have several smaller ones around the house.We keep all our novels in a book case in the downstairs hallway, all the interior design books are kept in the dining area, the gardening books are in the bedroom, books on history are in the livingroom, books on nautica in the boatroom etc. Within these bookcases I am then allowed to color coordinate the books. Yay!
I usually go from light at the top left hand side and venture downwards to black in the right hand bottom corner. Having the darker books towards the bottom is for the same reason you put the bigger heavier ornaments at the bottom of the Christmas tree and the smaller lighter ones towards the top. If it were the opposite way around it would feel like it would fall on top of you.
I like to break up a book case with a few objects. It helps in keeping it lighter and airier. I also line the books along the front of the shelf instead of pushing them againts the back of the book case. This straight line also make the look less busy.
Are you for or against color coordinating your books? Do you have other ideas to share on how too keep bookcases less busy? I've tried the "covering all books with paper" bit. Did not work. I did five books and realised it would be 2010 until I'd be finished. With the one book case.
