5 Simple Ways to Revamp Your Bookshelf

By Alicia Geigel on July 3, 2020

A staple of any cozy home or apartment is a bookshelf. Perfectly personalized with different covers, titles, and genres, a bookshelf gives your space a wholesome feeling that is associated with wisdom, maturity, and well-roundedness. Some people choose to have shelves dedicated to certain series while others dedicate one (or all shelves) to a specific type of book they like; for me, I have an entire bookshelf dedicated to cookbooks. A bookshelf is a snapshot of your mind and soul, and gives your friends or any welcomed guests a perfect idea of who you are, what stories matter to you, and what interests you.

A bookshelf is one of those furniture items that can often become neglected in the busyness of life. Books get rearranged, covers get bent, shelves cluttered with books of varying shapes and sizes spilling onto the floor. While revitalizing or revamping your bookshelf may not be the number one priority you are focused on taking care of at the moment, doing so can definitely shift the energy of your space and give it a new fresh feel that perhaps you’ve been yearning for. Here are five useful tips to get you started on your bookshelf revamping journey!

bookshelf, books, colorful, shelf, reading

Image via Pexels

Rearrange Your Books: When purchasing one (or a few) new books, the last thing most of us think about is putting the books in order. Most of the time, I think I can speak for a majority of us when I say, the books just get put in the nearest available spot. While there is nothing wrong with doing this, arranging (or rearranging) your books is a simple yet effective way to revamp your bookshelf. You can arrange your books by genre, alphabetize them by author or title, or even by color! My best friend has a marvelously large collection of books and she recently decided to arrange them by color, so when you lay your eyes on her bookshelf, you’re greeted by a rainbow of colorful books. Try out different ways of arranging the books and see which one you like best!

Add Artwork/Trinkets: Part of what makes bookshelves great is that they are so personal. Another way you can revamp your bookshelf is by adding artwork or trinkets! Maybe you have an interest in painting, you could paint a picture of something related to your favorite book or genre, frame it, and add it to your shelf! Perhaps you enjoy doing crafty projects like bead designs, put your crafts in a cozy nook of your bookshelf! Little personal touches can give your bookshelf a complete, wholesome feeling that you won’t want to stop staring at it!

Add Something Green: Having plants in your home, in general, have many benefits, both for your physical and mental health. For instance, studies show that indoor plants eliminate common toxins and give you better air to breathe. Additionally, plants do wonders for our mental health too. As humans, we generally feel happier and more positive in surroundings that include elements of nature. A survey conducted at four hospitals in the San Francisco Bay Area hospitals found that 79% of patients felt more relaxed and calm after spending time in a garden. Consider adding some succulent plants or common household plants like bamboo, English Ivy, or spider plants to your shelves to breathe life into your home while boosting your mood at the same time!

Stain or Paint Your Bookshelf: If you already like the color or stain of your bookshelf, skip to the next point. But if you are looking for a way to change up your once boring looking shelf, consider getting a new stain or a fresh can of paint for a completely new look! There are so many different color options out there, so consider the overall look of your space to determine how to want to change your bookshelf. You could even do something fun and paint the shelves or back shelves for an accent! Calissa Kirilenko of Her Campus notes, “This is a sure way to add some color into your space without going overboard.”

Decorate: Maybe you don’t want to go overboard and create a completely new looking bookshelf but still want to add a sprinkle of your personal touch to it- try decorating it with different pieces like fabric, wallpaper, or even scrapbook paper! Jamie Delia of the Spruce suggests, “Fabric, wallpaper, or scrapbook paper to the back of the shelves or on top of the bookcase. Use Mod Podge or a spray adhesive to secure the fabric or paper to the wood.” Additionally, you could try stenciling paint to any part of the bookshelf or adding themed decals on the outside!

bookshelf, books, colorful, shelf, reading

Image via Pexels

Everyone loves their own comfort nook to sit back, relax, and enjoy some peace and quiet. Once you revamp your bookshelf, with these simple tips, you’ll never want to leave!

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format