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Seven beautiful ways to display books

Liven up your literary collection with these design ideas that range from cute and simple to ingenious and visually striking!
By Emma Reddington and Janice Yeung
Seven beautiful ways to display books

Beautiful ways to display books

Stack 'em up

The simplest way to decorate with books is to place them neatly on a coffee table. A stack of oversized books will add height and texture. It’s also a great way to play with colour — display one in the same colour as your throw pillows for cohesiveness; or have them all in the same dramatic shade, such as black; or add a pop of colour by displaying one book in a bright, seasonal hue.

Seven beautiful ways to display booksPhoto by James Tse

Diagonal dimension

Add some interest to basic book shelves with a few angled shelves. The diagonal lines create a modern design element, and really bring the wall to life.

floor to ceiling bookshelf, living room, design by AM ArchitectureAM Architecture, am-architecture.squarespace.com

A cute display

A spine wall shelf is perfect for a kitchen or bedroom where you might have a smaller collection of books to display. Blogger Therese Hagstedt painted a mounted black shelf in a mint green colour, matching the soft, contemporary tone of her room.

utility spine wall shelf, bookshelf, Therese Hagstedt via FlickrPhoto by Theresa Hagstedt/ Flickr

Hanging shelf

These Moroccan-inspired modular shelves designed by Younes Duret are self-structuring, self-locking, and require no nails or screws. Hang one on the wall or several for a cool decorative effect.

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modular bookshelves, wall shelf, design by Younes DuretDesigned by Younes Douret, younesdesign.com

Ingenius idea

This circular bookshelf design is so visually striking. Designer David Garcia created this shelf to have multiple functions: you can roll it from room to room and it is balanced enough for the reader to step inside and lounge against. It goes without saying that it is probably best suited for a loft or somewhere with a lot of space!

circular bookshelf design by David Garcia StudioPhoto by Arefeh N; Designed by David Garcia Studio

Invisible shelf

Create the most discreet bookshelf ever by using boards painted in the same color as your walls. Place colourful tin boxes alongside books for an interesting, textured display. Declutter tip: Use boxes to store your knick-knacks, photos and stationary.

invisible white bookshelf Suki Vento from PikkuvrapuPhoto by Suki Vento from Pikkuvrapu

Be like Bond... James Bond

Use the depth of the door jamb to house a bookshelf and create a secret-passageway vibe. You will have to plan in advance, as your door will have to be at least 8 to 9 inches deep to accommodate the books.

hidden doorway bookshelf, design by Peter Pennoyer ArchitectsDesigned by Peter Pennoyer Architects, Ppapc.com

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