Creative Ways to Arrange Built-In Living Room Shelves

Built-in living room shelves are a bonus. They take up absolutely no extra space, and they provide a place for storing and displaying everything from books to collectibles. However, they are not stylish or appealing when indiscriminately arranged. A person does not have to be an interior decorator to arrange shelving in creative and impressive new ways. Make the most of this architectural benefit, and use these creative ways to arrange built-in living room shelves. They should not be overstuffed or carelessly coordinated.

Creative Ways to Arrange Books on Built-In Living Room Shelves

Some people load their built-in living room shelves full of books. Besides looking like a library, this is very hard on shelving. Unless the shelving has a lot of support it will eventually sag. Be very choosy when displaying books on built-in living room shelves. Do not arrange them merely by size, remove the jackets and arrange them by color as well as by height. Use bookends, and limit the amount to half of the shelf length. For a more creative arrangement, lay a small stack down instead of upright. Also, consider placing a tabletop work of art next to the stack. It should be about the same height as the books standing on end for a balanced and finished look.

Use Battery-Operated Candles to Light Up Built-In Living Room Shelves

It is dangerous to use real candles on built-in living room shelves. The flames will burn the tops of the compartments. Use battery-operated candles instead. When high in quality and design they will flicker just like real candles. Best of all they will not create a fire hazard. Arrange battery-operated candles on a decorative tray, and surround it with polished pebbles like my arrangement in the photo. This creative display can be used to decorate and light up one section of built-in shelving.

Creative Ways to Display and Arrange Favorite Collectibles

When displaying collectables on built-in living room shelves, arrange several favorites instead of filling the compartments with dozens of unrelated items. Filling in just about every square inch would look more like a mess than an impressive display. To make all of the collectibles visible, display the back few on risers or on blocks of finished wood. Arrange and stagger them accordingly. Less is more when decorating the home, and built-in living room shelves are no exception.


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