Back when I did my bedroom makeover, I moved a very large bookcase into another room in order to paint behind it. But when it came time to put all the furniture back, I hesitated. The corner where the bookcase had been sure looked clean and nice without it! And the room I'd moved it to temporarily had a spot that was just right for it. So I began the task of putting all the books back into the shelves, and that's when I noticed how poorly arranged they were.
Tall books next to short books, books stacked haphazardly and magazines stuffed in there like book wannabe's. It didn't look very "designed." Or very neat.
I'd like to tell you that I arranged them beautifully right then and there. But I was in a hurry to get back to my precious bedroom project so I hurriedly put the books back into the shelves "just for now" and...there they remained for uh, quite awhile. Frozen in their state of disarray.
Today's Small Thing is to straighten up your books. If you have a bookcase or bookshelf, chances are you've crammed them full without a thought of what they really look like. A simple lining up of the spines will add instant stature to your collection. You could do that in just a few minutes and call it done. I'd be happy with that and give you the day's points!
But if you'd like to REALLY earn some points, how about taking it a step further and doing some rearranging? Here are some suggestions:
- Arrange by size, grouping like-sized books together
- Or, arrange by color. Here's a cool idea!
- Remove some of the paperbacks to a basket or container
- Stack some of the larger books on their sides, creating visual interest
- Tuck in some decorative objects, staggering them so your eye will travel from one side to the other
- Try putting a small nightlight or lamp in there for a warm glow
Check out this article for a great "How-To."
If books are our friends, we should treat them with some hospitality and give them a nice place to reside. They will thank you by being more than just great companions. They will provide you with a decorative flair and give your home an air of thoughtful sophistication.
POINTS: 30 for a simple straightening of the bookshelves
BONUS: An ADDITIONAL 50 for rearranging, primping and polishing your book case "look." You can use the rest of this week (through Sunday) to accomplish this!
(80 points max)
PS Say, this would make a great topic for Company Girl Friday...how about some "before and afters?"
