Sunday, May 9, 2010

Decorating With Books

books.pb.2 Pottery Barn

All my decorating books are still packed up from when we were getting our house ready to put on the market last year {we’re off the market now}, and I have no bookshelves to put them on at the moment.  Until I can find something suitable for my living room, I found some inspiration in these pictures.

books.countryliving.2 Country Living

books.countryliving

Country Living

books.elledecor Elle Decor

books.mediabistro mediabistro.com

books.pb 

Pottery Barn

And why not?  I have my large square coffee table {that I had painted black this past winter}; plenty of room for some books.  So I went in search of the boxes containing my books and using these inspiration pictures came up with this.

Here is the coffee table “before”, but after I had painted it black.

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Here’s the “after” with the books.  A small change but one that makes a difference for me, because now I can have my decorating books out and available.

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I added some of the accessories I had on the table back in and included that little decorating book in the center.

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I tried to keep like shapes together and kept the stacks equal heights. 

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This will do for now.  I have my books easily at hand, they are neatly arranged, and because of the space they take up, think of how much dusting I’ll cut down on.

Notice that screen in the background of the last picture?  I have a short post coming up about that soon, and how it actually worked out for me when I did a “let me just keep it here for now” placement.

Don’t forget to enter my Cottage Charm Giveaway!  This blogwide giveaway ends on May 29, 2010.

Sharing this post at:

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch

It’s So Very Creative at It’s So Very Cheri

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Be Inspired at Room to Inspire

37 comments:

Sara's Sweet Surprise said...

Hello Kathy~Oooh how I would love to sit in your gorgeous living room reading through all those books of inspiration.

Sweet wishes,
Sara

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Kathy, I think this looks great! I love decorating with books and sometimes it is as simple as piling them up on a coffee table. Looks like we have the same taste in design books. I think I have almost everyone on your table.
Hugs,
Sherry

Bonnie@Creative Decorating said...

I have just started trying to decorate with books. I a have a couple displays but just haven't quite got it down yet. I will keep trying! Thanks for the inspiration!!

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

I told you, we are twins separated at birth!

Love the coffee table scape! The hardest thing for me to do is my coffee table and I am constantly struggling with it! Love the books!

Lou Cinda :)

Leanne said...

I love this Kathy. It looks so great. I love my decorating and organizing books, but my kids would bother them too much if I left them out. I guess I'll have to wait a few years. I have that little one in the middle and love looking throughit.

Melanie said...

I love books too and I love the way you used them in your decor.

Debbiedoos said...

I love it Kathy, you gave some awesome examples. I use books, but I want to incorporate more...I really like what you did with the coffee table, looks fantastic!

Marsha @ Tattered Chick said...

Very nice, Kathy! Welcome back!!

xxoo

Unknown said...

I love having books on the coffee table. When I have a minute to sit and rest, it's nice to have a book to flip through. Have you seen photos of where people stack books up next to the couch and sit a tray on top, making a make-shift side table? I think that's pretty cool too.

Vanessa@decor happy said...

Books add so much to a home and it's suprising how many homes I see that are totally void of all books. Like your collection too!

Ann @ makethebestofthings said...

I think a room without books feels naked, but that's just me. That, and flowers. Love your livingroom, by the way, with the black table and white couch and the books, of course.

Unknown said...

Looks great, I love books of any kind. Your living room looks so comfortable and inviting. I think I could sit there and go through those decorating books for hours without leaving.
Sandy

CosmoGirl Carla said...

Looks great! I LOVE books of all kinds, and use them all over the house incorporating them into my tablescapes. Some of them are so pretty, why hide them all away on bookshelves!?

Anonymous said...

Hi Kathy, i think all your books look fantastic on your table! I love to decorate with books....Kathy

Kim said...

Hey Kathy! Well you are speakin' my language here with this post. I am a bit of a book-a-holic. I specifically can't get enough of old books. I have quite a collection and some of them I recently looked up and are worth a bit of money! Yippee! But I could never part with them. I think they make my home look so much more lived in.
Yours are great and I love how you made over your lovely coffee table.
xoxo,
Kim

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

It looks great Kathy! I love stacking my favorite books on the coffee table. And I always have a stack of reading books on my nightstand.

Kate @ The Gaines Gang said...

I love using books too. They can add just the right texture and height when you need it.

Looks great!

Unknown said...

Totally love it KATHY! Yours looks better then any of your inspiration. I thought yours was from a magazine at first. WAY TO GO! JGG

Sandi~A Cottage Muse said...

Hi Kathy! Thanks for stopping by...your table looks like it was out of a magazine! Your table has become my inspiration, thank you!!

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Kathy,
I love how the books look on your table. Very Potterybarnish. Mine would never stay that neat!LOL
We took our house off the market too. We live in a golfing community and the houses in our price range stopped selling. We just got tired of the "lookey loos." and decided to take it off the market until things looked better.

hugs
Sissie

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh I just love it. I think square coffee tables are so hard to decorate and this looks fabulous. Love your accessories too. I love having my books hands, I know you will love this. Thanks so much for joining the party. Hugs, Marty

The Charm of Home said...

You have some great reading! It looks very nice right where you can use it too.

Kristine at The Painted Hive said...

Kathy, this looks so great. I love decorating with books too. They add such a layered, cozy touch. I've got books on my coffee table too!
Kristine

Pat@BPM said...

This is beautiful,Kathy. I love decorating with books, too.

Santa's Gift Shoppe and Ideas said...

Hi..I’m Barb….I am from FF.. I am your newest follower. I hope you will get a chance to visit my blog @ santasgiftshoppe.blogspot.com
& get inspired by something for your family/home. I hope you will follow me as well. Nice to meet ya
New friend!!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Hi Kathy, I like to use books too to decorate with. Of course if I keep buying books they have to go somewhere.

xinex said...

Very nice and very clever! The table makes a great storage and the books are decorative....Christine

bj said...

Your table looks great, Kathy. I use books for decorating, too. And, as long as Pottery Barn keeps showing them, it is a thing that will stay in style for awhile.
They quit showing pretty containers with wine corks and now everyone else has quit using them...I still do, tho, because I like them..:)

Natasha in Oz said...

That looks really great. I love decorating with books too! I also love your inspiration pictures-thanks for sharing them!

Best wishes,
Natasha.

Decor To Adore said...

Oh I just adore decorating with books!

Paula ~ castleandcottagesigns said...

smart:) they look great...love books and decorating with them just makes sense!
have a great day Kathy:)

Anonymous said...

I just love the look of books in a home and I love how you've arranged your on your coffee table! So nice!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Barb said...

Hi Kathy, I adore books and your displays are just perfect. Lovely!!

Barb ♥

KimMalk said...

I love books stacked up like you have them. It looks inviting and smart.

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

I love decorating books and enjoy having them handy like this to pick up for a few minutes (or hours!)

Very pretty!

Katherine

Room to Inspire said...

I just love decorating with books - I think I might actually use them a bit too much! Great ideas.

Chelsea

Marie said...

Hello sweet Kathy - I'm a new follower of your fabulous blog via BNOTP! Love your living room. That couch looks so cozy. And I like the way you've arranged the books on your coffee table! Great inspiration.

Thank you for sharing. I'd love for you to come by for a visit - having a giveaway!
http://emmacallsmemama.com/2010/05/bff-giveaway/

Blessings,
Marie

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