Sublimate your library
Bookshelves, bookshelves, decorative staging: our tips for integrating books into your interior with style.
Long confined to a simple storage role, bookcases are now emerging as genuine design elements. Wall-mounted, suspended, low or integrated into furniture, they come in a multitude of shapes and configurations. Well thought-out, they structure space, reveal your personality and showcase your books as much as your decorative objects.
Choosing the right location for your library
The choice of location is essential. Classic bookshelves remain a safe bet: easy to install, they dress up walls while accommodating books and decorative elements. In small spaces, improvised bookshelves are also very charming. Vertically stacked magazines and periodicals become a decor in their own right.
Even in an apartment with limited square footage, it's possible to create a beautiful bookcase. A low version under a window, a corner installation or a bookcase tucked away in a recess can make the most of existing architecture. In a mezzanine, it can also serve as a gentle separation from the rest of the room.
Passage areas are often under-exploited. Corridors and landings lend themselves perfectly to the installation of custom-made shelves and storage units. In a staircase, for example, shelves adapted to the height of the steps offer practical access and a graphic look.
For book lovers with a large number of books, the library wall remains a spectacular option. It covers an entire room and can be complemented by a ladder to access books placed high up. Finally, integrating books directly into the furniture - sideboard, TV cabinet or perforated partition - creates multi-functional storage while preserving a beautiful luminosity.
Staging your library with style
A living library is more than just books. Candles, vases, plants - especially undemanding varieties such as cacti or succulents - or objects brought back from travels add rhythm to the whole. The idea is to create visual breathing space and attract the eye.
Alternating horizontal and vertical storage avoids an overly strict effect. Certain covers can be placed in front, to break up the regularity of the alignments. When it comes to sorting, all options are possible: by color for a striking graphic effect, by author or collection for greater practicality, or by size for more fluid visual reading.
Magazines, which are less attractive when stored, are best kept in boxes, baskets or cases. This helps to maintain a harmonious whole while keeping them within easy reach. Bookcases made up of open and closed modules facilitate this alternation between display and concealment.
Details that make all the difference
A few photo frames placed between the books add a personal touch and add life to the composition. Bookends, in addition to their practical function, become real decorative objects. Last but not least, lighting should not be neglected. Small table lamps create a warm atmosphere and add depth to your bookcase.
At JJA, we like to think of the library as a space for expression, where books, objects and memories come together to tell a story: your story, at the heart of Home Beauty.
