Alternate book placement between vertical and horizontal stacks to create visual variety and balance. Place an interesting object, such as a geode, on top of horizontal stacks to even out the shelf and create a pyramid shape. Leave some shelves free of books and instead arrange decorative accessories, pottery, or small artwork on the back wall to introduce depth. Mix heavy books with lighter decorative items across adjacent shelves to maintain contrast and avoid monotony. Scatter personal objects among shelves to integrate hobbies and memories, turning shelving into both storage and a personalized display.
One of the things you'll find in my book, Foundations, is how to style different surfaces in your home: bookshelves, coffee tables, etc,
I wanted to walk you through my own bookshelves.
And when books go horizontally, I try to put something interesting on top. Like this is an old geode,
I'll switch from heavy books [on one shelf] to just decorative accessories [on another],
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