CREDIT: WWW.BHG.COM/TIPS-FOR-STYLISH-BOOKCASES

Bookshelves may be one of the hardest items in your home to decorate. It can take several hours of researching pictures in magazines and on Pinterest just to get ideas on how to set up your books along with accessories. Here are a few simple tips to get you started with decorating your bookshelf.

One of the biggest trends that I have been noticing in all the home decor magazines is to have contrast or a print on the back of the book shelf. To add wallpaper or paint the back of your bookshelf a different colour will had personality and interest to your bookshelf right away. This will customise it to your style and leave you with a one-of-a-kind bookshelf.

Whether or not you decide to change the back of your bookshelf, you can still have a well-decorated bookshelf that will leave a lasting impression.

Your next step is covering any book that has a tacky cover with white paper. You simply find white paper that is big enough to wrap around the cover of the book. If this is done to several books you can write the name of the book on the new front cover. Covering some of your books with white paper will give you colour unity on your bookshelf.

To have a unique bookshelf, you must have more than just books on your shelf. Baskets and accessories is must on every bookshelf! Some good ideas for bookshelf accessories are flowers, letters, vases, glass ball, candles, sea shells and pictures to add some personality! The baskets and accessories should reflect the theme of your book shelf.

Placing the books and accessories on the shelf can be very tricky. I suggest having a variation of how you place your books. Have books standing vertical and some place lying horizontal. With your books that are standing vertical it would be a great spot to add a vase or a picture.

On top of books that are lying horizontal, you could place something like a glass ball or seashells. You do not need to add accessories to every shelf, and to keep your bookshelves from looking cluttered do not fill a shelf entirely with books. Last but not least I always place baskets at the bottom of the bookshelf and store my odds and ends in them.

No one ever said decorating a bookshelf would be easy, but it just got a little easier with these simple tips on how to decorate your bookshelf. Remember, always pick a theme first and have a bit of a vision to how you want your bookshelf to look like. Good luck and have fun redoing your bookshelf!