Bookshelves not only store all your favorite books, but they also give you a place to display decorative accessories. 

It gives you a chance to bring in color, texture and personality to a room. And that can be accomplished even when the shelves are only holding books. Here are seven decorator ideas to help you create beautifully arranged bookshelves.

Decorating Bookshelves

1. Use bookshelves to carry on your color scheme. Unify the look by adding accessories that repeat the main colors of the room.

House to Home

2. When lining up multiple bookshelves with adjustable shelving, vary the heights of the shelves in each unit. This will add movement and visual interest.

Sharon Portnoy Design

3. To give bookshelves a sleeker more polished look, add glass doors. The doors will also help cut down on your dusting.

Houzz

4. Create a stylish and unexpected display by hanging artwork and other decorative items from the front of bookshelves.

Houzz

5. Make your built-in bookcases standout by painting them in a contrasting color from the walls.

Houzz

6. If you have lots of colorful books and accessories, bring in some black-and-white artwork to break up all the color.

Houzz 

7. Don’t overload bookshelves with lots of accessories. Keep things simple and it won’t look cluttered. Take time to step back and view your display to see if it’s balanced and visually pleasing.

Better Homes and Gardens

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Hop on to the Couchelo iPhone App to see our many unique, vintage and contemporary decor items to decorate your bookshelves with. 

1. Glee star Jayma Mays and actor Adam Campbell in the living room of their Los Angeles home. 

Click here for our post on Jayma May’s Los Angeles Home.

2. Mary Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy’s $13.5 million, 8000 square feet Turtle Bay Garden Home

Click here or image for our post on Mary Kate Olsen’s Home.

3. Jonathan Adler’s Kaleidoscopic New York Apartment

Click here or image for our post on Jonathan Adler’s Home.

4. Ellen Degeners and Portia De Rossi’s horse ranch home in Santa Monica Mountains.

Click here or image for our post on Ellen and Portia’s Home.

5. Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynold’s Ex Establishment. The Buff & Hensman designed “Wong House” was built in 1969 in the Los Feliz hills.

Click here or image for our post on Johansson and Reynold’s Home.

A few weeks ago, the Couchelo team pulled off our first ever product shoot thanks to our talented interior designer Jeanette Del Zio, fabulous photographer James Truong and a selection of some very special items from our friends at Rudi Rocket, Collectika, Drunk on the Moon, addVintage and French Folie. Here’s a sneak peak behind the scenes:

The team is hard at work here setting up the mid-century home shoot. Check out the gorgeous wire sofa and brightly printed cushions from Collectika and the retro-chic folding screen from addVintage.

This charming rooster oil painting from Rudi Rocket would look just as good in your office as it would your home and we love the rustic charm of this collection of bright blue milk jugs from French Folie.

Empty gilded photo frames from Drunk on the Moon stacked together make for a quirky wall art while the wooden nesting bowls from Collectika are just begging to be filled with fruit.

Our camera shy co-founders Will and Fei feel right home in this French farmhouse setup. We’ve got those stunning vintage suitcases from French Folie on their wishlist!

A special thanks to newlyweds Jenny and Wayne for lending us your beautiful apartment.

Stayed tuned for BIG things to coming March (psst, our app is almost ready so sign up here to be one of the first people to give a test drive)!

Text by Jessica Li.

Beautiful blue skies and balmy summer temperatures are keeping us all outdoors well into the evening. Recycling and some diy time can help you transform your unused balcony or courtyard into a beautiful space to enjoy entertaining guests. 

Here are some ideas from 1001 Pallets to get you started! 

Pallet Table: 

Cheap and easy to make! Perfect for outdoor dining over the summer. Tutorial here. 

Pallet Bar:

Become the host with the most by transforming an old pallet with a few splashes of paint into a mini bar for a drinks session. Tutorial here.

 

Pallet Daybed:

With a few extra cushions and padding, pallets prove to be perfect for outdoor lounging. Tutorial here. 

Image Credit: 1001 Pallets

Say goodbye to emerald, it’s time for Radiant Orchid, Pantone’s Color Of The Year 2014, which Executive Director Leatrice Eiseman of the Pantone Color Institute, describes as “an enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple, and pink undertones.”

We absolutely love this bold color which inspires creativity and ingenuity - one that may appeal to design-focussed, tech-savvy people in their 20s and 30s. “Radiant Orchid reaches across the color wheel to intrigue the eye and spark the imagination,” says Eiseman. “An invitation to innovation, Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today’s society.”

So what does this mean when it comes to interior design? Well, if you’re a fan like we are, use these ideas to incorporate a vibrant splash into your home decor.

1. Dining Chairs With Subtle Charm

Whether you choose a traditional/eclectic or a highly modern layout, apply a combination of colors, fabrics, textures and lighting fixtures to make your place feel like home.

2. Romantic Throw Pillows

Pillows in this colour work perfectly with neutrals as well as adding a romantic feel to any bedroom or living room.

3. Modern Interior Delight

Pairing shades of purple and maroon against white walls provide a sophisticated feel in a modern interior.

4. Complimentary Colors

Pink and yellow are both stubborn yet complimentary colors - yet they can look so awesome together.

5. Patterns and Prints

We are sure to see even more patterns and prints in this eye-catching color in the months ahead.

6. Accent With Nature

Flower color trends tend to follow those in fashion and decor too. Expect to see radiant orchid in weddings and special events in the coming months.

7. Vibrant Furnishings

Modern fresh, yet has roots to its tradition which is so inviting.

8. Upholstered and Homey

Upholstered dining sets are comfortable and homey and make it easy to linger over breakfast newspaper or a conversation.

9. Brass Tones

Pairing this tone with brass tapware is a winning combination, its the type of color that works well with both traditional and contemporary fixtures.

10. Got Art?

A centrepiece artwork in this expressive and exotic color invites confidence and warmth.

The New Year’s custom in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, of throwing furniture out of windows of tall buildings has been voted one of the strangest customs worldwide to bid farewell to the old year and ring in the new.

The local custom came fourth in a poll conducted by social networking site Badoo.com, which asked 7 200 users in 18 countries to vote for the strangest and most fun New Year’s customs.

The Chilean city of Talca’s custom of spending New Year’s Eve at a cemetery to be with dead relatives won the poll for the strangest custom.

A Romanian custom of trying to hear animals talking – where failing to do so brings good luck – came second, followed by the Irish practice of banging bread on the wall to scare away evil spirits.

Following Johannesburg’s fourth place was a Siberian custom of diving into a frozen lake carrying a tree, and a custom in North Carolina in the United States where you lower a possum over a noisy crowd.

The Johannesburg custom also took fourth place as the most fun New Year’s custom.

The mass kiss-in in Venice, Italy, Mexico’s practice of wearing red underwear for good luck and a three-day water fight in Thailand took the top three places in the fun category. 

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Those looking for new furniture in the new year, and finding ways to offload their old furniture have to look no further than Couchelo. Looks like we’d be sweeping up the streets for the New Year if we were in Johannesburg. 

Happy New Year Everyone!

As we approach the holidays, restaurants in Sydney are being booked out for Christmas lunches and dinners. Here is a list of our favourites where the design is just as good as the food with or without the turkey..

The Grounds of Alexandria

With a wholesome approach to food and design, the Grounds of Alexandria has become a Sydney cafe staple. A former pie factory, the fit-out provides an inviting contemporary spin whilst maintaining the integrity of the former warehouse. 

7A/2 Huntley St Alexandria NSW 2015

(image by Michael Wee)

Mr Wong

Mr Wong’s interiors instantly creates a mise-en-scene of 1930s Shanghai with its jazz music and striking colonial-style furnishing. An incarnation of Tank nightclub, the dark timber floors and existing structural elements prove to complement the new additions including blue cement tiles and a mural of a period-specific Asian lady. The traditional Cantonese themed food adds the final touch for complete immersion into old Shanghai. 

3 Bridge Lane Sydney, NSW 2000

(image by Paul Gosney)

The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room

The former Brooklyn Hotel is transformed into a New York-inspired hospitality venue encouraging patrons to feel at home with communal dining tables and clustered stools. The  interior uses indoor plants to create an intimate setting, with large street-facing windows recreating a stoop-like people watching experience. Watch out for the occasional $1 oyster treats. 

225 George St Sydney, NSW 2000

(image by Murray Fredericks)

Adriano Zumbo Patisserie

A real life mini Willy Wonka factory is invoked in the design of this sugar patisserie. Well known for the unique macaron flavours, Zumbo’s latest instalment uses a ‘dessert train’ to add to the intrigue of this quirky and colourful venue. 

Shop 1 Cafe Court, The Star, 80 Pyrmont St Pyrmont, NSW 2009

(image by Murray Fredericks)

Mejico

Mejico has successfully captured the essence of a Mexican canteen whilst avoiding all the cliches of the culture. It has a predominantly neutral palette with touches of vibrant colours from the occasional item of furniture or from the food itself. Bold graphics on both the walls and floors provide a high level of energy perfectly complementing the mix of chillis and peppers. 

105 Pitt St, Sydney 2000

(image by Juicy Design)

Find out some great tips on how to redecorate your first home! 

We’ve talked to a bunch of apartment-hoppers to find out how to spruce up your new place without blowing the budget!