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. 

About to get your long weekend drink on? Check out these quirky and creative upcycled bottle racks to stash your wine :D

1. Milk Crate Wine Rack

Got Milk?

2. Film-inspired Wine Rack

Nordstrom keeps it classy with this gorgeous film-inspired wine rack

3. Bicycle Wine Rack

It seems crazy to combine the idea of riding a bike with wine, however this clever invention makes us wonder why someone didn’t think of this sooner?

4. Tin Can Wine Racks

Find some jumbo tin cans — the kind used for coffee grounds or crushed tomatoes — and turn them into this color-blocked wine rack

5. Tree Wine Rack

What a neat concept!

6. Wooden Pallet Wine Rack

Here is a fantastic way to utilize a small patch of wall to get your wine out on display and easy to access

7. Ski Wine Rack

You do not have to be a wine connoisseur or an expert skier to appreciate this innovative way to display your favorite vino

This year, instead of buying a stock standard Christmas tree, or decorating your home with ornaments and festive decor purchased from a local store - think about mixing it up with something more crafty. These alternative out of the box tree ideas will add a fun and stylish vibe to your home this holiday.

#1 Wireframe and Globe Lights Christmas Tree

Spare and modern, this tree alternative tucks into any corner and doubles as a stylish lamp.

#2 Camera Tripod Christmas Tree

For the photographers out there, check out this clever centerpiece using your camera tripod.

#3 Knick-Knack Wall Christmas Tree

What better way to show off meaningful photos, jewellery and trinkets by hanging them together like art? This can be made with useless (but pretty items) collected over the years.

#4 Stick in Jar Christmas Tree

Keep it simple.

#5 Book Stack Christmas Tree

Don’t throw out this year’s uni textbooks or old encyclopaedias. Not only will you look well read, but you’ll be able to play a mean game of Jenga afterwards.

#6 Mountain Dew Cans Christmas Tree

Just another reason to stock up on VB…

#7 Wine Cork Christmas Tree

…or if you prefer wine.

#8 Dry Wood Christmas Tree 

Not only is this a green alternative, but it inspires you to get your craft on.

#9 Tempting Tasting Tannenbaums Christmas Tree

This is one delicious show-stopper. Diet starts…next year…

#10 Balloon Christmas Tree

A very light alternative, and easy to clean up!

#11 Hanging Mobile Christmas Tree

Christmas trees are great, but floating, abstact Christmas trees? All kinds of amazing.

#12 Ladder Christmas Tree

Don’t know what to do with that spare ladder? Now you do.