Good Questions: How to Avoid the Doctor's Office Decor Effect?

I have tons of (mostly design) magazines that I can't bring myself to get rid of. They are in boxes on my bookshelves, but some current ones I like to keep out. I really do love looking at them. I'm thinking of getting a wall magazine rack like the Kiri Wood Magazine Rack from VivaTerra, but don't want my living room to look like a doctor's office. What do you think? Thanks, Linda

Got a good question you'd like answered? Send your queries and a photo or two illustrating your question, and we'll see if the ATLA team or our readers can help you out.

Linda, as reformed magazine-addicts (we used to work in publishing) we feel and sympathize with your inability to just let go of your magazines. Although our first bit of advice is to get rid of at least 50% of them (we swear, you'll feel a lot better), getting organized is a close second, especially if you can tastefully display your favourite issues at arm's length. The Kiri Wood Magazine Rack is a fairly neutral looking wall mount magazine rack, but we can see the "doctor's office" effect it might bring into your home decor. Interestingly enough, on the same site is an inspiration of how to avoid this problem. The appropriately named Misprint Magazine Rack is basically the same magazine rack, though shorter and obviously more decorated. Although we're not so hot on the Raggedy Ann-patchwork design, it is a good idea to note you could find a more subtle way to spice up the magazine rack with some contact paper or wallpaper. Or even painting the interior panels a lighter, complimentary colour that ties back into your other decorative pieces could end up being the right prescription to avoid the doctor's office effect.

Comments (12)

I have the exact same issue and am looking forward to the suggestions. I LOVE my magazines and always wish i had a neat,orderly way to display them. They really are an expression of your personality... much like art, family photos, etc. I have such a hard time parting with them,although i know the organizer gurus say to rip out the page that you like and ditch the rest. The titles i refuse to part with: Coastal Living, Ocean Drive, O at Home, Western Interiors....just to name a few.

Just make sure the magazines are current. That will differentiate it from most doctor's offices. :)

I think you are safe with either rack... it just depends on where the rack is placed. If you don't give it *too* much prominence, I think you are okay.

If you just want to have the magazines nearby and not displayed, why not try one of those end tables with the built in magazine holders? I've seen some beautiful mid century ones.

I've seen over the door towel holders used to display magazines and liked the look of it.

Use a rack like this one: http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?CATID=77291&PRODID=10015551

and place half a magazine on each side of the bars.

A little pricey, but so worth the money. A soon to be classic:
https://www.inhousefurniture.com/store/store2.php?id=1

what about something like this?

http://www.pbteen.com/products/p3344/index.cfm?pkey=cmagazine-racks-shelves

It is Pottery Barn Teen, but you could paint it. Or, if you are crafty, you could probably just make it yourself. It would be like a revolving art exhibit.

Consult the design magazines. Do you see a magazine rack in any of the images? Didn't think so.

Get rid of 'em, and you'll be happier with a clutter-free lifestyle! (It's hard to do, but once you start it gets kinda fun!)

we have a large chrome wire newspaper bin/rack (and another steel trug/box) that they live in... not on display, just stacked/contained neatly for future perusal. magazines on display? weird ideology to me. perhaps that's what makes it look like a drs office (the notion that mags are displayed)... not the rack themselves.

I think you should put up a shelf. or 2. get some cool, bold, clean lined book ends and put your magazines between them, library style. That's the only way they wont look waiting roomish, I think.

Unless you're already decided to get a rack, I would recommend to get a big basket (like this: http://utstallningen.markylen.se/images/artpreview/385.jpg) and stock your magazines in.

I bought two basket like that and I put a big plant in one of them and use the other to store my magazines. It gives a touch of nature to the room and it goes very well with the glossy magazines. Besides, I don't have to worry about always putting them back in the right order or stack them too neatly. When it get too ful I simply go through and stock the oldest magazine in a cupboard, but keep the most recent ten.

I keep my magazines in the white cardboard magazine holders from the Container Store. They're easier to move around than when I just stacked them on the bookshelf or coffee table. The magazine rack seems like a big investment to me.

I keep only craft and gardening magazines with articles I believe I will be referring to again, or that were written by friends. The are on the bottom shelves of my book cases. Just like books. (If there aren't enough to fill a shelf, I add regular books, but usually not necessary...)

As a librarian, I can recomment Princeton Files. Tose are the boxes that have diagonally cut sides, a tall back and a shorter front. Youstash your magazines in them and put the tall back facing out which disguises the clutter. You can get them in cardboard, plastic, wood, fabric covered, plain, etc. form office supply stores, library distributors online (DEMCO, Brodart, Bowker etc.), and sometimes places like Home Goods.