Look!: Books as Adornment

While looking for an image to use in a post yesterday, we found this photo in one of the galleries on the Livingetc website.

It's a reminder that books not only make for great reading, they can also be a terrific way to bring color and life to your home...

When stacked this neatly (and yes, we know there are those of you who will tell us how bad it is for books to be stacked) on shelves (especially these clear ones, which blend into the wall), they're a treat for the eyes. And we like the stacks much more than the fad of grouping books by color.

Image: Livingetc

• September is Adornment Month!

Comments (16)

Seriously? Why is it bad to stack books? I'm sick of the color thing too and this at least seems like you'd still be able to find 'em.

Anyone know where one can find shelves like those?

Terrific----this is fun and light. (I've heard that actually reading and handling books isn't 'good' for them, so I wouldn't worry too much about stacking them; if you read them, that's no doubt good enough for them.)

Krister, hah!

I tend to be one of those horizontally-oriented fuddy-duddies when it comes to my books, though these vertical stacks wouldn't work in my house even if I wanted them to. Big dog with enthusiastically wagging tail = CRASH! Toddler with a penchant for knocking over piles of sand, blocks, etc. = CRASH! Clutzy self and husband = CRASH!

This does look really pretty, though. :)

You know what might be even lovelier? Switch the firewood with the books. Tuck the books neatly into the firewood storage unit on the floor by the fireplace (bindings out) and display the firewood on the shelves: cut to fit so you see the logs' ends, stacked in threes, and evenly-spaced.

Can someone PLEASE explain why it's bad to stack books?!!

I think stacking is dumb purely b/c of the inconvenience of it. I don't think it damages the books tho. Well, unless they're damaged while you move everything around trying to get the book stuck about 2/3 of the way to the bottom.
The supposed aesthetics of it are hard for me to see b/c all I think is "unpractical."

Heather Leaf, I think you're brilliant! How great would the firewood look on those shelves!

This is a very bad time for me to see anything related to books, though---jumping ahead a bit with The Cure, I just got rid of more than a thousand of my books--literally! It was time, but the pain is exquisite. . . .

Aulaire, can you please tell me how you get rid of your books? Whom did you donate or sell to? I have the same dilema. Need to get rid of a few hundred.

Periodically I slip my excess books into the library's return drop. Our local library has a couple of book sales every year, so I figure that the books that don't make it onto the shelves are still of value to them.

For a really large amount, I might call ahead.

Mimi,

Most libraries don't have the resources to deal with your donations. They usually end up in the trash. You might rethink about somewhere else for your gifts.

At least call the library and find out HOW they want their donations. Your method is not the preferred one, I'm almost 100% sure of that, and it costs workers time to set those aside during a very automated process of collecting books from the book drop. Not the most considerate thing.

Yes, my four books. Very inconsiderate, I know.

Mimi, think about your *just* four books times even ten other people that think the same thing!

In a week or a month...it adds up. Local public libraries are already under-funded and under-staffed.

Don't get defensive, just stop by and ask them - wouldn't you rather know you are helping them out instead of just assuming you are?