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Here’s an Unexpected Spot to Score a Free Bookshelf in Your Home

Savannah West
Savannah WestHome Assistant Editor
Savannah is Assistant Editor for the Home Team at Apartment Therapy. When she's not writing about style tips, product launches, or interviewing designers, you can catch her re-watching Gossip Girl or on Facetime with her grandma. Savannah is a proud HBCU graduate and Clark Atlanta University alumna who believes there's nothing good food can't fix.
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published Oct 10, 2021
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If Instagram’s any indication, creating a home library with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves is the coolest way to display your book collection. Any bookworm will tell you it’s great to have a few of your favorite books nearby though, especially near the bed for some late-night reading. Solenne de la Fouchardiere came up with a low-key, super accessible, and very smart spot to stash a few books in her beautiful Georgian home in London that she shares with her husband, and it’s so obvious you might have overlooked it: your bedroom windowsill!

de la Fouchardiere‘s neighborhood and home are both full of well-preserved, architectural charm. In her house tour, de la Fouchardiere points out some of her favorite traditional features like the huge windows, wooden floors, and fireplaces in all the rooms. The other traditional, under-appreciated feature in this home, if you ask me? The wide windowsills, and that’s exactly where de la Fouchardiere decided to stash a few books in her bedroom.

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When it comes to her design style, de la Fouchardiere says she’s drawn to products that are uncomplicated and raw. So it’s no wonder she opted for such a simple solution for storing and displaying her favorite volumes. It also may come as no surprise that the primary bedroom is her favorite space in the house. “I love the minimalistic, monastic element along with and the warmth and brightness of it,” she says of the room. Whether you consider yourself a minimalist, don’t have enough books to fill a full wall, or don’t have space for a shelf, a windowsill is a great, no-cost solution for storage. Judging from de la Fouchardiere’s space, too, you can totally use this spot without your room feeling cluttered. Just limit the number of books you line up here, and try to find ones that are all around the same size so your row looks neat and tidy.

While windowsills are popular spots to place plants, you probably haven’t though to turn yours into a bookshelf yet. So if you aren’t ready to hop on the IKEA train to display your books just yet or just want a quick, $0 solution, then make like de la Fouchardiere, who presents a pretty good case for a simple windowsill book display.

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