Must you have bookshelves?
Changing times create changing furnishing needs. If you don't read hardcover books any more, do you still need bookshelves in your home? Is it possible bookshelves will go the way of the colossal TV armoire or the executive desk that hogs an entire room?
The answer is not a simple one and requires qualification.
For generations, built-in bookcases have added the classic charm of a cozy home library. In elegant colonial homes, the library was a wood-paneled room with a fireplace and room for valued books. At one time, possession of a book was a status symbol, indicative of education. A home library meant you were aware of philosophy, geography, literature and history.
However, if you want to showcase your education theses days, you must have the electronics that keep you connected to global events. Printing was the commodity of earlier eras.
Because we obtain more of our information from computer screens and our electronic media resources, the need for shelves and shelves of periodicals and bound books has dramatically reduced. This is a good thing in terms of settling into smaller space more comfortably.
I mused over the fact that our bookcases have not been touched in a long time and the books occupying space are old ones that my husband will not give away. I am embarrassed to admit that books we are now reading are in piles on our desks or on the floor.
Bookshelves very often become decorative. When you look at the custom woodwork in this charming room, they serve to unify the little room by wrapping the warm wood around the fireplace and under the windows. The narrow bookshelves establish a particular ambience in the space by their very presence and the material of construction. It really does not matter if the books themselves have not been opened in years. Books communicate a certain feeling.
Obviously, in a tiny room it is important to keep the depth of bookshelves as narrow as possible; therefore, a custom approach is desirable. Additionally, you can take the casework up and over doorways and under windows.
If this is not a realistic part of your budget, then research sturdy options from vendors like Room + Board, IKEA or Pottery Barn. Generally, you can locate wood species that include maple, cherry, oak or walnut. White and black are commonly available as well. You will find that there are standard widths, heights and depths for bookcases.
When bookshelves no longer are needed to hold your collection of books, consider the arrangement of appealing display. If you prefer to rid your home of your old books, replace them with a minimal collage of family photos mixed with other decorative items. You can retain a few books held in place by heavy bookends and include small potted plants or silk flower arrangements.
Sometimes it is more artful to stack the books horizontally and arrange a collection of objects around the stacks. Cups and saucers, vases, pottery items and plates on stands are often used. Folk art items, ethnic pieces and family heirlooms make wonderful displays as well.
Think about replacing a few of the wood shelves with glass ones to lighten the overall look of shelving units.
• Christine Brun is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of "Small Space Living." Send questions and comments to her by email at christinebrun@sbcglobal.net.
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