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Styling your bookshelf can be a challenge. You want it to look balanced, aesthetically pleasing and still be functional. It IS a bookshelf, after all. It’s meant to hold things. When we moved into our apartment, I saw this built-in bookshelf and was so excited by the blank canvas. I pinned image after image of gorgeous, perfectly styled bookshelves. I mentally made a note of the stylish gold accents and blue and white vases that would give me that look. One evening a few weeks ago, I was reading Grace, Not Perfection by Emily Ley (such a good book!), and this really stuck out to me (it’s a little long, but worth reading)

I used to keep a very old recipe tin tucked away in my pantry. Inside it are about sixty handwritten recipes from my grandmother. She was one of the most special people in my life. Even seeing her handwriting fills my heart with love for the beautiful woman she was and the way she taught me about faith. When I see that little tin container, I remember the way she used to hug me tight and say, “You are so sweet, my Emily Sue.” It makes my heart smile even writing that.

 

Recently I moved the tin out of my pantry and placed it where there used to be a ceramic vase full of fake flowers. Every time I walk past that recipe tin, I smile. Want to know how I felt walking past my ceramic vase of fake flowers? Blank. Nothing. How nice it is to move something I want to keep– something I treasure– where it fills me with happiness that otherwise wasn’t there. It may not match my decor as nicely as the fake tulips, but it sure fills my well with something special.

What an eye opener. It seems like a small message about a sentimental item, but to me it represented a bigger picture. We spend so much time trying to create a Pinterest perfect home, and we spend so much energy on what we think our life looks like to others.

I decided that evening that I would ditch my HomeGoods list and instead fill my shelves with sweet memories and special mementos that we already had. Now, similar to what Grace, Not Perfection described, I look at our bookshelf and I’m filled with love. I see a little elephant figurine that a close college friend brought back from his trip to India. I see a photo of me, my dad, and my late grandfather at my uncle’s farm when I was little. I see the recipe box one of my best friends gave me as a wedding gift, and the glass vases we used at her wedding later that year.

To me, our bookshelf looks better than any Pottery Barn magazine, because it’s filled with moments and reminders of the beautiful life we live.

My dad picked out that bluebird, and the dried rose is from my wedding bouquet. How funny is that “I work hard so my dog can have a better life” sign?! I smile every time. 

Bookshelf Styling Tips

• Gather together sentimental items and photos that fill you with happiness when you see them. I have some fillers like these flowers, but most everything on our bookshelf has special meaning behind it.
• Group together items of varying height for visual interest.
• Arrange smaller items in groups of three.
• BOOKS. It is a bookshelf, after all. I have to share with y’all the KEY that transformed the look of our bookshelf. Originally, I had all the books lined up like this:

Separate your books by size, and re-arrange them in horizontal and vertical stacks, like this:

Does that not look so much better? I was so impressed at what that little trick does! Give it a try and see what you think! The key is grouping books of similar size, or you could try similar color, too!

As you finish reading this, I encourage you to think of one item you could move somewhere to see it more often that brings you joy. It might be a photo or a special gift. Think of where you can put it where you’ll see it daily. I’d love to hear what your one item is and the story behind it!

favorite books on our shelf:

Thanks for reading,

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