Decorating My Bookshelves with What I Already Hav

Start with Something You Love

The shells were the first things I gathered.

Some of them are shells I collected as a girl. Later, my mom gave me her shell collection, so many of these pieces have been part of my life for decades. I love that they are not simply decorations. They remind me of childhood, family, and time spent near the water.

That is one of my favorite ways to decorate: begin with something that has meaning to you.

When a room includes things you have collected, inherited, or loved for years, it automatically feels more personal. It doesn’t look like you went shopping and bought everything for one particular season.

A Message in a Bottle

One of the most enjoyable parts of this change was creating a little message in a bottle.

I typed the message in a very small five-point font, then gave the paper a worn, aged appearance. It was such a simple project, but it added a little mystery and imagination to the shelves.

I love decorating with small details that make someone stop and look twice. A message in a bottle is not expensive or difficult to make, but it gives the display a story.

You could create your own message, write a short poem, include a favorite quote, or even make up a little letter from a sea captain.

Finding Art Online

I also enjoyed searching for nautical artwork online. I found a ship captain and several beautiful sailing images available through free-domain artwork.

I printed the pictures and placed them in frames I already owned. The frames had been painted a pewter color last month when I decorated the bookcases for the Fourth of July. Rather than put them away, I reused them for this new look.

That is something I try to remind myself—and my clients—of often: a piece doesn’t have to stay in the same room or serve the same purpose forever.

Moving it somewhere else can make it feel completely new.

The Only New Purchase

The only thing I purchased for this bookcase change was a piece of seaweed-looking garland from Hobby Lobby. It was 40 percent off, and I bought just one piece.

I cut and arranged it in different places until it felt right. Adding a little greenery gave the shelves a more organic look and softened some of the harder nautical elements.

It also helped connect the shelves to the rest of the room. Even when I’m decorating with shells, ships, and old bottles, I still want the overall feeling to be warm and natural.

Reusing Pieces in New Ways

Last month, the cloches on my shelves held books. This month, they hold shells.

I also brought out old and new brown opaque bottles, a wooden chest from my travels, and shell necklaces I’ve had since the 1970s. These are the kinds of pieces that make a display feel layered and interesting because they have different shapes, textures, and histories.

The pewter dishes in the background are from a partial set my friend Joy gave me. I have used them far more than I ever expected. They work beautifully for Halloween, Thanksgiving, fall decorating, and even everyday displays.

I love when a gift becomes something you use again and again.

A Few More Treasures

The wireless lamps are another favorite. I use them all the time in these bookcases, especially when I want a little extra glow in the evening without dealing with cords.

The two small clocks were already in my collection. The antique silver jug belonged to my aunt, and the sea star was something I found on a beach in Hawaii. It was already dead, so I brought it home, allowed it to dry, and eventually found a place for it in my decorating.

The large ship is normally displayed on the bookcase in my office. I decided to try it in a new spot, and I really like how it looks above the fireplace.

The television is housed inside that cabinet, but we rarely watch it. When we do, I can easily move the ship onto the piano while the cabinet is open. Sometimes decorating is simply about finding pieces that can move and work in more than one place.

I even added two miniature bottles from my daughters’ American Girl doll collection. They’ll go back into their box next month, but for now they add one more little layer to the story.

Books That Have Been with Me for Years

Many of the books on the shelves have leather or linen covers. I began collecting them in the 1970s, and I’ve read many of them over the years.

They now live on the bookcases in my office, but I also use them throughout our home when I’m decorating. Their worn covers, muted colors, and different sizes add so much character.

Books are one of the easiest ways to make a bookshelf feel collected. They can be stacked, stood upright, turned backward, or used as a platform for another object.

And they don’t have to be books you bought specifically for decorating. The best ones are often the books you already own and love.

Keep Moving Things Until They Feel Right

There really isn’t a perfect formula for decorating a bookshelf.

I move things around several times. I try an object on one shelf, then move it to another. I stand back, look at the whole arrangement, and make adjustments.

Sometimes an item looks too small until it is placed on top of a stack of books. Sometimes a large piece needs to stand alone. Sometimes two unrelated objects suddenly look wonderful together.

The important thing is to keep experimenting.

Decorating should feel more like arranging a collection than filling empty spaces.

A Fresh Theme Without Buying Everything New

This nautical look has reminded me once again that decorating for a new season doesn’t have to mean buying a lot of new things.

I used shells from my childhood, my mom’s collection, old books, family treasures, pieces from my travels, lamps I use regularly, frames from last month’s display, and even a few items borrowed from other rooms.

The only new purchase was one piece of discounted garland.

And yet, the bookcases feel completely different.

That is the fun of decorating. Sometimes all it takes is looking at what you already have with fresh eyes.

This fall, I’m letting the family room and bookcases have their own personality. I’ll save the pumpkins, fall swags, and fur throws for the living room. Not every room needs to look the same to feel connected.

A home can hold several different moods—and that is what makes it interesting.

Look around your own home. What could you gather, move, or use in a different way to create a fresh look this season?

Until Next Time, Jonelle'