the art of messy.

Happy Tuesday! It's been awhile since I last discussed our future dream home...and with so many great examples of new homes in the blogosphere lately, it's hard not to start dreaming again. I know many of you are already in this next life stage, so maybe you can offer me a little assistance with my decorating dilemma.


You see, I adore books. Thankfully, so does my husband. This could also explain why we have so. many. books. {We literally have three six-foot bookshelves full to the brim. eeks!} I am scared to imagine how antiquated our future kiddos will think a "library" is--especially since I'm almost certain elementary textbooks will be on Kindles in less than ten years. sigh.


But anyway, back to the topic at hand...our bookshelves. We may have a few friends visiting this weekend and I desperately want to nail the "perfectly messy" bookshelf look before they arrive. You know what I mean...
{All images via Southern Accents}
Don't you love the look of these bookshelves? I'm scared to think rooms like these won't exist fifty years down the line. You better believe I'll be pushing for a library in our future dream home...if, of course, I can master that "perfectly messy" look.


It seems simple. There need to be elements of symmetry--but, seemingly, there need to be elements of asymmetry too. I know there need to be other objects in the mix, but how can you avoid looking too kitschy? I never thought I'd be asking how to be "messy" in a blog post, but if any of you can offer tips here, it would be much appreciated!


Have a great Tuesday night y'all--stay cozy! xoxo {av}
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27 comments:

  1. KassieJanuary 11, 2011 at 5:51 PM

    I adore books, and one of my "dreams" is to have a massive, beauty and the beast type library in my forever home! I have so many books I have no clue what to do with them: 3 huge bookcases, 2 small ones, and about a dozen cardboard boxes full since I have no other room. Glad to see another book lover...hopefully we can keep the paper form alive a little longer. :)

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  2. MeganJanuary 11, 2011 at 6:34 PM

    I love books, too! I have a huge bookshelf full to the brim in one of our extra rooms! : ) I have no advice for you though, just mix and match how you please! I'm sure it'll look amazing!

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  3. Amanda*January 11, 2011 at 6:48 PM

    I LOVE books and a library? Yes, please!

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  4. SylviaJanuary 11, 2011 at 7:18 PM

    I agree with Megan! Do what you feel! My bookshelf is one of those cube like ones from ikea and half filled with books and half with my bf's records, yet somehow it looks good and I just kinda put the stuff there and let it be. play around with it and see what works and if that fails, i like how it looks when people group their books by color and then sepearte them with cute knick knacks and such. good luck! hope we get to see how it turns out! :)

    i wander, i wonder

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  5. KristenJanuary 11, 2011 at 7:20 PM

    oooh I have post from young house love saved on this topic! we have some built ins in our living room, and I'm kinda feeling the same way. lost. ha! here is the post:
    http://www.younghouselove.com/2009/03/how-to-style-a-bookcase/

    let us know how it works out!

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  6. posie blogs Jennie McClellandJanuary 11, 2011 at 7:40 PM

    Oh i'm not a reader so we literally have my husband's books, cook books & children's books. I'm a scientist so it's boring text for me & i'd rather be sewing!! I can appreciate how glorious a den filled with books would look. Love Posie

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  7. A Crimson KissJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:05 PM

    My parents have volumes of books, most of them double or triple layered in bookshevles, and I think it's so charming! I absolutely love these, and I can't wait to see how you arrange your vast library in the dream house, whenever it comes!

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  8. ***January 11, 2011 at 9:24 PM

    I love bookshelves full of books. As you said I think it looks nice when there are other objects, you can probably put a few photo frames, souvenirs or small objects that mean a great deal to you. Check out Martha Stewart's website. I am sure she has some great tips on organizing bookshelves.

    Good luck and please share some photos once you organize your bookshelves.

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  9. MarianJanuary 11, 2011 at 9:25 PM

    The two things that are MUSTS in my dream house are a little library room (and by little I mean the same exact one from Beauty and the Beast) and a wrap around porch that has a hammock:) I'm not asking for too much, right

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  10. KellyJanuary 11, 2011 at 9:50 PM

    I feel like I am constantly rearranging my bookshelves to try new messy arrangements with my new books. Also, I gave you a Stylish Blogger award on my blog! Keep up the fabulous blogging!

    Kells
    http://www.washingtonprep.blogspot.com/

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  11. jenna ♥ a little blueJanuary 11, 2011 at 10:47 PM

    i love my books and i am so sad that are in storage for the most part now. i love messy bookshelves, and can't wait to finally put ours up!

    hope you post your finished shelves :) :)

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  12. annawithloveJanuary 11, 2011 at 11:15 PM

    I agree! I have a not so secret passion for all things to do with bookshelves! xx
    http://www.annawithlove.com

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  13. AbbieBabbleJanuary 12, 2011 at 12:44 AM

    These sorts of rooms will have to exist fifty years down the line- even if everyone's reading on a kindle, who wouldn't love a room full of books??

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  14. McLean Robbins January 12, 2011 at 8:39 AM

    I so want one of these rooms, decorated kind of like the current front of Restoration Hardware. When you figure out how to do yours, please come down and help me :-)

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  15. AshleyJanuary 12, 2011 at 9:03 AM

    love those shelves - so classy looking! thanks for your sweet comment! love hearing from you always! hope you're having a fabulous week lady! :)

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  16. Alycia Grayce (Crowley Party)January 12, 2011 at 10:28 AM

    I always tried using the argument, "the are of messy" to my mom about my bedroom and the clothes on the floor... it never did work.

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  17. jillian :: cornflake dreams.January 12, 2011 at 10:45 AM

    ooo love the bookshelves! h just brought some books home from his moms house..i have no idea where we are going to put them. we might have to invest in another shelf. xoxo jcd

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  18. Caroline at Her Own EdenJanuary 12, 2011 at 12:34 PM

    I absolutely love it! such a perfect idea "the art of messy"... I feel like this can be applied to many decorating ideas.

    PS thanks for your sweet comments on my blog yesterday! you're totally right how our "baggage" is just what makes us so unique and awesome :)

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  19. EvaJanuary 12, 2011 at 1:20 PM

    I think the key is to not just put all the books vertically spine-out. Place some in a pile horizontally to break it up, and put something on the pile, like a picture frame or figurine :)

    Books are a HUGE part of our house too! But I love it.

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  20. Brooke TJanuary 12, 2011 at 2:03 PM

    YAY for books :) and you can definitely pull it off! be sure to take a picture! I have just recently been looking all over the internet for interior design ideas!! It's so fun and I can't wait to do our registry.

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  21. Megan @ Pink O'ClockJanuary 12, 2011 at 2:33 PM

    i love bookshelves -- in my future home i'm dying for big built-ins to house my ever-growing library. i'm sure yours will look great whatever you decide to do! :) p.s. isn't looking at photographs of bookshelves/bookcases so fun?

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  22. AmyJanuary 12, 2011 at 2:48 PM

    I always tell Justin that whenever we get a house, we too will have a huge set of bookshelves. I love books. I love everything about them. Their smell. The dozen of pages. Trillions of words. The leather bounding. Oh. So I wish I could buy more, but I have nowhere to put them. So one day, one day...
    Have a great one love!

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  23. kendall k.January 12, 2011 at 2:54 PM

    Yes! I love the perfectly messy bookshelf, good luck with your conquest :)

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  24. Diana MieczanJanuary 12, 2011 at 3:46 PM

    I love bookshelves full of books and I also love when there are other objects on the shelves like little frames and framed posters :) Hugs and kisses, my dear

    ps: I am hosting a sweet necklace GIVEAWAY today :) ... Please, join in!

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  25. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2011 at 4:03 PM

    I love the messy bookshelf look!

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  26. UnknownJanuary 12, 2011 at 4:37 PM

    such a fan of bookshelves with tons and tons of books. i hope when the mister and i own a home we can have a library or a whole WALL of books. eep!♥

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  27. JaymeJanuary 12, 2011 at 7:01 PM

    Looks like a fabulous way to spend a snow day! Glad you found me! You're blog is very cool - love the pics!!!

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