Amber B Design Studio

Interior Design & Decoration for the South Florida region

  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Portfolio
  • Blog
  • Press
  • Contact

Styling Kid’s Bookshelves {Our Basement}

June 28, 2013 by Amber Filed Under: basement, design, kids and design, personal design style, shelf styling Leave a Comment

When we had our basement finished, we decided to add tons of storage for books, kid stuff and anything that needed a home. The storage we decided on seemed too much at first, but who am I kidding? With kids in the house, it will fill up quickly. I am proud to say that there are more shelves filled now, than empty! The contractors built this shelving unit by connecting ready made cube units, with a total of 54 cubes in all! Since it goes up to the ceiling, we decided to keep the top three rows for our stuff and the bottom three for the kiddos, which is more in their reach. To make this a proper before and in progress, I’ll show where these shelves began…

Before

The above picture is a true before shot, since it is even before the carpet is installed. We have made a lot of progress since then, and I am happy to say that the kid’s shelves are pretty much complete.

After in Progress

Now I am very realistic, and I know these shelves won’t stay this organized for long. But it’s a great start, right?? Here are some tips when styling kid’s shelves (especially when you have 27 to do!!)

1. Mix it up by laying some of the books vertical and some horizontal. When the spine of the book is showing, they can see the title and it will still entice them to find their favorite!

2. Layer in some of their favorite stuffted animals and sculptural toys. It’s a great way to add texture and for them, it makes them smile to see their beloved items on display.

3. Face some of the titles out, so they can see the cover. It’s a great idea when you are low on books and have a lot of shelves to style. It also comes in handy for them to find a book that might have otherwise been lost on the shelf. I plan to switch these books up over time, so I can display ones that interest them at the moment or one they might have forgotten about. (For example, if the siblings are not getting along, you can display a book about sharing… in a very subtle way! hint hint!  )

We’ll see how long this lasts, but at least the books have found a great home and will be used a lot! That’s what it’s all about.

Happy Friday !!
  • Tweet 0
  • Share 0
  • +1
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Comments

  1. Kimberly Moore says

    June 28, 2013 at 10:41 pm

    Talk about awesome storage! Great styling so far! Happy Friday 🙂

    Reply
  2. indo nirman says

    June 29, 2013 at 7:16 am

    Wow… really gonna miss your unique perspective and humor. Please consider posting info on how to download the e-version of your novel.
    buy plot in Bhubaneswar

    Reply
  3. Lisa - A Room with A View says

    July 1, 2013 at 9:38 pm

    This is a wonderful unit and you have the perfect space for it!

    Reply
  4. onlinephduk says

    July 15, 2013 at 12:02 am

    A cabinet that surely needs bigger space! This gives a lot of space for more books and stuff. My kids will love filling the shelves. But of course, look at the picture posted in here, for kids the lowermost shelf will be filled first! The tips on making the cabinet convenient for kids are helpful!

    PhD by Publication by Delores Vega

    Reply
  5. Mom in High Heels says

    September 23, 2013 at 11:05 pm

    Found this on Pinterest. Love it! Where did you get the cubbies???

    Reply
  6. Amber B (Simple Dwellings) says

    August 29, 2014 at 12:52 am

    I am so sorry that I did not see this comment earlier! I found these cubbies at home depot and the contractors connected them and made them look like built ins with baseboard and crown moldings! They are the Martha Stewart 9 Cube Organizer.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome!

Hi, I'm Amber... a wife, mom and interior decorator. I am the writer of Simple Dwellings and the designer behind Amber B Design. Blog topics are all things design, with the occasional DIY attempt! Thanks for stopping by.Read more...

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

@amberbdesign

amberbdesign

Most of my favorite design colors to use in projec Most of my favorite design colors to use in projects come right from nature! #coastalliving #palmbeach #loveyourhabitat
Whenever I’m looking for coastal design inspirat Whenever I’m looking for coastal design inspiration, I take a walk around Palm Beach. This week is perfect for that! #designinspiration #coastalliving #palmbeach #loveyourhabitat
Can you believe it… I wrote a blog post!!! 😂 Can you believe it… I wrote a blog post!!! 😂 Head over to my blog (link in bio) to see what’s been going on with all things Amber B Design, including this bookcase beauty in the office of #ProjectClassicLiving #amberbdesign #coastalliving #myballardstyle
In my last post, I hinted at a new plan for the li In my last post, I hinted at a new plan for the living room. Now that the ladder has been relocated to the family room, this corner is definitely in need of some height. I almost went with the idea of a tree and while I love it in other homes, I just didn’t see it here. So I went on Pinterest in search of inspiration and @studiomcgee to the rescue! I love the idea of a pedestal with a vase and maybe some branches, instead of a tree. I can switch up the accessories on the pedestal and I think it’s the winner! Inspiration in the next slide. #amberbdesignathome #coastalliving
I have always liked to shop around my home, moving I have always liked to shop around my home, moving things to different rooms and making them feel like new accessories. It breathes new life into a space, even with subtle touches. I switched the living room and family room table lamps and I like the larger scale lamp in here! I have fun plans for the living room, which I’ll share soon. Happy Friday!! #amberbdesignathome #loveyourhabitat #SMmakelifebeautiful #howyouhome #bhghome #hgtv #coastalliving
Once the Christmas tree is down, I always feel lik Once the Christmas tree is down, I always feel like the room is so bare. This year, we had it to the left of the television and I really feel like that space is now so empty. I tried the living room ladder in its place and I love it! But the living room needs it there too. What to do?! Maybe a tall plant in one of the spaces?! Two ladders within feet of each other?! 😂 #amberbdesignathome #coastalliving #howyouhome #SMmakelifebeautiful #loveyourhabitat #bhghome
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Blog Posts, Straight to Your Inbox

Popular Projects

Blog Love

  • Addison’s Wonderland
  • A Thoughtful Place
  • Alison Giese Interiors
  • Amber Interiors
  • Bailey McCarthy
  • Caitlin Wilson
  • Chris Loves Julia
  • Classic Casual Home
  • Cottage and Vine
  • Design Indulgence
  • Dwell by Cheryl
  • Eddie Ross
  • Elements of Style
  • Emily A Clark
  • Emily Henderson
  • Gallery No Eight
  • Hi Sugarplum
  • House of Jade
  • Jana Bek
  • Juniper Home
  • Kate Marker Interiors
  • Lucy Williams
  • Monika Hibbs
  • Our Fifth House
  • Pencil and Paper Co
  • Rachel Parcell
  • Rambling Renovators
  • Pure Style Home
  • Sita Montgomery
  • Studio Mcgee
  • The Makerista
  • The White Buffalo Styling Co
  • the Zhush
  • Traci Zeller
  • Young House Love

Copyright Amber B Design© 2023 · Design by Britt Douglas