slick shelving

AN EDITED DISPLAY OF OBJETS AND BOOKS IS A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT IN ANY HOME HERE’S HOW TO SQUEEZE MORE STYLE FROM YOUR SHELVES

- KATE HOLLOWOOD

Whether you want to organise clutter or add interest to a sparse wall, the power of bookshelves to enhance a space should not be underestimated. ‘They should be a feature of your living room in their own right and a place where you can express your personality,’ says interior designer Simone Gordon, co-founder of Owl Design, ‘from showcasing a few choice ceramics to using fun shapes and colours, with a clever mix of display and hidden storage.’

But before getting into the creative possibilities of bookshelves, what are the practical considerations to be aware of? ‘You need to decide what you’d like to display in that specific room,’ says Noz Nozawa, interior designer and founder of Noz Design. ‘For instance, in our bedroom, my husband and I keep novels and paperbacks; but in the main living space, our shelves house cookbooks, objects from our travels and non-fiction books – which guests might pull down from a shelf and leaf through casually.’