How to Decorate a Home Office Library
The home office library serves many functions. It's the place where you go to work on work-related tasks you've brought home for the day, write out bills, write e-mails and -- of course -- to read the latest bestseller snuggled under cozy afghans. Ideally, this room reflects your tastes as well as the functions of the room. It should not only be book-friendly, but also encourage relaxation and accommodate multiple users. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Paint and accessories
- Artwork
- Photos
- Light fixtures and lamps
- Decorative accessories
- Desk
- Daybed
- Bedding
- Tables
Instructions
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Choose a decorating style. This will help you narrow down the colors of paint, the types of accessories and what style of furniture you'll use in the room. Certain decorating styles like Tuscan or African have color palettes and patterns that go with them. For example, if you've gone with an African safari theme, the colors might be khaki, green and brown with animal print rugs and throw pillows for the chairs.
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Paint the room in the colors you've chosen. If you plan on creating a focal wall, make it the wall opposite your tall bookshelves, and then paint that wall a color that contrasts with the surrounding walls. For example, if you've chosen a brown and pink color scheme, paint the focal wall brown and the other walls pink.
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Hang artwork and pictures on your focal wall. These can be posters with sayings by famous authors, old-fashioned maps, family photographs and other items. Choose pictures according to the decorative style you've chosen for your library.
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Add enough light fixtures and lamps to make reading comfortable. You can also utilize the natural light that comes into the room.
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Place wall clocks, radios, wall sconces and other decorative items based upon your decorating scheme. For example, if you've selected a '60s retro style, you might choose a sunburst clock, an antique radio from the '60s and wall sconces that match the sunburst clock.
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Integrate your desk into the office decor. If you sandwich your desk between two bookcases, you'll not only save space, but also extend your decorating area. Decorative items that you place on the bookshelves can also be placed on the desk. For example, if you've decorated with an Asian motif, add an Asian lantern-style lamp to your desk and place one on each bookshelf as well. This provides continuity.
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Break up the visual lines of the bookshelves by inserting items like clusters of family photos, busts of famous authors, candle arrangements and stacks of leather-bound books between the rows of books. To make this look work, utilize bookends. This allows you to stand books up, place items between them and then create another row of books beside the item.
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Purchase a daybed. This serves double duty. It'll function as a guest bed for overnight visitors and also as a couch. Tie it into the rest of your decorating scheme by choosing bedding -- including throw pillows -- that matches the library's style. Flank the ends of the bed with tall tables where you'll place stacks of antique books, decorative candlesticks, dried floral arrangements or other decorative items, and reading lamps.
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References
- Themed Home Decor: African Safari Decorating
- Home Decorating Made Easy: Tuscan decorating - A Touch of Old World Italy
- Decorator's Secrets: Den Design - Man vs Woman
- Apartment Therapy: Book Decor for People Who Can't Read Good
- Home Decorating Made Easy: Decorating a Dual Function Home Office
- Home Decorating Made Easy: Guest Bedroom Decorating Ideas To Create A Comfortable Oasis
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
