Would not bother the normal person. But I’m not normal. You know this about me already.
The bright fluorescent yellow, the mix of strong colors – it was an assault to my eyes and minimalist sensibilities. I tried to minimize its visibility by placing it lower on the bookshelf. That didn’t really help. Like, at all.
Over the weekend, I decided to cover them up. Behold the stack of books now.
And the best part? I didn’t buy anything new for this project. I used the Anna Griffin wrapping paper that I’ve been hoarding since 2007. And the white book covers? Large sheets of luxe cardstock that I purchased from paper source back in 2005. Yes, I really do hoard things for that long.
But I’m trying to change that. I am on a mission to de-hoard and de-clutter. Simplify and beautify.
It’s the little things that make my neurotic little heart happy.
Ooh, I like it! It's so simple yet elegant. That said, how do you know which book is which? Clearly you could just pick them up and look, but I'm too lazy for that. Then again, I'm probably too lazy to wrap them in the first place.
Man, I'm quite lazy.
Anyway, gorgeous!
Ahhhh! I love this!!!
I love it, looks great, but I would have hundreds of books to wrap. So I prefer leaving them as they are and scrap instead. *lol*
But your bookshelf looks really elegant now.
hugs
Corinna
I do the same thing and I thought I was just weird! 🙂
Love your book covers Liz, but can't you think of something schmanzy so that we can do this, and still know what book is inside? Maybe using that adoooorable new font? 😉
Hi Megan – Originally I had planned on wrapping the books with kraft paper/grocery bags and adding book titles to the binding using alphabet rubber stamps. But the anna griffin paper has a glossy surface not conducive for rubber stamping. I suppose that I can use mini labels but I like the way they look unadorned. IF I were to cover the rest of my books, I would probably move to a label system of some sort.
Emilie – thank you!
Corrina – LOL. Notice how I didn't take a photo of our other bookshelf? I'm leaving those books as is.
Catherine – glad I'm not the only one with neurotic tendencies. 🙂
That is so pretty! I need to do that with mine but I just have too many books. lol
Love everything you do, Liz. Beautiful and so calming.
Wow, these are gorgeous! It's brilliant–it's like your books are pieces of decor themselves!
In my workspace I have two metal shelves filled with books, magazines, tsotchkes. So I just covered them up with a pretty floral fabric 😀
Sine – that sounds like a challenge. Let me see what I can do. Give me a week or so k?
Brenda – I'm definitely not covering up all of my books, just the reference books (like the ones pictured in this post and dictionaries, etc.). Some books are just too pretty to cover up.
deena – thank you 🙂
mrs hobbes – that is a fantastic idea, so much less labor intensive than covering every book.
Liz, your book covers are gorgeous and so pleasing to the eye. I think I'll be adding this to my "to do" list. 🙂
OK … so you've confirmed my suspicions … you really are a kook Liz!!! A very sweet, talented & creative kook, but a kook non-the-less!!! Now don't get me wrong, being kooky is a good thing … it's like Monica from FRIENDS … you like things in place, order, symmetry … I can relate … personally I think I have a mild form of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) which means things have to be "just so" … guess that makes me a kook too. LOL!!!! Too much fun sweetie.
Oooh I love it! I hate when you see adverts for bookshelves (IKEA!) and every book has the same colour spine… or shades of the same colour – because that just doesn't happen! This is gorgeous! And its a real solution for the problem, LOL. Although I too would love to see an idea that includes the titles of the books!
cute paper! is there something wrong with hoarding? 😉 i have paper older than that! LOL yes, de-cluttering and simplifying is on my radar as well. also, have you seen the way pottery barn displays the books in their catalog? try putting them on their side to just see the color of that pages….that looks cool too! 🙂
Neurotic is my middle name! I totally relate to this, Liz!!!!
such a great idea! thanks!
"Would not bother the normal person. But I'm not normal."
LOL! I love you. Serious.
New follower since now 🙂
I share the same set of eyes. I hide books in the closet because I hate their strong colors. Thanks for the tip!
So cute! Love the labeling system in part two, as well!
To cover or not to cover, i have so many books! tackle a few at a time!