Decorating book shelves

Our living room has 2 floor to ceiling built in book cases, on both sides of a bay window. We have a lot of books, framed pics and other nik-nak things things that I want to put on the shelves, but I can't seem to get the right "look." Is there some "secret" to decorating bookshelves/displaying things on them? Some kind of "rule" about how to place things so that the shelves look nice?

TIA!

Re: Decorating book shelves

I'm in the middle of doing this now with our living room. Start googling book shelf decoration and see what comes up.

If you have a lot of books don't just line then up on a shelf. It won't give any character or personality to the shelf at all. You can stack a few (4) on top of one another and them put a picture frame on top of that.

Also play around with levels on the book shelf. Don't let everything on 1 shelf be the same height.

If there are things out you want out and available to you, but don't necessarily look nice, get a few baskets and place them in that on the bookshelf.

Umm... yeah. lol

Decorating book shelves

Never thought to google it - great idea. And I always see the basket thing and love the look, but never thought of doing that - Thanks!