Books, pillows enliven most spaces
“Too much of a good thing can be wonderful!” Mae West (1893-1980) American actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol
I have to agree with Ms. West — relative to home decorating, that is. And the two good things that can be wonderful, in my opinion, are pillows and books.
Both of these favorite accessories add warmth and interest to a space. A lot of people have books that are hidden away in closets, boxes or stereotypically arranged straight up in a bookcase. Libraries are, of course, a wonderful, if not inventive, way to display books, but there are so many other ways to use them.
Books are great “bases” for lamps and other accessories. Creating visual interest in a room is a prime objective of good design and books are key players. When arranging a table, mantle or any other surface, everything should not be the same height. Placing a couple of books under your favorite accessory will add interest and create great eye candy.
If you don’t want books under a lamp, lean a couple next to the lamp. If you have two of one thing, i.e., candlesticks, small figurines, etc., place books underneath one of them to make the entire vignette more interesting.
Books without anything on them, of course, look great on coffee tables or buffets. And, large “coffee table” books stacked under coffee tables are a surprise and ground the table.
Dining rooms are a great place for books, tucked in a china cabinet or under a favorite serving piece or decanter on the buffet. Kitchens and bathrooms are also great places for books, again adding interest and warmth to typically “cold” finishes. Even cookbooks look nicer when thoughtfully arranged with a favorite bowl or container stacked on top.
Designers sometimes disagree on covers or no covers on books. It depends on the location; book covers provide instant color and naked books tend to look a little more subdued. The choice is yours. I know a designer who actually creates art by placing paperback books spine side in so that all you see are the pages. While that arrangement is not for everybody, it is arty and interesting. It’s obviously not about the real books, but the texture and design.
Now to pillows. I love pillows and you can be sure I’ve had comments from friends and family about my pillow fetish. My thinking is that if you really want to sit down or lay down on the bed, you will find something to do with all those pillows!
Seriously, pillows, just like books, are true workhorses in design. Any color scheme or design aesthetic can handle pillows. They are a great source of color, style, texture and comfort.
When creating a monochromatic color scheme or if you are truly afraid of color, pillows are the key to a successful room. They are an inexpensive way to add color and design to what might otherwise be a plain, somewhat boring room. Pillows of different sizes, colors, fabrics and patterns add that finishing touch to any space. And they can be really comfortable. What could be cozier than snuggling into your sofa surrounded by soft squishy pillows? They’re great for your head, your back and your bottom.
So, fortunately for us, we don’t all like the same things, and pillows and books may not tickle your fancy. But if I had been quoted rather than Mae West, my “too much of a good thing …” would definitely have included two of my favorite good things. They are indeed wonderful.
Carolyn Muse Grant is a design consultant, expert home stager and creator of beautiful spaces. Questions can be sent to her at creativemuse@cox.net.
