Home offices are now a key part of modern living. Whether you like it or not, remote working is becoming increasingly popular, and people are starting to take more pride in their home office set-up. Ensuring this space works for you and creates a calm, cosy environment is essential for a productive workflow. Choosing to style your space with antique or vintage furniture can be the perfect solution to merging style with practicality, particularly with vintage bookcases.
Start with a blank canvas
When decorating your home office, always start with an empty bookcase; this allows you to plan layouts and balance before filling the shelves. It’s incredibly important to think through the structure before you start and decide what you want to display, whether it’s books, decor, or personal items. Your space should reflect you, so make sure to include some photos or sentimental pieces to add personality. Vintage bookcases often have unique proportions and ornate designs, so be sure to work with their natural charm, rather than against it.
Balance scale and proportion
Try to avoid making it look too uniform; mixing tall and short items, as well as narrow and wide stacks, can help you create a visual rhythm. Adding contrast adds interest and helps avoid the look of a boring old shelf. While it’s essential to incorporate a variety of elements, don’t overcrowd your shelves. Negative space adds balance and reduces the risk that your bookcase will look chaotic and cluttered.
Although it may go against traditional bookcase etiquette, try combining vertically stacked books with horizontal piles to create visual interest. This, combined with larger items such as antique vases and framed photos, will anchor each shelf.
Add personal touches for warmth
Smaller items and figurines, such as vintage clocks, souvenirs, and keepsakes, make your space look lived-in and add a layer of personality to your bookcase. These items help to soften the structure and add warmth to your home office. Try to incorporate a mixture of textures, such as ceramic, metal and wood for added interest and colour.
Coordinate colour and surroundings
Before purchasing or choosing items to display on your bookshelf, plan a cohesive colour scheme that complements your furniture and overall workspace. When looking at your decor, don’t limit yourself to just the bookcase; think about the space around it. Whether it’s decorating the wall behind with artwork or framed prints, or even choosing your paint colour to complement the tones and colours of your bookcase. Using tones that echo the wood's grain or highlight its aged finish can add more character to your space. It’s also important to consider the lighting, whether natural or artificial, as it can enhance both the furniture and your display.
Transforming your home office with a vintage bookcase
Vintage bookcases can transform a home office by seamlessly blending function with character. Knowing how to make the most of their design is essential for helping them to stand out in the right ways.
