Decorating Bookshelves for Fall, The Rule of Three Multiplied
Decorating bookshelves can be easy if you use the Rule of Three’s and multiply it. See the process on these Fall bookshelves.
Decorating and styling bookshelves can be intimidating. You’ve got so many different flat surfaces all together. Where do you start? Today I’m going to give you some interior design tips that will hopefully give you the confidence to see your bookcase or bookshelf in a much more optimistic way! Decorating Bookshelves for Fall, The Rule of Three Multiplied will help you seasonally switch out your home decor easily!
Decorating Bookshelves for Fall, The Rule of Three Multiplied
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Your whole house decor doesn’t need to reflect the season you’re in, but it’s fun to have a couple spots where you can enjoy seasonal colors and textures. Last Spring the built-in bookcase we have in our upstairs hallway got treated to some pretty garden-inspired styling {“How to Decorate to Thrift the Look, Garden-Inspired Decor”}. We enjoyed it all summer, even though we haven’t even finished trimming out the cabinet (un-finished projects never stop me from decorating;) .
The seasons have changed and every time I passed these shelves, they were begging for some Fall decor.
When I styled the Spring/Summer bookshelves I used the magic decorating Rule of Threes. You can almost never go wrong with your interior design if you use three accessories together. Any odd number will do-5 or 7 is good also. But what I’ve learned is that if you take that same Rule of Threes and multiply it for a big space, it is very appealing to the eye!
You can see how I use the Rule of Three Multiplied on a long shelf in “Styling Tips: Using the Rule of 3, Multiplied”.
This design concept can be used for one shelf or a grouping of shelves, like a bookcase, or bookshelves on either side of your fireplace. Once you get the hang of it, it will make accessorizing and styling your home so much easier and fun!
To Start, Gather Your Seasonal Accessories in Groups of Threes
My challenge was to make this seasonal switch up as easy as possible. I wanted to simply swap up the Spring/Summer items with Fall versions in almost the same configuration. (Because I’ll be switching it up to Christmas soon, anyway;)
Here’s what I gathered in groups of Fall colored threes:
- 3 pumpkins
- 3 old books
- 3 slipcovered pillows
- 3 vintage pottery vases
- 6 brown glass vases
- 3 vintage jewelry/cigar boxes
I let the single, larger items remain from the previous shelves, the green tool caddy and the green metal kitchen box. Green is a neutral in my home. I add the seasonal colors to it, just like you would white or black. It’s the color of nature; everything works with it!
Style the Groups of Threes Alternately
This isn’t a hard and fast rule, but if you put the groups of threes on every other shelf in different configurations, you’ll probably have a pleasing display! Alternate them with a single, larger item to balance.
The groupings of threes can be horizontal, or vertical. I used mostly horizontal groupings of threes here, but the stack of books and the stack of jewelry/cigar boxes are vertical. You’re still using the magic rule of three, just switching it up!
Even in this picture above, the 3 items: the blue glass container, the wooden vase and the framed picture act as 3 fairly sized matching items.
Fill In With Seasonal Foliage and Textures
Once all the accessories are placed and feel balanced, fill in with seasonal foliage and textures. I swapped up the green wreath in the Spring/Summer version for a grapevine wreath. Then I replaced the green leafy contents of the tool caddy with Fall foliage. I put Autumn fragrant potpourri in the vintage pottery, so when we walk by we get a whiff of yummy cinnamon and spice.
I also added a few single standing Fall books and art. The final touch were the Autumn word game boards. I love to add words as a final touch to seasonal displays.
Enjoy Your Seasonal Fall Bookshelf Display
Ready for the big reveal? It was a pretty easy swap-up. The only time-consuming part was whipping up the Fall pillow slipcovers. But I’ve been wanting to enjoy these old holey blankets in pillow versions for awhile. This gave me a reason to do it!
Don’t you just love all those pretty Harvest textures and colors? I always think Autumn is my favorite time of year…until Christmas…and then Spring. I guess if you asked me what season is my favorite, I’d say, “Whichever season we’re in!” Because I love switching up the decor in my home seasonally, and reflecting what’s outside my window.
And no, you haven’t missed the big reveal on this built-in cupboard. It’s still in process, awaiting it’s final trim. But I can tell you the base piece came from the side of the road…where all good vintage junk finds come from for free! It just needed a little makeover to make it beautiful:)
Hope you enjoyed seeing how easy decorating a bookshelf or bookcase can be when you use the interior design secret sauce! The rule of threes, multiplied does make accessorizing so much easier, no matter what season you’re in. Let me know if this was helpful and will give you more decorating confidence!
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Great tips and advice. Love the shelves. pinned
Thanks, Cindy!
Your shelves are gorgeous Lora! Thanks so much for sharing the rule of 3 – it will make styling shelves a lot easier in the future! Thank you so much for sharing this with us at Farmhouse Friday!
Your welcome, Michelle! Glad you enjoyed it!
One of the things I enjoy about your blogs is “us” Midwesterners (I’m in SD) have a lot of the same junk. Looking at your Fall bookcase display, I have the granny quilt, the tree book, wood boxes, the glass jar in gold, and bird pics so always love seeing how you incorporate all into a great display. Thank you always for the great ideas.
So true, Luane! That’s why my grandma (who taught me the true art of thrifting) encouraged to always go to thrift stores when you’re traveling different parts of the country…totally different stuff!
I’m too busy crafting for our bazaar in 2 weeks to worry miuch about decor It’s awful–I start picking up stuiff that needs to be organized–find a forgotten treasure and think, “Oh, I could make —- out of that. And picking up gets dropped in favor of crafting. I liked your rule of 3s–when I make dried/silk flower arrangements/wreathes, I always use an odd number so it makes sense to do it for decor, too. I put Christmas music on today for the first time–earliest ever. When I was too busy, I just re-played it!
Oh, the last minute crunch time, Kathy! I remember those days! It’s like your brain is on steroids and you wish your hands could move as fast as your brain. Good luck!
Will now you have me looking around to see what i need to change,lol! Thanks, i just know this will truly help me when i move things around for the seasons, sometimes it just doesn’t look right.
Hope it helps, Marlene!