Recently, I discovered a new interior design term that perfectly encapsulates what I envision when I think about how I want to decorate my house once I move out. Distractify defines “bookshelf wealth” as “a whole home vibe…. these aren’t display books, these are books that have actually been curated and read.” The idea is to have a home, room, or an area that is lived in, with a welcoming ambiance that reflects you and the things you have collected. It’s having spine-bent books leaning against a slightly wilted potted plant. A group of paintings hung ajar. Nicknacks and souvenirs protect the vessels of knowledge that you have collected throughout your lifetime, which I believe is the best part about bookshelf wealth: like Rome, it isn’t built in a day! But why not start now? Here are some tips and examples of items you can add to your curated collection.
Pick a shelf! Any shelf!
Heck, I bet if we could, we would all start with our ideal shelving units, but this is the college edition of bookshelf wealth! Try and work with what you have! A vintage liquor cabinet you didn’t have plans for? Sure. The hutch overhead of your dorm room desk? Why not? An old pair of floating shelves you designed in high school shop class? It’ll add to the aesthetic! The idea is to use what you have and to get creative!
Any good bookshelf needs some books
It seems that every article mentions the same thing: the books on these shelves are not for show. These need to be books that you have read and loved, picked through each and every word, dog-eared every couple of pages, and have been leant to friend after friend. These books should tell a story, happy or sad. If it suits your fancy, I definitely recommend adding some of your class textbooks to your shelf, especially if you liked the class.
Add your other collections
If you have the room on your shelves, you may as well fill them up. Feel free to add your comics, vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, old journals, scrapbooks, and whatever else you want. Let the shelf speak for who you are or want to be.
Fill in those holes
When I visit family, and I’m in their dens, I always love looking at their figures and nicknacks, and I always wonder where they found them or if a cool story is associated with them. Personally, I have a hard time letting things go, so I have a bunch of souvenirs from holidays I’ve been on or keepsakes given to me by my friends, like shells and rocks. You could keep them all in the same area or spread them around.
The Earth without “art” is just eh!
The best thing about art is that everybody can make it! It doesn’t matter if you paint directly on a canvas, have a collection of doodles you want to frame, or simply tack up a piece of paper. If you aren’t into the whole idea of making art, collect it instead! Postcards, local art shows, or even magazine pages. Add whatever you’d like! This is your shelf!
https://www.distractify.com/p/what-is-bookshelf-wealth-tiktok