Our basement - which serves as our family room flooded back in April and ruined
all my bookcases. I had to load most of my books (hundreds!) in plastic storage
bins and store them in the basement. Granted, I have a lot of other books upstairs
in every room but the bathroom...and you will notice books piled on just about
every available surface in the following photos, but still. I miss my library!
The blank wall space to the left is where the new bookcases will go.
I've been wanting the Billy bookcases from IKEA. But even bookcases from
IKEA add up, money-wise. We just haven't been able to swing it. Until now.
We got a VISA gift card in the mail from AT&T. Long story, but it had to do with
cable issues. And since we were long-time customers with good credit, they
sent us a present - which is going to help buy my bookcases!
Now here's where I need your help. As you'll notice, the basement has white
wainscoting, an off-white couch, rug, and coffee table top, but all the accessories,
chairs, and tables are black. So what do you think would look best - black
bookcases or white? Brian thinks black - but I think with all the other black
furniture, that it might look Halloween-ish with the orange walls! On the other hand,
there's no white furniture down here. So would the white bookcases "go"?
Black? Or white?
(Source: Billy bookcases)
You can go either way....Yeah I am a big help!... White would show off the books better...Black you won't see the books as well... We have a dark cabinet down in our basements and the books don't show as well nor do vases or pottery stand out well.. White is crisp and clean looking...
ReplyDeleteYour basement looks fantastic...love the wainscoting...Lisa
You are right that the black wouldn't show the books as well as the white...hmm. Such decisions! Thanks for your input.
DeleteI think white would be my choice. You could add black odds an ends on shelves
ReplyDeleteThat is true! Thanks for your opinion.
DeleteI'm leaning towards white too, especially if they extend above the wainscoating!
ReplyDeleteYes, the bookcases will be tall and extend above the wainscoting. Thanks for letting me know what you think!
DeleteI think black . . . just to be different and organize your books without jackets, by color, subject too. I like them laid flat rather than standing. Easier to read the titles too. Good luck . . .
ReplyDeleteI've seen books organized by color - I think that looks cool. But I won't take the dust jackets off my newer hardcover books. I could see doing that with vintage books though.
DeleteI'm thinking black too. But I see what you mean about Halloween. Well, you could always decoupage over some of the orange like I did my kitchen cabinets... Your husband would REALLY love that!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Decoupage the orange walls?! I don't think so! lol Thanks for letting me know which color you think would look better.
DeleteI vote for black!
ReplyDeleteJudy
Thanks for your input, Judy!
DeleteYou already have black tables, tv, etc.. so I think black bookshelves would look best. They will be filled with books of all sorts of colors, so I don't think they won't look Halloweeny at all.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gayle!
DeleteMy vote is white. Being in the basement...you need all the light you can get. You want the accent to be on the books and they would show better with white.Besides....dust wouldn't show as much with white :)
ReplyDeleteBalisha
That is true! Thanks, Balisha!
DeleteBlack is my vote, but I am NOT a decorator. And because of the university, I live in an orange and black town.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rhonda!
DeleteI vote for white. I think that black will stand out too much plus if they're white you can use them in other spaces. You can line the backs with some black and white gift wrap to tie the colors together.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I like your idea of lining the backs with white and black gift wrap or paper! Thanks, Manuela!
DeleteMelanie, I would go with Manuela's opinion. Her home is gorgeous!
DeleteHi Melanie,
ReplyDeleteI hope it isn't too late to vote! I choose white-but I am a bit obsessed with it right now:)
Jemma
You're not too late at all...I'm leaning towards the white myself. :-)
DeleteI think the black would look best, but you could add some black and white print fabric to the back of the book cases. I saw it done once where they wrapped fabric around cardboard, cut to fit perfectly behind each shelf.
ReplyDelete