As the winter months are rolling in, we are all yearning for the long nights of hot chocolate and curling up with a book by the fire - but before we get too comfortable in our dreamy winter thoughts our minds may dart to the bookcase that’s been utterly neglected over summer, possibly currently resembling a less than satisfactory car boot stall. Have no fear, because there are 6 simple steps that will revive your beloved bookcase and turn it into the decor wow-facor it deserves to be. Let us take you through them:

1 | Less Is more

The key to a beautifully arranged bookcase is understanding that less is always more, especially when it comes to books. Learn to be selective, pick only your best and most visually appealing books to grace your shelves and leave off the dowdy second hand ones. With the art of a minimalist bookcase it is also important to consider what items you want to display. The best way to look at your bookcase is as a composition, so consider using a couple of plants, some ceramics, your expertly selected books and a few personal pieces. You never want your bookcase to feel heavy, balancing items may take a few tries but persist! Don’t be afraid to remove and add items until the shelf looks right to you.

2 | Think About Genre

Consider what you want your bookcase to say about you. If the bookcase you're looking to polish up is located in your kitchen for example, let its decor focus on cookbooks. How about your bedroom? In that case, adorn your shelves with personal and sentimental books. It is all about the books and ornaments on your shelves being enticing and relevant.

3 | Group Away

When styling your bookcase it is best to remove everything and start from scratch. Gather all the items you want to use - this could be some framed art, books, ceramics, plants, baskets or boxes - and start with the biggest items, working your way to the smaller ones. Once you have your larger items down you will be surprised by how visually appealing combinations will simply pop out at you as you incorporate the smaller pieces. Group similar items together and let them give attitude as a composition.

4 | Go Horizontal

Don’t think you have to have all your books vertical. With larger books, mix it up and try laying them horizontally instead. We would suggest stacks of 4-5. Prop a frame or vase on top of a stack of books and marvel at how quickly it becomes a feature.

5 | Go Organic

A bookcase is the perfect place to display your organic objects. Try breaking up groups of books with pieces of driftwood, a plant or shells. Weaving in these items will breathe a breath of fresh air in to your shelves, and create conversation pieces, distractions and discoveries for visitors and guests.

6 | Think About Texture

When putting together your perfect bookcase ensemble consider its composition, where you are looking for a faultless balance of form, texture and colour. Try to use a mixture of all three but be careful not to overcrowd!

You should now be fully equipped to revive your bookcase and curate your collections in to the display of your dreams, just remember your space should always be personal so keep those special items and give them pride of place!