How A Piece Of Scrap Wood Can Elevate The Look Of Your Bookshelf

The simplest solutions can often have the biggest impact on your space, especially in those hard-to-decorate areas. Built-in shelves tend to fall into this category, whether they're too deep, too narrow, or just an awkward shape. But with a little help from a piece of scrap wood, you can quickly transform these design deserts into a lush decorative oasis filled with books — or at least that's what guests will think. The wood works to fill in the empty spaces in your bookshelf. If your shelf has blind corners, use blocks of scrap wood to keep books from shifting into the space; this will create a shelf that feels intentional and organized by eliminating gaps between books. For shelves with trim, place a block behind the tomes, using the wood to keep them from shifting back so everything appears flush. This will eliminate the need for more decorations and make your shelves feel custom-built and thoughtfully styled. This small design detail not only maximizes shelf space but also helps to organize and display your favorite books, making the entire bookshelf look more refined and deliberate.

Beyond just filling gaps, this trick is effective at creating structure and minimizing the amount of room you need to fill. It can be the perfect way to style your bookshelf décor without the need for alternative shelving systems, working with the existing space instead. Deep shelves can often feel empty or cluttered but adding scrap wood creates a natural stopping point behind the books. This subtle change draws focus to the books and décor, giving the shelf a curated, layered look.

Built-in shelves can be a gorgeous addition to your home, but the trim often hides your books and décor behind their decorative facings, making it difficult to display your favorite reads. By placing a scrap of wood on both sides of your shelf, you create the illusion of a full bookcase that keeps all of your tomes visible. And it is completely hidden behind the trim, meaning it doesn't add any clutter to your shelves that will be visible to guests.

Another tough-to-tackle décor challenge is L-shaped or corner shelves. These can be a nightmare for any book lover, as they provide limited room to display the spines of your favorite reads. But you can quickly turn that unused space into an additional space to decorate with a small square of wood. Cut a piece out that is the size of your corner and lay it down on the shelf. A thicker piece can create dimension, adding just enough height to display a simple piece of décor. (Of course, since the scrap wood will be visible in this case, you may want to give it a sanding to avoid splinters and perhaps finish it with wood stain.) With a few tricks and some creativity, you can quickly transform awkward bookshelves into organized and intentional displays.