How to Decorate a Bookshelf With Bins

Conquering Clutter

• Many decorators choose to adds bins to their bookshelves for the purpose of creating a more streamlined, minimalist look. If you have a problem with clutter accumulating on your shelves out of nowhere, bins may be the solution you've been looking for. Keep several points in mind as you're working to cut the clutter: Buy bins that aren't see-through -- no glass, no plastic. Buy just enough bins to add one or two to several shelves. Lastly, resist the urge to use the bins as emergency dumping grounds when guests unexpectedly drop by.

Coordinating the Look

• Coordinate your bookshelf bins to the rest of the space. This is not to say you must be matchy-matchy, but keep in mind exactly what style or styles you're going for. If your space has an industrial feel, opt for tin or aluminum-type bins. If it's more modern, consider bins crafted of shiny black leather. The color and pattern of your bins factor largely into the process as well. You might use bins in primary colors or those covered in animal fabric prints for a child's room, while bins made of a neutral-colored canvas would be more serviceable to hold gloves and hats in a mud room.

Mixing It Up

• Try to avoid overloading your bookshelves with organizational bins. Solid rows of bins on every shelf is simply too much, unless you're working on a home office that needs to look like a place of business. Keep your designs casual by placing the occasional bin here and there on your shelves, intermingled with other attractive decor that has special meaning: favorite books, collectibles or a vase of fresh flowers. Making these more-attractive elements the feature points of your shelving will help your bins meld gently into the background.

A Designated Purpose

• Probably the worst idea is to place bins haphazardly around the shelving of your home with the intent of using them as catchalls for whatever odd items land in the room. This is the quickest way to turn a previously organized shelf into a hot spot of accumulated madness. Give each bin a distinct purpose before you put it in place, even if you have to resort to labeling it. You might use one to hold keys, wallets and purses on a shelf by the front door or another in the living room to corral remotes and game controllers. Bins in children's rooms have endless possibilities: small stuffed animals, art supplies, and tiny pieces of construction toys that might otherwise end up under your bare feet.