Bookcase Decorating and The In Between

Yesterday evening I was in the kitchen starting dinner when my boyfriend got home from work. Out of no where I decided it was time to rearrange our apartment and started throwing ideas around. Within 5 minutes I had started stuffing the mushrooms and my boyfriend was clearing shelves and arranging furniture. It was very exciting! 
Now our apartment looks a lot more spacious. And it could be mainly due to the fact that we got rid of our huge, gaudy computer desk and downgraded to a mere table to hold everything. It was his suggestion and I was very skeptical-I liked having a lot of room for everything. However, the extreme downsize has now given me the opportunity to start looking for dining room tables and planning what to do with all of the extra space! 

 

Don't mind the Christmas decor in the 'Before'-it was obviously Christmas time!

Its definitely a smaller work zone...but I must admit, I like the challenge of getting ideas for the ample space we have now!

But the most exciting (and time consuming on my part) new arrangement of all was the bookshelf. Before it held our hamster's cage-but our beloved Cokey Smurf passed away earlier in the week. 

**We love and miss you Cokey Smurf**

Each shelf held its own chaos and I almost wish I had taken a before picture of it-however-I don't feel like embarrassing myself today!

Now, our shelf is not PERFECT and I am fervently searching for accessories/books and whatever else to keep getting it to where I want. But I must say I do love the way it looks as of now. Its by no means David Bromstad approved and won't be featured on HGTV anytime soon-but for a decorating-inept 24 year old designing on a whim I think its coming along nicely! 

Here is the shelf as a whole (strange angle and terrible Samsung Epic 4G pictures-apologies!)

The 'Twilight Shelf' is my favorite. I am a little biased considering I'm a huge fan and Team Edward, but I also like the red and black look. Here are our 'black spined' books. You'll notice the attempted color coordinating theme in each shelf.

Here is the maroons/browns/orange and the gray/white on the right. The brown box in the center holds my Twlight movie film reel snippets that I was given (told you I was a fan!) The photo on top is of my boyfriend's grandmother's first house. The picture is very nostalgic to him so I'm glad it fits nicely with the more 'rustic' theme on this shelf!

This is definitely more me. I like the transcending colors from greens and blue to purple and pinks. I was glad I could use my Rose Quartz candle holders as book ends. My feng shui game and crystals box adds to the sort of metaphysical feel of it all. Yep, definitely me!

As you can see at the bottom of the photo the last shelf is still chaotic and not as put together. It holds photo albums, binders and notebooks. (I'm sort of a notebook hoarder! But I prefer the term collector!) 

Which is why I'm still coming up with ideas and ways to put the bookcase together so it flows a bit better. But for now I'm quite satisfied! 

This has been my newest project. I'm thinking of which wall decals to create and put by the computer 'desk' or perhaps a cork board. Limitless options. But fun! 

Do you have any bookcase ideas or suggestions?! I always love hearing new DIY and decorating tips!