The most visually pleasing bookshelves wed practical storage with individual style.
1. Stack some books horizontally to break up the pattern—and to bookend upright volumes. Rest small decorative items atop some of the stacks.
2. Don’t be afraid to inject some whimsy into the mix with unexpected pieces, such as this “ancient” statue-cum-vase.
3. Establishing a theme helps to unify the decorative objects, here animals and other nods to adventure collected from the family’s travels.
4. A quick way to “hide” the TV when unexpected guests stop by is to use the wallpaper feature: Look for a model that lets you display images when it is on low-power mode (use this feature only when people are around, to conserve energy).