Sometimes things get added to your home out of sheer necessity, such as a sofa or a tv console. Other times, they come about because you take your Christmas tree down, and the space it left behind was just too sad and empty to leave until next holiday season. To be quite honest, I’d never paid too much attention to what now seems like massive real estate in the corner of our living room. Mostly because we use the space to climb in and out of the window to hang out on the fire escape—an easy task for me, not so easy for 6’2” Chris. Anyways, to fill the area, we got this bookshelf back in January, and I have just now finished adding all the right touches. Here, I’m sharing what’s on my shelves, plus more inspiration for decorating your own.

The Finished Product:

My favorite thing on our shelves are the pug statues with gold collars from Consort Design, but sadly they are sold out. This site is my latest design obsession, so check it out for more amazing decor pieces—like my peace hand statue and this book with Elvis on the cover. Gotta keep the Tennessee roots in the apartment somehow!

I also love this terrarium from World Market and fully intended to get succulents to fill it, until I dumped my match collection in as a placeholder. I actually love the outcome, because of the personal touch it gives the shelves. We love to pick up matches anytime we travel or in restaurants in New York, so each one has a special memory of the time spent there.

The Bookshelf Essentials:

art: Kevin Russ, Wigwam Motel / Andrea Pramuk, Blueline IV / Twiggy / Jeff Seltzer, Fun Slide

objects: Peace Hand / Jar / Glass Figurine / Terrarium / Bookends / Lips Vase

books: YSL / Metallic Hide Books / Original Man

My Bookshelf Inspiration:

I’m obsessed with everything about this room—the rug, the light, the coffee table, the chairs—but the contrasting bookshelf brings the perfect balance to the whole situation.