Every bibliophile has a desire to have a great book shelf that they can keep and of course show off their amazing collection of books.

But common looking book shelf is thing of past as new types of bookshelves have hit the market.

Interior designers are also pushing their creative borders to create amazing shelves and niches for books.

Scroll down and click through the gallery to have a look at some bespoke and unique bookcases to let your creative juices flow.

1. Wow… This is playful and so quirky at the same time.

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The dreaded season of the year, summer, has already started to sweat us out. Are your rooms make you burn even more? It could be because your house is not ready for summer yet. Confused? Let’s us help you. There are certain tips that you can follow to keep your house cool, comfy and fresh during the sweaty months. We have listed down the top ones. Read on:

Drape story:
One of the easiest things you can do is to go for drapes in fun, summer colours. Give browns, blacks and greys a miss and opt for oranges, baby pinks, sky blues, mauves and pristine whites to keep your room cool during the day. Also, choose cotton fabrics that are made of very light threads so that they don’t lock the humidity in. Darker the colour of the curtain, hotter the room would be. Remember to go for cotton only as it helps keep the humidity level in check.

White windows:
Just like you’re asked to wear white clothes during summer, dress up your windows in white too! Go for shades or mini-blinds in white so that the heat doesn’t seep through to your house. If you don’t have white shades with you, stick white chart paper or even newspaper on your windows. You can even wrap your grills in papers so that they don’t become insanely hot during the peak season. This way, you’re child-proofing the house as well.

Trees and shrubs:
Growing creepers that creep along the windows can act as the best cooling agents. They absorb heat and lock the moisture and humidity in. In fact, planting shrubs and trees along your air-conditioning unit makes the AC more efficient. It takes up less electricity when the AC is shaded by plants. You can have temporary shrubs covering the unit during this season. Another way to keep the house cool is to have lots of green plants on your terrace or veranda so you have plenty of fresh air circulation in the house.

Keeping windows and doors shut:
Yes, this is the most important tip. Not only should the doors and windows be shut tight during the day, but also the corners and spaces should be covered with green papers. Furthermore, don not switch on the lights during the day as they produce artificial heat in the room. If you wish to read or watch TV, crack open your window so you get natural light in the room. You can sit away from the source of the light in order to feel less hot.

These are the most tried and tested ways to keep your house summer cool this season. If you have any more interesting tips or ideas, do shout out to us in the comments section below!

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Don’t let your kitchen remain the dull corner of your home. It’s, after all, the corner that is full of life and fills your tummy! Whether it’s mood-food or exotic gourmet to impress your partner, the kitchen is the one-stop unit. Here’s how you can spruce it up. Read on:

Colorful accessories:
You have to pep up your kitchen with colorful salt shakers, containers and spoons and laddles. Don’t let your cutlery be a lame and boring one. You can go fro funky cups, mugs and pots too! This way, your kitchen will look bright and cheery. Who doesn’t want to cook in a cheerful place, right?

Fresh plants:
Get a potted plant for your window sill and watch your kitchen turn into a delightful place. Fresh plants add energy and positive vibe to a place. So what better than your kitchen for it, right? You can also go for elaborate money plants and creepers, if you live in a spacious place.

Fridge magnets:
One of the simplest ways to spruce up your kitchen is to rejig your fridge magnets. Put together family vacays, important event notifiers, mementos from your visits and even jokes and thought of the day! This might sound a bit outdated, but it can add a lot of glamour to your otherwise boring kitchen space.

Glass dining table:
If you have an open kitchen with a dining area, do it up in glass. Effortlessly classy, glass furniture look and feel fab. You can even go for glass that’s held by a firm plastic if you have kids at home. Decorate your table with transparent covers, mats and vases.

Statement picture frame:
Be it abstract art, picture of your favorite dish blown up to occupy your wall or even a black and white picture that you love gazing at. You can choose about just anything to make your wall a shiny board with a frame that acts as a statement piece. It will draw all the attention away from your greasy corners and piled up dishes. Trsut us!

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After a tiring day at work, bedroom is where you want to be in. But elements like bright room colours and harsh lighting can be the reasons behind your stressful life.

Huffingtonpost.com shares what all can stress you out when you are in your bedroom:

– There are too many distractions: It’s wonderful to just lie in bed at night and watch TV. But falling asleep to violent news stories or crazy reality television shows aren’t exactly what you want. Instead, ditch the television and try reading a book.

– The room colour is too bright: The colour of your bedroom should reflect your personality. But if you think the shade is too bright for sleeping or just isn’t soothing, paint the space white for a calming effect. 

– The lighting is harsh: Really strong lighting is uncomfortable no matter what room you’re in. You should have a bright lamp to help you to browse your closet, read a book or do your make-up. But you must also invest in a light that’s very dim to help create some ambience. 

– It’s just too hot: Use natural fibers, which tend to be more breathable. 

– There’s too much clutter: Bedrooms are generally cluttered with photos, jewellery, clothes and everything in between. To avoid this, try to make your bed every morning and tidy up every day. Also, make sure you have plenty of storage, so everything will have a place, instead of ending up all over the room.

IANS

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Is your living room not inviting enough? Has it lost its sheen and become a dull and boring place? Has it become the messiest place on earth? Here’s how you can spruce up your living room. Read on!

Ethnic touch:
Give your living room a bit of ethnic touch by laying out a thin mattress and rugs on the floor. It’ll offer an informal sitting arrangement that can be instantly turned intimate by lighting a couple of candles around the mattress. You can also go for ethnic sofa covers and cushions, if you’re fussy about having a formal arrangement.

Bright curtains:
The whole ‘matching your curtains with the furniture’ logic is passé. Now is the time to go for bright and peppy curtains that can clash with one or all of your furniture. Give your living room a welcoming and warm feeling by investing in orange, yellow, purple and neon green curtains!

Glass furniture:
Even if you have picked them up at a flea sale, glass furniture look classy and extravagant. Go for a glass centre table or even side tables that will look uber elegant in your living room. This also solves the confusion of which color curtains to pick as glass goes with every color.

Potted plant:
Get a tiny potted plant that can sit atop a table or a side table. It will give the room a nice, fresh and breezy vibe. Make sure to water it every day and keep trimming the excess as and when you can. Plans will also keep the air clean and fresh.

Silverware:
One of the easiest ways to make everything look classy is to put your silverware on display. It adds a touch of royalty to the whole room. You can display cutlery, statues or even heirloom plates on your mantelpiece to create a sense of drama in the living room. But you have to keep cleaning the silver every fortnight and go for regular polishing as silver reacts with air and darkens very quickly.

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Study room is that part of the house that we seldom enter. Despite most of our childhood and good part of our adulthood being spent there, we don’t really like to enter the ‘study’ room. Not voluntarily, at least. Well, all that’s going to change as we tell you certain ways to spruce up your study room. Read on!

Bright curtains:
Go all out and deck up your room in bright curtains in orange, neo green and majenta pink. If you’re a guy, you can opt for purple and neon blue. These funky shades will create a pleasant environment, making it easier for you to concentrate and study.

Funky lamps:
Invest in a funky night lamp that has pretty details like elephants, peacocks and even the rising sun. You can go for tinted lamp shades too.

Study board and marker:
Nothing looks more professional than a white study board with a marker. Make notes, draw doodles or simply write down the day’s agenda. You never know, you might just end up following all the points on the board!

Instance coffee machine:
It’s a great idea to keep a tiny instant coffee machine or a percolator in your room for those never ending nights. This way, you need to wake up the entire house when trying to make yourself a cuppa.

Lazy bean bag:
Yes, this actually works! Throw in bean bags in vibrant colours on the floor and read through your lessons while relaxing on them. The mounting pressure of ‘how am I ever going to pass’ will ebb away as you star reclining on the lazy bag.

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A Christmas tree with colourful lights and gifts can beautify just one corner of your abode. But you can also prepare your nest for the festival by keeping it clutter-free and by bringing in new furniture.

Femalefirst.co.uk shares tips on how you can spruce up and deck up your house for X’mas:

– Give an instant refresh to your living room with a new sofa. The family will spend hours here over the Christmas period, so a comfortable and inviting piece is a must.

– Soft throws and pretty cushions will add to the beauty of your sofa. Bean bags are great portable seating for younger visitors.

– Invest in coffee tables to help you with plenty of additional surface space for tea cups or champagne glasses.

– Pile newspapers, DVDs, games and toys into attractive woven baskets to keep the living room clutter-free.

– Add festive cheer with Christmas cards in your living room.

– Place candles on dining tables to bring a warm glow to your house.

IANS

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Brave the winter season by making your house look warm and cosy using fairy lights and rugs which will also set a romantic mood for you and your partner.

Following are some such suggestions from female members of exclusive dating site Secret Diamond Club, reports femalefirst.co.uk 

LED or Fairy lights: Wind some subtly sparkling lights around a bed head or make a spiral of lights and place on household objects around the house. This also gives you a pretty good excuse to dim the main lights and get him in the mood for a bit of cosy winter loving.

Seductive winter scents: It has been scientifically proven that men love the smell of both cinnamon and vanilla. There are room sprays and scented candles to cater to this. Another tip is to add sage or rosemary to a bunch of flowers to give off glorious wafts of seasonal scent.

Sheepskin underfoot: Sheepskin rugs by the bed are one of life’s small luxuries and they don’t come with a huge price tag either. Stepping out of bed and onto a cloud of soft wool is a way to create a luxury feel. 

Small baked goods and truffles: Little chocolate truffles made with whiskey are easy to make as are small cinnamon cookies, so have a few tasty treats on wintery white platters or cake stands in your living area or kitchen that you can eat.

A breakfast in bed: All men love a good feast in the morning. A great variation on a traditional big breakfast can be mini pastries heated up or mini bagels with smoked salmon and cream cheese. 

IANS

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Bring a smile on the faces of little ones by gifting them merchandise from Disney this Children’s Day, which falls on Nov 14.

Disney has introduced an assortment of products featuring characters ‘Mickey and Friends’. Here’s a list of products you can choose from: 

– Toys: Be it indoors or outdoors, there are toys for all children. Scooters, board games, puzzles, bicycle and musical instruments are some of them, available at a starting price of Rs.249.

– Apparel and accessories: Let them step out of the house in style by wearing the cartoon character-inspired scarves, footwear, sunglasses, costume jewellery and watches that can be bought at a starting price of Rs.199 and Rs.99 respectively.

– Home decor: Ceramic tableware, fans, bed linen, door mats and bathroom accessories that are available at a starting price of Rs.49 can help change the look of their rooms.

– Stationery products: Lunch boxes, water bottles, backpacks, compass boxes and sipper bottles are essentials for the kids. Give a Disney touch to the items and the starting price is Rs.49.

– Publishing: Disney Junior magazine, comic books, colouring and activity books, story books and learning aid books are the perfect way to help educate and entertain them. Minimum cost of products Rs.49.

IANS

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Jazz up the home decor this festive season by placing colourful cushions in floral and mughal-inspired prints in the living room.

Frequent purchase of furniture is not feasible, so experiment more with cushions to make a style statement. 

Choose the soft home accessory available in cotton, velvet and silk at LimeRoad.com. where brands like Aapno Rajasthan, Ambbi collections, Tungs10, Amorosa, Art Age and Brune offer cushions in prints like graphic, architectural, Mughal and floral, said a statement.

The price starts at Rs.199.

-IANS

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Empty wine, beer, whisky, vodka or any other kind of glass bottles invariably turn into water bottles.

Our guide will help you see them in a different light and create something more exciting and beautiful out of them. Read on…

Salt and pepper shakers

Out of those lovely, shapely Corona pints. You just have to drill some holes on the cap.

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Don’t throw it away and use these tricks to create something new out of it…

1. Wall art: Dismantle the chair and take out its legs, arms, backrest and seat. Paint them or leave them like that for a rustic appeal. Find a suitable wall and put up in a fashion which looks appealing.

   

2. Magazine holder: Take out the spindles, arms and set of the chair. Use the seat as the base and crate a boundary of some height with the spindles and arms. Paint if wish.

   

3. Coat hanger: Use just the back frame of the chair to create a coat rack or hanger. Nail in a few hooks and it’s done.

   

4. Towel rack: Take out the backrest and fix it on the wall to be used as a rack to hang towels.

   

5. Shelf: Turn the backrest of a chair into a shelf to be hung on the wall or kept on the floor.

   

6. Frame: Use the backrest or the seat as a photo frame.

   

7. Planter: Turn it into a chair planter and place it in your garden or veranda.  

   

8. Swing: Remove the legs and use the rest of the frame as a swing.

   

9. Bench: If you have a few similar chairs, you can use them to create a bench for your garden or veranda. Join them together and nail a single, longish wooden plank on their seats. You can further pad it up with foam and wrap a fabric around the seat.

   

10. Dog dish: Drill out enough portion from the seat of the chair to fix in a bowl and turn it into a dog dish.  

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Whenever I think of a cosy room, my mind is filled with stills of countryside homes from Ingmar Bergman’s movies. Fresh daylight entering through large glass facades and lighting up the warm corners of a soulfully setup place. But not everyone is lucky to have such an inviting countryside home and we do understand the concerns of many of you who may be struggling with space crunches, and hardly any windows and open areas in your house. That’s why, what we have here are practical and doable things which will transform your space – however big or small it may be – into a cosy haven, especially for the cooler months.

Book it up

When you surround yourself with literature, it immediately lends a warm touch to the environment. Books offer an intimate vibe and can convert any space into a place to relax and rejuvenate. They have a wonderful, quiet retreat-like character to them. Gather the best of your photography and travel books to be put up on the coffee table, or stack poetry volumes on the nightstands, or stock up all your favourite reads onto a bookshelf.

Wrap up

Winter reminds me of woollen stoles and quilts and soft blankets and rugs and knitted throws and carpets. Store stacks of them all around the house or in your room if you don’t have the entire house to yourself. Buy those ethnic cane baskets and keep everything wrapped up and handy. For a bit of visual variety, find these quilts and throws in different textures and colours.    

Add humour

There is no need to take the décor and interiors of your home too seriously. Adding a sense of humour to the setup will also lend it oodles of warmth and make the place feel more inviting. Think of incorporating whimsical touches throughout your space like storing up games pieces in glass jars and placing those quirky tins instead of pretty flower vases.

Layer it

Right from the couch to your bed, everything can seem a bit cold, but the moment you add layers of fabric and cushions, they will beckon you to lounge all day. Even if you have a large comfy sofa, add lots of super soft cushions in warm tones to make it all the more inviting. On you bed, add layers of fabric like a bed sheet, a quilt, a throw and yes, some pillows.

Warm tones

If you have been thinking of re-painting the house, look at the colour palette of warm tones of reds, browns and washed out oranges, and contrast these with shades of beige, ivory white, pastel green and dull yellow. You can also look at incorporating one of these palettes onto the walls and the other one on the furniture.

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Place idols of various gods along with temple bells and gong in your house to make the festive season more auspicious.

Luxury home furnishing store Strot has launched a Diwali gifting collection. Each piece has been chosen keeping in mind the auspiciousness of the festival of lights which defines luxury, beauty and good luck, said a statement.

– Sitting Ganesha: The idols of Lord Ganesh are available in various colours like black, golden and silver. Small white crystals have also been used for an idol in a similar position.

– Sitting Buddha: It has been carved out of solid wood with gold finish. 

– Temple Bell: It is said that the ringing of bells drives away negative energies. The metal bell can also be used for decoration purpose.

– Gong: It has a central raised area called the boss that makes the sound as a clear resonant tone. It can be placed at entrance too. 

The price starts from Rs.10,500 plus tax.

IANS

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Adorn your dining table with a dinner set inspired by nature and its beauty.

Arttd’inox, stainless steel home segment product manufacturer and retailer brand from JSL Lifestyle Limited, is offering a royal and exquisite range of dining ware called Pink Bloom. 

It consists of products like dinner plate, quarter plate, service bowl in different sizes and more.

Design motifs like flowers, leaves and buds have been used to accentuate the look of the dinner set. What adds to the beauty of the texture are the floral artworks drafted and then hand hammered on the surface. 

Rose Quartz, a semi precious stone in pink colour, has been used to highlight the knobs on the bowl lids. This lends an imperial look to the collection. 

The set is priced at Rs.41,000.

IANS

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You have probably started cleaning up your home, one room a day and throwing out all the trash and creating space for new objects. But, when you get down to making the budget for renovation and how much you can actually afford to spend, it invariably turns out that there’s little money in your kitty as compared to the kind of expenses you are looking at. We all have gone through this dilemma of deciding what to do and what to leave and that’s why, what we have here is a budget-friendly and yet impactful ways to make the home festive ready.

The Kitchen Makeover

When you walk into your kitchen and those greasy, dusty cabinets meet your eyes, it can really put you off and won’t give you enough boost to cook in a happy state of mind. At times, decoration is as much about subtraction as it is about adding new things. Look at those cabinets again and think what you can do to drastically change the look of your kitchen. We will tell you. Remove the doors from the cabinets and repaint the interiors. Display your favourite crockery and mugs and it will give your kitchen a welcoming change. Think of stark white, ivory or pastel shades for a more English look.

For the Living Room

Look at integrating your personality and life experiences into your space. Dedicate a wall to all those mementoes you have collected since your childhood. It can be a small thing like the first Hot Wheels you ever purchased.  Give your room the illusion of a bigger space by hanging the curtains from the ceiling. Move your curtain rod from the window pane to the ceiling and it will give the room a greater sense of height. Change the pillows and covers, if not the sofa or any other kind of seating. Look at super comfy pillows in large sizes and covers in bright shades of ink blue, fuchsia and ombre to give it a more festive and winter appeal. Take out those interesting hardcover books from your study table and use them as tablescapes or mantel arrangement. Add some lamps and hang your family pictures.

Redoing the Bedroom

Line the backs of boring bookcases with an interesting wall paper. Frame those doodles which you made as a kid and hang them on the walls. Take out those baubles and jewellery pieces from your cupboard and hang them on a stand, or on the wall. This will also keep them away from getting tangled. Turn a hodgepodge of assorted plates into a colourful art. Find a suitable wall in your bedroom, gather all the plates with beautiful colours or designs and hang them in a fashion. Place a rug on the floor and throw a colourful blanket on your bed to add an extra layer of colour and fabric. Add some flower vases and lamps.  

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You have been living with roommates for a while now, or, you have been sharing your room with your sibling and are missing your private space in the room. Well, we all need some amount of intimacy in our lives and especially, when we return home from a hectic day at work or college, we do feel like having some space to ourselves jus to relax or introspect. During weekends, it is always a welcoming thought to snuggle up in your own intimate corner and just lie down watching a movie on the laptop, or reading something, or talking to our beloveds. We all face a problem of space crunch, literally, and so, what we have here is a plan for you to create a cosy nook, without much spending and hard work.

Separate: The idea behind create a conversational or private nook is to separate from the rest of the atmosphere in the room. So choose a corner, preferably near a window, and close the area with a sheer curtain or beautiful, collapsible separator.

Seating: If you have large facade windows in your room then nothing like it. You can play around with the seating. If you prefer low, then throw in a nice rug, put some cushions or a beanbag or two are you are set. For a more conversational space, it is best to put two cosy chairs with a small round table in the centre. If you want it also to be your reading nook, all you need to do is make some space to keep your books – use shelves, create a storage-cum-seating where you can stock your books below and put some cushions on the surface to sit, carve out a space within the walls to keep your stuff, or hang some interesting wall cabinets to place your books. If you have a deep closet, you can convert it into a hideaway space. Take off the doors and drawers to create a bed-height seating, put in some cushions, overhead lighting and bookshelves and you are done. Options are aplenty.

Decor: It is the most important thing to keep in mind when you want the space to look personal to you. Pick up all objects which give you a sense of belonging or take you back into time with some beautiful memories associated with them, and place in your intimate corner. Collect some photographs which you have clicked, or from your childhood, or with your lover or first crush in school, or with your friends, or a mix of all these, frame them up and hang on your walls. Squeeze in a lamp or put overhead lighting to set the mood right. You can further touch up the space with cool, decorative pots, mugs, vases, clock and other knick-knacks.

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From fusion to bright colours, try different styles to make your wardrobe more interesting.

Designer and fashion entrepreneur Poonam Bajaj suggests how to look chic: 

– Try a button front shirt with rolled sleeves for a casual look.

– Go for any short western dress, but with an Indian touch like embroidery work on it.

– Wear kurtis with different kinds of bottoms like patiala salwar, churidar or even leggings.

– Bright colours are still in trend so go for green, red, yellow and more.

IANS

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