Well I suggest function first.

What objects will be on the shelves. I would suggest that you have a lot of empty space on them, so that both guests, and DD over school breaks, have space to utilize.

Here is what I have done with our DDs rooms. Both are away at school, but return for breaks. We have no other guest room.

In DD1 room-her room has the twin bed so it is not the primary guest room. The bookshelf is full of all books, trinkets, CDs, Diplomas, etc. Neatly arranged like a library space. Baskets behind doors for CDs and smaller items. Desk has been arranged as a dressing table with silver tray of perfumes and small mirror. Dresser has TV and large mirror. Nothing else. Bedside table with storage shelf has lamp, nothing else. This gives DD enough surface area to live in the room if she is home for a few weeks, but looks tidy and calming otherwise.

In DD2s room-it has the queen bed so it is the primary guest room. In her room I have the 2 bedside tables with nothing on them. Dresser has a few photos on it. Side chair, small fan, lamp on side table. That is what you see in it now. I moved her books to baskets stored under the bed. Took out the bookcase. Dresser has a few empty drawers and the side tables each have drawers and a shelf.

So what I'm getting at is that if you want the rooms to look like guest rooms you still need to have enough storage that is empty and available for the DD when she is home.

For your space, I would check out the crate and barrel website or catalog for pictures. I would empty out all the shelves, and adjust to what you thing is a pleasing spacing for them. Then I think that having things displayed on say the top shelves and second shelves that are large, but easy to slide together to make more room would be nice. I would get some storage baskets or bins for the lower shelves for books, DVDs, and other items. And it is OK to put the ribbons and trophies in a clear bin in the closet for now. If the DD wants them out, she will get them out over fall break. If it doesn't matter to her, then you have them nicely stored away.

Think further for what a guest needs. A place to use their laptop and plug it in. A place to dry their hair. An alarm clock, a fan, a chair to put on their shoes. Some storage for luggage and a place to hang up nice clothes.

I always think that when shelving is used for display as well as books, they look best when you balance similar things across the whole unit.

If you put everything you want to use in groups on a table or the bed (all the framed photos, all the boxes, all the baskets, all the pottery and all the books, as an example), and then space all of one group across the whole unit, and then the next group, and the next, you can make a very pleasing composition of the whole.

Luckily, this room isn't DD's bedroom anymore, she's in the "old playroom" upstairs. But it's still a light green color with all of her books, trophies, silk gerber daisies, stuffed horses...you get the picture. I took out the daybed, and put in a full, and a bedside table. Julie - I like your idea about making the desk more of a dressing area. I need to look at some websites and get ideas. I'm sure if I scanned the attic, I may have enough stuff to redo the shelves. I'll probably leave some books out to fill space. The shelves on one side of the window are quite a bit longer, like 40 in., while the other side is only about 18 in. I think the longer side will be the hardest. I just sorta feel stuck in the past, and can't move forward...ever feel that way?

I don't quite understand what 'merchandising' means in this context. Are you selling something on the shelves? It doesn't sound like it, more like you are asking how to arrange the shelves. How is that merchandising--I tried googling the term but got definitions that basically say merchandising is putting goods out for display to sell.

Puzzled here,
Ann

I think calling it "merchandising" may have come from Christopher Lowell? I know I have heard him use it that way - don't know if anyone else does, but I don't like it, either.

Oops - sorry. But I hope you catch my drift. (I can ask to have it removed if it's not used correctly). I was just at a stand still with this room, and thought someone might be able to get me moving:)

Thanks for the chuckle!

LOL If I am stuck in the past it's the past where bookcases actually held only books! :D Now some people don't even have books but use them to hold decorative objects only. I do know tho, that change can be difficult so be easy on yourself as it may take awhile to think of this room as having a different purpose. If you could move your DD's belongings to her new room and use items from other rooms in your home on the bookshelves it might be easier.

I strongly advise using a fair number of books as IMO otherwise it's difficult to have a good looking set of shelves unless one has a collection of, for example, McCoy pottery. If there are too many disparate items and few books it can IMO tend to look cluttered. Also too many small items lead to a cluttered look. You can group a few related smaller items for more impact.

To answer your question about the distance between shelves - IMO that depends on the size of items in the bookcase.

Arranging items nicely on shelves is all about balance and one needs to take into consideration not only size/mass but also color and shape.

I would arrange books of like subject together for ease of finding a book. I'd place them on the shelves with the largest books on or near the bottom shelves, then smaller books further up. Some books can be stacked horizontally. This stack can be used as a riser to hold a decorative object. Fill in spaces between the books with decorative items. It's more personal if you have things that relate to your interests/hobbies. Pictures, either photos of people or framed/unframed art, can be placed on easels or leaned. Plants also give texture and life.

Play around with it for awhile and even take pictures to really see. Somehow a picture will show more how something looks than merely looking at it.

The term 'merchandising' bookshelves has become a valid decorating term whether we like it or not. :D Used all over the 'net especially on blogs.

Thanks for the advice (and a little sympathy), luckygal. The problem is, I don't think my daughter even wants these things in her room now:) I'll box them away with the other things I can't part with just yet. After looking at the shelves again, I think the hardest shelves will be the long ones, making the "stuff" not look too disjointed. I'm going to gather some items from the attic, and play with it, hopefully after work tomorrow. If it turns out respectable, I may even take a picture:) Thanks again!

Before you merchandise the shelves, think about if you like the background color...now would be a good time to change it if you want....you can use colored foam core or wrap cardboard in paper or fabric, or paint if you want...just to change it up some.

Haven't thought of that, but that's a great thought. It does have beadboard behind it, which adds texture. The bottom section over the desk has cork, which I guess I should remove (along with various items pinned on it).

Unless you wanted to tack a simple linen fabric in a pretty color over the cork (you could put flat braid around the edges) and use it to tack up pretty postcards or small prints or a welcoming quote you print out in a nice font?