just spotted the lone block underneath the dining room table (:

Bookshelf Styling with Kids in Mind

I love the look of bookshelves!  Even if they don’t house too many books currently.  I’m so glad we bought these bookshelves to frame our living room.  It only took a year since we moved in to buy one, and then another year to purchase the next one.  But we did it!  Styling it has been a little intimidating with children.  Here’s what I’ve learned in the time I’ve been attempting to style my shelves.

1.  Secure it to the wall with an anchor.  They haven’t (yet!) tried to climb it, but I’m not holding my breath.
2. Wes can’t reach the third shelf, so I really only have to think about filling the first two with toddler friendly things.  So nice stuff/breakable things up top … soft and unbreakable things down on the bottom.
3. Fill pretty belly baskets with toys, store blankets, and their cutest books.
4. Use plastic instead of glass in your frames that little hands can reach.  All of the ones I’ve purchased from Minted have plastic.
5. I store our remotes up high, so we know where it is most of the time.  Wesley is obsessed with remotes and if left where he could reach he’d find a mystery place to stash it.

As for the other shelves… Clearly there’s a theme there! (: I love Ginger Jars, blue, and Chinoserie.  My mother has quite the collection and I’m working on my own.  Nearly all of the items, except the frames, have been picked up from thrift stores.  I haven’t purchased a single ginger jar for more than $10, yet.  The low price also ensures that if my child or one of their friends were to break one, it definitely wouldn’t break my heart.  I always say that if a kid can come in my house and find something to break, I’m amazed my kids didn’t do it first.  Never upset.  Things are just things.  I also have a couple of my ginger jars filled with plants or succulents.  The little brass cranes and the sailboat are also from the thrift store.  I love the nod to Florida with those.

And here’s a novel idea (; — you could just fill the whole thing with books!  Which are definitely kid friendly! (:

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