I recently added a walking pad / minimal treadmill to a workspace in Casa Griffin, so I thought I'd do a little post on it. Readers, do you have a desk treadmill or walking pad in your office? What are your thoughts on the products you've bought — and what would you recommend to others considering it?

How to Set Up a Walking Pad In Your Office

What to Look For in a Desk Treadmill or Walking Pad For Your Office

I looked through a lot of reviews and articles on which walking pad to get for your office, and… they all kind of look the same and cost the same. I zeroed in on a few specific products that I'd seen recommended here or in Facebook groups — specifically the DeerRun 3 in 1 (the one I ultimately got, currently under $300), the UREVO Under Desk Treadmill, and the Sperax walking pad — and figured I'd compare those models before expanding or concluding my search.

We intended to use the walking pad with a standing desk, so we weren't too concerned with handrails or the like. I've always hated running on treadmills so I wasn't interested in running on the walking pad at all — just a leisurely walk for me, thanks! — so the top speed didn't matter.

The two things that mattered the most to me were 1) the width of the treadmill, because I was worried about missteps, and 2) how loud the walking pad was.

(You may also want to pay attention to the weight limits on the treadmill, or the total weight of the treadmill — there was a big variation in both of those numbers. If I wanted the option to fold it up or move it around, a 70 lb. walking pad might not be as ideal as the 42 lb. option.)

The Width of the Belt on the Treadmill or Walking Pad

Of the options we looked at, most were around 15.5-17″ wide. This isn't very wide! The belt on the one we got is 43 “x 16”, and it's fine… but if I were to buy it again I'd probably look harder for a wider belt.

Note that this information isn't immediately clear from the dimensions that are the easiest to find. For example, the three models I was looking at had a range of depth from 18.4″-26.4″ — but that's the width of the entire product, not just the belt.

(By contrast, a typical running treadmill belt goes up to 22″ wide.)

How to Know How Loud Your Walking Pad Will Be

Most product descriptions discussed horsepower, but only one discussed decibels. This was something I hadn't considered before, but NO, I did not want to have a crazy loud treadmill. It would be fine if it were, but I was hoping to watch videos or take the occasional Zoom call, so having a loud whirring sound would not be ideal.

This information was also missing from a lot of products — the one we got noted that it was 60 decibels. It's definitely loud enough that I wouldn't want to use it while someone else was in the room working. I could take a call with it, but having a headset or AirPods in would be vastly preferable to using the speaker, though that's probably true whether you're on a walking pad or not.

(The one we got also had a higher horsepower than a lot of the others we looked at — 3 HP vs. 2.25 HP — which I think also usually has something to do with how loudly it's working.)

What Standing Desk to Get For Your Walking Pad

You may already have a standing desk for your walking pad, in which case you're set! We did not have one, and tossed around various makeshift ideas before deciding, eh, let's just buy something off Amazon. (Various makeshift ideas we had: Card table stacked with books! Somehow using a nearby shelf! Finding a used standing desk on Facebook Marketplace!

Our standing desk was less than $125, which was cheap enough that we could disregard the options as being more of a hassle than a cost-saving measure.

There are desks of different widths, obviously. When we looked, we were thinking that we didn't necessarily need a huge workspace, but we wanted to keep an old laptop on the desk… I had hoped for a space for a notepad or the like.

We wound up getting a desk that was 48″, which accommodates all of that (and more). The desk came in four width options, 40″ to 63″, and in four finishes, but we just got the cheapest option (Rustic Brown, 48″) because it was going into an out of the way spot.

In general, the desk is better than I had hoped — the mechanism to rise/lower it is smooth and easy, and once you get it to a height you like, you can unplug the desk, freeing up a spot on your outlet strip.

What Else to Get With Your Walking Pad and Desk

We've added an extra monitor, keyboard, and mouse to the space, all to connect to an old laptop that had lousy battery power. We also keep a notepad and pen nearby. I've seen a lot lately about how women ought to be walking with weighted vests, so I might get one of those to keep nearby. (The desk has a few handy hooks on the side, as you can see from the photo.) We also keep a phone charger and Fitbit charger nearby.

Something else to consider is whether you want a rubber pad to go underneath your walking pad — great if you're in a rickety upstairs apartment! We didn't bother with this step, and it's fine.

How to Track Steps on a Walking Pad Desk

This is a key tip if you want to track steps: You cannot wear your Fitbit or Apple Watch on your wrist and have it track steps — it only does that if you're swinging your arms. I find it tracks my steps fine if it's in my pants pocket. Another option: tucking it into a sock, or using an ankle strap like this one from B-Great.

How We Like Our Walking Pad

I really like it — it's convenient, and an easy way to get more steps in. Am I using it as much as I'd hoped? Of course not, because I'm horrible at working out (plus, the old laptop is a bit slow, so that's annoying if I'm actually trying to work while walking). My older son likes it also (and my husband hasn't tried it yet). But for the prices we paid for everything I think it's a great way to get a few more steps in.

Readers, do you have a walking pad set up in your home office or work office? What are your thoughts on the products you've bought, best practices for using it, etc.?

The post How to Add a Walking Pad To Your Office for Under $500 appeared first on Corporette.com.

Hunting for the best office chairs for women — or more specifically, the best fancy chair to buy for your office? Readers have had a ton of conversations over the years about this and I'm on the hunt myself, so I thought I'd comb through the comments to put everyone's thoughts together. Is a Herman Miller Aeron worth the money? Is the brand Steelcase better for women? Let's discuss.

To be clear: This article is for people who have decided they might want to invest in a fancy chair like Herman Miller or Steelcase but aren't sure where to look first or what the differences are.

(I had, um, no idea… For example, the main one I'd heard of was the Herman Miller Aeron, but many readers have noted that they preferred other chairs much more for fit reasons.)

If you're looking for a more affordable, comfortable office chair, we've rounded them up in the past. The chair I've had for almost 10 years is the Ikea Markus ($289) and I must say it's been comfortable, cool, and quite adjustable. A number of readers also gave shoutouts to the classic balance ball chair, like this one from Amazon.

(I should also mention the super old-school classic, the kneeling chair, like this one. I have owned two of these over the years, and while I can see how they would be amazing for posture, I've never found them comfortable enough to sit in all day.)

Readers, have you gone on a hunt for the best office chair, either for your home office or to replace the one provided by your employer? (Do you have a “fancy” chair at the office, like an Aeron, and what do you think of it?) If you have a more affordable chair that you love, what is it?

The Best Office Chairs for Women

Table of Contents

• The Best Office Chair for Women Overall: Steelcase Leap – read our thoughts / see the product
• The Best Office Chair for Short Women: Herman Miller Sayl – read our thoughts / see the product
• The Best Office Chair If You're Very Narrow: Steelcase Gesture – read our thoughts / see the product
• The Best Office Chair for People Who Fidget: Knoll by Generation – read our thoughts / see the product
• The Best Office Chair for a Splurge: Steelcase Gesture – read our thoughts / see the product
• The Best Affordable Office Chair for Women: Herman Miller Sayl – read our thoughts / see the product
• The Best Office Chair Available in a Lot of Colors: Steelcase Leap (34+) – read our thoughts / see the product

The Best Office Chair for Women Overall

Steelcase Leap

starts at $1006 at Steelcase

also at Amazon

The number-one name that kept coming up in the comments was the Steelcase Leap (followed by the Steelcase Gesture). A number of readers noted that they had bought it for their home office after comparing it to other office chairs their company provided, including Steelcase Think and Herman Miller Aeron.

People who were both short and tall seemed to like it, and a number noted how adjustable the chair was.

Like the Steelcase Gesture, the adjustable armrests was something commenters frequently called out, with one noting that you can move the entire armrest to a narrow settings vs. the more common “angling in the front of the armrest.”

One woman noted that she ordered hers from Amazon in basic black.

The Leap comes in 30+ different colors, and you can add a headrest, as well as choose different adjustable arms (4-way vs height only). The minimum dimensions for the chair are a height of 38.5″ H x 27″ W x 21.75″ D, with maximum dimensions of 43.5″ H by 27″ W by 24.75″ D. The seat depth range is 15.75″-18.75,” and the seat width is 19.25″; it has a weight limit of 400 lbs. The width between arms ranges from 12.75″-20″.

(Comparatively, the Gesture does have a wider range for width between arms: 10.25″-22.5″.)

The Best Office Chair for Petite Women

Herman Miller Sayl

starts at $735 at Design Within Reach

A lot of readers noted that the Herman Miller Aeron comes in different sizes, and that compared to the Aeron Size A, many preferred the Sayl.

One commenter noted, “If you are on the shorter side and have the budget, try the Herman Miller Sayl chair. Traditional office chairs are always too large for me and not ergonomic, even the fancy ones. This one actually fits me (5'4″), has a low profile so you basically don't even see the chair when I'm sitting in a Zoom meeting, and the white looks great in my midcentury modern home office.”

Another 5'1″ woman noted that when she went to buy a nice chair, the salesperson didn't have one on the floor for her to try, but told her to “Just come into the back office, all the women use these.”

This is also one of the best chairs under $1000. It comes in 15+ different color options and has minimum dimensions of 34.75″Hx24.5″Wx19.75″D (with maximum height of 39.25″). The seat height range is 16″-20″, the seat width is 18″, and it has a weight capacity of 350 lbs.

(Comparatively, the Herman Miller Aeron Size A ($1275) has dimensions of 38.5″Hx25.75″Wx16″D, a seat height range of 14.75″-19″, and a weight capacity of 300 lbs.)

The Best Office Chair If You're Very Narrow or Small

Steelcase Gesture

starts at $1331 at Steelcase

also at Amazon

A number of Corporette readers who described themselves as “very narrow” said they loved the Steelcase Gesture, with many raving about the adjustable armrests. Sample comments:

“I thought I wanted HM for the style factor, but I am very narrow and couldn't get one to fit my body after trying several Aerons and other styles. Instead I ended up with a Steelcase Gesture which is adjustable in just about every way and now I have armrests that actually function instead of being too far away for me to use.”

Another reader compared the Steelcase Gesture to the Steelcase Leap, noting, “The Leap arms were still just a little off for me but the Gesture is amazing. The arms felt much more substantial and customizable than the ones on the Leap. . . . The sales guy told me very small people tend to buy the Gesture, FWIW.”

Many agreed that the price is expensive, but worth it. One commenter said it was “worth every penny and I would buy another without question.” Another said it was “such a splurge but I've never regretted it.” A third one said she thought it helped with her neck and shoulder pain.

There are a number of customizations you can make to the product — many colors (30+), fabrics, frame colors — as well as adding a headrest, lumbar support, or wheels for carpet (vs. hardwood). The minimum dimensions for the chair are 39.25″ H x 22.375″ W x 21″ D, with maximum dimensions of 44.25″ H x 34.625″ W x 23.625″ D. The seat depth range is 15.75″-18.5,” and the seat width is 19.25″; it has a weight limit of 400 lbs. The width between arms ranges from 10.25″-22.5″.

The Best Office Chair for People Who Fidget

Knoll by Generation

$1331 at Design Within Reach

This one is a bit off book, because the recommendation comes from my brother, who got a Herman Miller Aeron chair but returned it because it made his back hurt. After more research, he decided to go with Knoll by Generation (a Herman Miller company), as he was swayed by reports he heard that it was more flexible and designed for people who fidget and move around a lot.

Here's the product description from Design Within Reach:

Freedom and flexibility are the guiding principles behind the creation of Knoll’s newest ergonomic seating solution, the Generation Chair (2009). Recognizing that sitting upright and facing forward is just one of the many positions people take throughout the day, the design team behind the Generation Chair created a seat that moves with you, as you move. Providing both freedom of movement and continuous support, this ergonomic office chair is a groundbreaking example of elastic design – where a product rearranges itself in response to its user. The Generation Chair is manufactured by Knoll.

The general dimensions for the chair are 44.5″H x 28.5″ W x 26″ D; it is $1331 at Design Within Reach.

Along similar lines, one reader noted that she loved the Herman Miller Embody chair for the “bounce factor.”

The Best Office Chair for a Splurge

Steelcase Gesture

starts at $1331 at Steelcase

also at Amazon

Starting at $1331, this one isn't cheap, but it's one of the names that came up time and time again. As one reader noted, “It is obscenely expensive and worth every penny. I could not be happier with it.”

Other pricy options include the Steelcase Leap (starts at $1006), the Herman Miller Aeron (starts at $1270), and the Herman Miller Embody (starts at $2270).

The Best Affordable but Fancy Office Chair for Women

Herman Miller Sayl

starts at $735 at Design Within Reach

Of the chairs mentioned repeatedly, the Sayl was the most affordable, starting at $735.

A few people did call out the Steelcase Series 1 or 2 chairs. Series 1 starts at $450, and Series 2 starts at $588.

Of course, a number of readers have noted that if you're looking for an affordable fancy office chair for women, you should check out used office furniture warehouses near you since so many companies are downsizing. Craigslist was another option that many people mentioned.

The Best Office Chair With Multiple Color Options

Steelcase Gesture

starts at $1331 at Steelcase

also at Amazon

All of these options come in a ton of colors, many with swatches available so you can carefully gauge the color and quality. Steelcase tops the list at 34+ colors (to Herman Miller's 12ish).

There are four upholstery types available, including the soft Era, the “hard-working polyester blend” Cogent, the “velvety soft” Billiart Multi, and the Elmosoft leather. You can choose anything from a light blue “sea salt” or a very Tumblr pink (“rose quartz”). There are also richer colors like a deep red “lipstick/merlot” or the brighter-than-navy “blueprint.”

Other Chair Company Names Mentioned (or Not) By Readers

• Autonomous: One reader noted that she got the ErgoPro from Autonomous and “absolutely loved it.”
• Branch: One reader noted she had gotten the Branch Daily chair and really liked it.
• Haworth: There were no recent mentions from readers (only one in 2011).
• Humanscale: Readers mentioned the Freedom, Liberty, and Cinto chairs, but only a few times.
• Knoll: not too many mentions for the chairs, but rather the desks

Affordable Ergonomic Chairs for Women

As we noted above: If you're looking for a more affordable, comfortable office chair, we've rounded them up in the past. (As I mentioned, I really like my Ikea Markus ($289).) A number of readers also gave shoutouts to the classic balance ball chair, like this one from Amazon.

Other Resources: Where to Research the Best Office Chairs for Women

The subreddit r/OfficeChairs has a ton of great information, but from what I could find there isn't a lot that was specific to women.

The post The Best Office Chairs for Women appeared first on Corporette.com.

The idea behind standing desks and “walking desks” has been around for YEARS at this point — and yet this is the first time I'm actually considering one for myself. My concern has always been that I wouldn't want it for my full-time desk — and I worried I might fall off a treadmill. Still, I've seen so many influencers who seem to adore their folding treadmill (and in small spaces!) that they use while shopping or doing light computer work, and I'm really tempted now.

This folding treadmill from Amazon is one of their best sellers, with 7000+ reviews. I like that it has a non-slip running belt, is compact and foldable (70 lbs), and has handles that you can use or not. It's marked to under $350 today.

Readers — do you swear by a standing desk or walking desk? What is your setup (and, any tips?)? Do you have this at home or at your office?

This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

Sales of note for 7.19.24

• Nordstrom – The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is now open to everybody! Here are all of our picks, and here are reader favorites.
• Ann Taylor – Semi-annual sale, extra 50% off markdowns + 20% off everything!
• Banana Republic Factory – 40-60% off everything, take an extra 20% off your purchase
• Eloquii – 50% off select styles
• Everlane – Up to 70% off
• J.Crew – End of Season Sale, extra 50% off sale styles
• J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything
• Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off
• Madewell – End of season sale, up to 70% off with code.
• M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide. (Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the biggest sitewide discount I've ever seen…)
• Rothy's – Lots of great finds in the “final few” section
• Talbots – Semi-annual red door sale, extra 40% off markdowns

The post Gift Idea: Under Desk Treadmill appeared first on Corporette.com.

A friend was saying how much she loved this lamp for her desk, and since it was only $60, I ordered it. We're really happy with it also, but there are three relatively important things to note:

1) it is HUGE — it's shown in the picture over two monitors. It's almost twice the length of the keyboard. So, note that going into it! Its all shipped in one big long box and then you have to do a bit of easy assembly (yes, screwdriver required, but not much else).

2) It clamps! I somehow failed to notice that, so it was a bit of a surprise. So this may not work if you're working with a dining room table (unless you're at the edge), nor will it work with a secretary desk, desk with a hutch, or a built in — but if you have a free-standing desk with a free edge, this is awesome.

3) Just FYI, it doesn't have any charging cables or things like that for your phone — so, note that going in if charging is something that's important to you.

We put this one above my son's desktop computer, and we're really liking it. It has a soft light over the monitor, and has five different color modes. It's excellent if you're the type of person who finds yourself sitting in a dark room lit only by the computer monitor.

It's available in black and white for $59 at Amazon. Readers, what are your favorite desk lamps or other lighting solutions for your office?

This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

Sales of note for 7.19.24

• Nordstrom – The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is now open to everybody! Here are all of our picks, and here are reader favorites.
• Ann Taylor – Semi-annual sale, extra 50% off markdowns + 20% off everything!
• Banana Republic Factory – 40-60% off everything, take an extra 20% off your purchase
• Eloquii – 50% off select styles
• Everlane – Up to 70% off
• J.Crew – End of Season Sale, extra 50% off sale styles
• J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything
• Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off
• Madewell – End of season sale, up to 70% off with code.
• M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide. (Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the biggest sitewide discount I've ever seen…)
• Rothy's – Lots of great finds in the “final few” section
• Talbots – Semi-annual red door sale, extra 40% off markdowns

The post Coffee Break: LED Desk Lamp appeared first on Corporette.com.

Here's something we haven't talked about in a while: How do you decorate your workspace, whether it's at home or at the office? (What have you learned about decorating your home office in the past year — and how do you think that will translate if/when you head back to the office?)

My home office area has a navy, white, and hot pink theme (hmmmn, wonder why), so I'm mostly on the hunt for fun hot pink accessories. (It's also the only space in Casa Griffin that I feel comfortable being thoroughly girly.) The bright pink accessories remind me not to take things TOO seriously and are also a bit of fun and color, which I feel like also helps regulate my mood a bit.

(I'm also rather, um, messy, and in addition to piles of papers I have 13 post-its taped to various monitors and surfaces… and various bottles of vitamins, multiple pairs of glasses, clipboards, etc. out…)

Things that I think are important to me in decorating my workspace:

• bright colors
• inspirational art/quotes — At the moment I just have a framed poster-size version of “just put your favorite lipstick on and deal with it,” but I'd also love a nicer version of the “creative process” meme and the creativity/canyon idea*.
• functionality — I like to know where everything is and know that it's here, so I have things like pink scissors and a pink ruler that I know must always return to my office.
• at least one styled space that feels like it's styled but also authentic — For me that's a ladder bookcase I have that has some binders on it but also important books, kid art, and various white vases and hot pink paperweights, air plants, etc. (I have another white bookcase that's also relatively neat and the various fashion books, blogging books, career books, and writing books all have their own little space.)
• other little accents that make me happy: A large faux pink orchid peeking out from behind my second monitor, a large gold starburst mirror on one wall that shows up in my Zoom calls
• ergonomics — I love my split keyboard and the little stepstool I keep beneath my desk. I think I'm due for a new chair and keep meaning to go into the comment archives to see what everyone recommends (beyond the reader favorite Steelcase Leap, of course, although I should just bite the bullet and get it after I find a place to actually sit in a model).
• separation — Because mine is a home office I want a bit of separation from the rest of our living space. It's more than just privacy while working; it's almost like I need a completely separate space where I'm allowed to feel differently than I do in other rooms (where, for example, bedroom would be refuge/sanctuary, kitchen is family-focused, etc.).

This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

{related: how to make a bookshelf look pretty}

Comparing that to the three main offices I worked in previously, I'd take these lessons forward:

• in a shared cubicle: I'd probably pick a color theme and try to have my space feel like MINE, a unified whole
• in a BigLaw office with dark wood and visitor chairs (you can see my old office here): I always distinguished between “my view” (facing the visitor's chair) and “the visitor's view” (facing my desk) and I'd definitely keep that separation, with all the fun, bright colors and inspiration in my view, and less personalized accents behind me, sort of like the styled bookshelf I'm talking about above — faux plants, paperweights, more abstract photos — and somehow leave space nearest me for my mess, such as in a drawer or something. I would also make better use of natural light if I could, maybe by having decorative mirrors on the wall opposite the window(s)…
• in a hodgepodge office where there may be sort of junky bookcases and various metal desks (sort of like my old nonprofit office): I think I'd focus on making the space feel unified, probably again with one color theme — maybe by taking a large, colorful piece (rug, framed artwork, simple-to-hang curtains) and picking one color from that. I'd probably also try to avoid using fluorescent lights above, and bring in a standing lamp or other lamp instead.

Readers, how about you — what have you learned about decorating your workspace, and what will you take with you back to the office?

(For those of you who are better at corralling clutter and mess, what are your best tips?)

Stock photo via Stencil.

* Re the creativity/canyon idea — I can't find this on the internet, although it may be expressed by Godin's book The Dip: the idea is that creative projects are like a canyon, in that you can see clearly where you want to go when you set out, but once you're in the canyon (in the middle of the project) you've lost sight of where you're going and where you came from — so you need to start out with a clear sense of the path in front of you. (I haven't read the book so I don't know where I heard the idea, but I love it!)

The post How to Decorate Your Workspace appeared first on Corporette.com.

As we all spend more time at home, I thought I'd round up some easy ways to style a bookshelf, whether you're in that “organizing/elevating” mode or if you're trying to create that perfect Zoom background and make a bookshelf look pretty. 

In the past, we've talked about how to make your office more comfortable, essential items to keep at your work desk, how to decorate your workspace, where to get cute office decor, how to improve ergonomics at the office, and how to liven up your office walls… we've also rounded up the very best office chairs for women!

We've also talked about some of our favorite weird products to keep at the office: pashminas, foldable flats, items to cool you down after a sweltering commute, and mini-fridges if your situation allows!

How I Like to Organize Books On My Bookshelf

First, some general notes on organizing your books… There are a variety of ways! The “books by color” method seems to be under attack, which, hey, you do you.

For my $.02, I like to organize my books by subject matter, then by color. So, for example, in the “puzzle bookshelf” I have (kind of like this one), I have sections for fashion books, career advice books, online business books, writing/style guides, and “things I'm proud of,” like my old magazine clips, some legal stuff I worked on (a cert petition, PLI guide, a client's book I helped defend against a defamation claim), the bound version of the GLJ when I was executive editor, Corporette mentions/interviews in magazines and books, etc., etc.

Within those books, they're organized by color, except where the height difference made more sense to put them at the end, or stacked instead of stood upright.

On some shelves elsewhere in the house, if I have a lot of books by one author then those books are all together regardless of color — but as my Kindle use goes up that's happening less and less. 

My Best Tips on How to Make a Bookshelf Look Pretty

Some suggestions…

1. Mix standing and piled books.

Some up, some down.

2. Use wittier books (or books with interesting spines) as art. 

If you've got really tall coffee table books (or, HEY, the recent books on Bad Girls Throughout History we recommended from Ann Shen!), these look great to be a featured book that's a base in the stack. You can also get plate display stands and use them to display books. 

3. Go for interesting bookends. 

I've got the obligatory agate bookends, but there are so many lovely, artistic bookends you can get these days, like some of the options below. I hate to say it, but Target, T.J.Maxx, and other discount stores are all great places to check for cute bookends for your work space.

If you're looking in thrift stores or flea markets, keep “bookend” in the back of your mind as you look at some of the varied things on the shelves. After all, if it's heavy enough and the right size, anything can be bookend.

Here are some of our latest favorite cute bookends for your work space — you can also look through all of Amazon's bestsellers here.

4. Add texture with small, interesting objects. 

I like to use a variety of things here — currently I've got glass paperweights, tiny (fake) succulents, a glass weather predictor (I actually don't pay attention to whether it works or not, but it's pretty!), a mug or two with interesting sayings or special meaning to me, pretty tea tins, or even interesting candles. Again, I hate to say it, but the Target dollar bin is great for this stuff.

Because of my job, I got a hot pink hashtag statue for about $3. I think it's supposed to light up, also, but it's up too high for me to worry about switching it on and off. 

I could even see this being a great way to “make use” of toys from your past (or, hey, present).

Here are a few ideas for tiny objects to add interest (and now I have to buy this one for myself, lol)…

5. Add art and photos. 

I don't actually like to use family photos for my bookshelves, but I've got a few framed postcards that I bought from museum exhibits, as well as some of my sons' artwork that was abstract and nice (not curling at the edges, etc.).

6. Box it up.

Whether you're using a box as a file holder, a memory keeper, a place for extra office supplies, or for other uses, there are a ton of interesting, pretty boxes you can get that also add interest to a bookshelf. (And, hey, some even work as bookends.) 

Ikea can be a good place to get these if you don't care too much about quality. I'll always be sad that Kate's Paperie is no more — that was one of my favorite spots for nice boxes to make your bookshelves look pretty!

Here are a few boxes to consider…

7. Consider fake plants. 

My rule here is that the higher the fake plant will sit on a shelf, the more fake it's allowed to look. I have one ladder-style bookshelf (similar to this one) that has a super cheap plant near the top that I bought mostly because I wanted something primarily horizontal with a particular color vibe and I didn't want to pay too much for it. (Of course I'm going to upgrade it later. Uh huh. Sure.) 

(And I just snapped a quick picture of the ladder-style bookshelf on our Instagram account, if you'd like to check it out…)

Most of my “good” artificial plants have come from spots like West Elm, Crate & Barrel, or occasionally Costco (my mother got me a nice faux orchid). I'm also a fan of the Nearly Natural brand, which you can find at a ton of stores, including Amazon, Overstock, Home Depot, Wayfair, Target, and Bed Bath & Beyond.

8. Add vases.

Whether you fill them or not, vases can add height, color, texture, visual interest, and more. Personally I prefer opaque vases, and, frankly, vases I might find a bit hard to use as actual flower vases — they're better for me as objets d'art. 

If you've got a color theme in the room — particularly a secondary theme you're trying to emphasize with small details — vases are a great way to add that little pop of color. Think teal, red, whatever. On the flip side, if you have a dark room (say, navy) a bright white vase is going to look great against the wall.

You can also do the “vase as container” idea and get a clear, wide vase and fill it with something that's pretty and shelf-stable like those vase fillers that home decor stores sell, or get creative and fill them with something colorful like candy, small toys, or even office supplies.

Some of the prettier vases I'm seeing right now…

9. Consider lighting. 

If you want to be super fancy, you can get picture lights or something like Philips Hue lightstrips. (If you want more of a boho look you can always use fairy lights inside a vase or draped artfully.) There are more and more affordable, interesting, WiFi controlled lights that are great to add to your bookcase. 

Some options I'm seeing right now…

Readers, what are your favorite ways to make a bookshelf look pretty? Am I alone in thinking that bookshelves packed with books look a little unstyled?

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