Bookshelves are a necessity in most homes, not only for the obvious, but as a catch-all for other stuff. Some people, even in this day of the Kindle, have more books than yards of shelving to contain them. For others, books may be limited to just a few, perhaps of the coffee table variety. And the stuff -- well, everything from tchotchkes to personal treasures, including heirlooms, collectibles, travel souvenirs to framed family photos -- gets a home, with a few volumes to share space, if they're lucky.

Freestanding bookcases are fairly standard issue, with only wood, stain or paint finish, molding details and thickness of shelves the distinguishing parameters. But with open shelving, design really has stepped up. As a retail category, it has grown steadily in recent years. From industrial wire looks to touches of Hollywood Regency, the choice of styles runs from sleek polished stainless steel and brass to earthy weathered woods and burnished metals.

From skinny 15-inch-wide towers to medium-sized open shelving (say, 3 feet across to) to wider (nearly 8 feet), most top out between 55 and 91 inches. But it's the way these pieces are configured that begs the question: Are these etageres or bookcases? The truth is, a little of each.

By definition, the French word, pronounced ay-ta-ZHER, means a piece of furniture or a stand with open shelves "for small ornaments," according to the American Heritage Dictionary, or "for small objects, bric-a-brac, etc.," according to Random House, which cites that it came into use around 1840. Ironically, another label for this furniture is "whatnot," which often loosely describes what people put on it: knickknacks. Then there's a relative, the baker's rack, which, of course, was strictly utilitarian in origin.

We tend to think about these examples as metal pieces, and many of today's models are, or at least they combine metal and wood. But the earliest models actually were crafted from wood, especially exotic grains or even gilt wood, in the time of Louis XV. Elaborate carvings were not unusual, nor was embellishment, such as spindles between shelves.

One of the more fanciful examples from the mid-19th century is actually English, a high Rococo Revival piece currently in the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. According to the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, not only is its silhouette over the top, with undulations and gilt wood and mother-of-pearl embellishments, all in the style of Japanese lacquer, it rests almost bizarrely on a gigantic central cabriole and a pair of substantial, turned legs.

What's popular today never approaches such excess. Most styles are modern, which not only suits the uptick in simplicity we've been seeing in in home decor, but also serves a need for more pivotal and easier to mix furnishings. Even pieces with turn-of-the century industrial inspiration are clean-lined. Some pieces even are fitted with casters, like bar carts, for easy mobility.

What we like about the open style shelves is their simple shapes. Even if they are embellished, the accenting (say, a hammered edge) is barely there. We love the architectural form of some pieces, which adds especially to boxlike rooms devoid of character. We love the honest materials from which many are made. We love them solo or ganged together, against a wall or as room dividers. And we love that they are so versatile.

Stretched out wide and upward, shelves can be off kilter, appear to be floating or even be reconfigured into mazelike cubbies. Versatility is one thing driving interest. Etageres, narrow or wide, can fit into almost any room of the house: foyer, living and dining rooms, kitchen, family room, bedroom and bath. That they're decorative and functional is a plus. In the bath, for example, they provide extra storage, and a handsome way to store towels, bath salts and soaps, as well as sponges. In an office, they can hold references and supplies as well as objets. They're chameleons that adapt and can be changed up easily to display collections that are fluid.

A love of metallic finishes in home decor is boosting interest in metal etageres. Some of the newer brass and stainless steel designs have strong mid-century to 1980s references. The iconic designer Billy Baldwin designed a set of tubular brass etageres for Cole Porter's New York City apartment in 1955, and they towered at 9 feet 4 inches. As in his own place, Baldwin placed a pair of towers and a wider version on either side of a doorway, all on one wall, to dramatic effect. The late Milo Baughman, who long designed for Thayer Coggin, and whose works are collectible, often appearing on 1st dibs, an online marketplace for design and antiques, created a series of striking, modern gleaming glass and chrome designs in the '60s and '70s, many with the kinds of staggered shelves we see today.

So admit it, you've seen plenty of wonderful images of open bookshelves and etageres in magazines and on retailer websites, where they all look so ... perfect. If you're intimidated by the idea of filling one, lest it look sloppy or not quite magazine worthy, don't fret. At least one retailer, Wisteria, actually has tackled the subject, with illustrations, on its blog.

"How to Style a Bookshelf" features three easy steps. First, gather books and accessories. "We suggest using items of varying shapes and sizes. You'll need a few round shapes, square shapes and more organic ones as well." They suggest one of their amethyst geodes, which could be used on a shelf, (on top of a book), as a decorative accessory or as a bookend. Baskets are recommended not only to add warmth and texture but also to organize.

Their second step is to arrange. "Order (decorative and functional items) by size, color or subject depending on personal preference. Be sure to mix it up by having some books standing and a few lying down -- this will break up groupings and create a visual flow. ... Juxtapose the square shapes of books with something round and add a pop of color while you're at it!"

And finally, Wisteria suggests creating height on each shelf. "Use a mix of taller and shorter items to create a dynamic movement. Glass risers are perfect for lifting up shorter items and they blend perfectly into any decor, while they add a bit of shine."

Looking at each shelf as a unit or "block" is another suggestion. In other words, consider each grouping, whether it's a stack of books, an object or an object on a stack of books; so there may be two groups on one shelf, three on the next two, two on the bottom. Strive for balance.

Of course, if you need storage, there are baskets as well as pretty boxes that handle the task with style. But don't forget the books.

Billy Baldwin had plenty of them on his own etageres -- and as pictures tell the story, they appear to have been well read, not just props. Still, hardbacks add life and warmth to a room. Said Baldwin: "The best decoration in the world is a room full of books."

Sources

-- CB2, 800-606-6252, www.cb2.com

-- Jayson Home, 800-472-1885, www.jaysonhome.com

-- Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, 800-489-4195, www.mgbwhome.com

-- Restoration Hardware, 800-910-9836, www.rh.com

-- West Elm, 888-922-4119, www.westelm.com

-- Wisteria, 800-320-9757, www.wisteria.com

(For editorial questions, please contact Universal Uclick at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

Some of us have quite the knack for holiday decorating. It's fluid, almost effortless, instinctive or precisely planned -- and, most of all, it's done early. All the better to kick back by the fire and enjoy, a glass of nutmeg-laced eggnog or wine in hand.

The rest of us need a little jump-start -- especially if we want to change things up a bit. There are plenty of ideas out there -- in magazines, catalogs, retail websites, blogs, home design shows. The downside is with the volume of information and sources, it's difficult to hone in.

But just as it is with all of home design, it's how you put things together that creates a cohesive look and personalizes spaces. The same is true with holiday decor. Follow your instincts. Just a few touches of color and sparkle can elevate the everyday to festive.

Some retailers have made it all a bit easier by grouping ornaments, garlands and even Santas and angels into themes that cover lifestyle or decor trends.

You may wonder how these holiday styles get launched. Michelle Lamb, editor of The Trend Curve, a publication that forecasts home furnishings trends internationally for designers and architects, actually covers Christmasworld, a trade show in Frankfurt, Germany, where trends are shaped much as they are for home furnishings.

What she saw echoed some current design directions, such as layering, which she says makes surfaces look unique. Also texture and dimension, which were expressed in finishes such as gesso, not only in gold but also in white. She looks for glitter to come on even stronger next year, with large-scale gemstones in napkin rings and ornaments.

And get ready for pink in all shades. It already has surfaced in brights, which line up with retro trends. Midtone pinks are making inroads, and pastels are starting to emerge. And surely you've seen a broader range of greens from lime to more olive, mossy and blue greens.

Handcrafted ornaments are being embraced, destined to be treasured, much like the crafts children make. Texture is playing a larger role, for solid design reasons. What stands out in a well-designed all-white interior? Contrasting surfaces, like shiny and matte, some dimension, and layering, which lends depth and creates contrast. Tactile surfaces are welcome, just like cuddly cashmere throws.

Some may never stray from traditional red and green, but it's pretty difficult to not be seduced by some of the cool colors out there. You probably can find ornaments and accents to go with most interiors palettes, from jewel tones to almost neon brights. If you stick with a single hue, repeat it with pillows (seasonal or not), throws and other accessories.

Metallic and other glittery accents are especially glamorous at this time of year. Gold, silver, copper and bronze accents add shine. Mercury glass looks have become staples during the holiday because of their reflective qualities. And anything that glitters or is beaded is especially enchanting with candlelight.

Besides votives, a variety of candlesticks in different shapes and materials can be effectively grouped on mantels, side tables and sideboards.

And live greens and plants lend a special quality, with boughs of balsam, pine or fir, with the added benefit of fresh scent. Paper whites, amaryllis, tulips, orchids and even hydrangeas are alternatives to traditional poinsettias, but even these can be found in colors other than red.

"I like to use a lot of natural green -- magnolia and pine, maybe some holly berries," says New York designer Bunny Williams, who did a holiday collection for Ballard. "(Real) or faux green apples look great tucked into the greenery." And she says even an everyday blue-and-white dinnerware looks beautiful on a table dressed with sparkling gold deer, shimmering hurricanes and tons of mercury glass votives.

Styling your home for the holidays may span the spare to flush, which can suit a huge range of tastes. Take a stairway, for example. A simple bow at the newel post might suffice. Or, one idea from marthastewart.com is to create a garland of current Christmas cards and hang them from the bannister. Then, too, this can be the perfect showcase for some new colorful ornaments, fastened by pretty ribbons. (Try papersource.com for a rainbow of satin and organza ribbons, available for the retailer's fashionable wrapping papers, and beautiful enough for display.)

Wreaths are perhaps the go-to decor for doors and windows, but other attractive options include sprays of greens, enhanced by ornaments and fruit. It's really the perfect DIY: purchasing a plain spray, perhaps dotted with pine cones (most super markets will sell them) and add your own colored orbs, faux or fresh fruit and coordinating ribbon, tied in a loose bow.

Mantelscapes are another obvious place to create ambience, whether or not you have stockings hanging from them. On the Crate and Barrel website, there's a tutorial on how to style a holiday mantel, which dishes three basic tips: Arrange items from high to low (the focal point can be a wreath, a mirror or wall art); group similar items together; mix materials and textures -- try different combinations of burnished metals, glazed ceramics, colored and clear glass and weathered woods. Plus, there are three different illustrated takes that cover classic, modern and casual.

While you may favor a minimal look, that can take on very different interpretations. A rustic setting may feature rough-hewn plank floors or even walls, lots of natural elements like twigs or pine cones.

On the other hand, generally lean interiors with furnishings in straight lines may welcome a bauble or three, as well as a few curves in a modern context. Sparkling ornaments add luster; try pooling a shimmery garland around bowls of ornaments and candles on a console table. Textural notes can help soften crisp edges, like tactile leaves of felt forming a snowy-white wreath or framing a tabletop tree. A bright spot on any color background, it even stands out against white because of its layered fabric and can star in either a contemporary or traditional setting.

If you have a favorite large bowl, whether it's in white porcelain, ruby glass, majolica or Blue Willow, put it to use with a special holiday accent. Spiff it up with snowy-white, gold or silvery pine cones. Or fill it with lemons or clementines. Do the same with smaller bowls, filling them with colorful candies or nuts, paying attention to shape. Aerin Lauder, whose home is featured in the November/December issue of Elle Decor, accessorizes with gold-leaf and gold crystal bowls from her Aerin collection. And she arranges deep red peonies and berry branches in vases, for rich color.

"Most of all," she told the magazine, "it's about tradition and the spirit of the season. I love to create a sense that it is a special time of year."

Just how lavish or low-key you make it is up to you. But there's no doubt that even a small effort to dress will matter, not only to you but your holiday guests.

Orlando Soria, a guest blogger for Crate and Barrel, showed off some of his own holiday decor, punctuated by turquoise on a vintage silver tree, with plenty of packages wrapped in the same scheme.

"Christmas is a great time to re-envision our homes and get excited about decor, says Soria, an interior designer who founded Hommemaker, primarily a site for men who like to make stuff, but really for anyone who enjoys home design.

Think of holiday decorating as a gift for your home, one that gives back, making it inviting for all.

Sources:

-- Ballard Designs, 800-536-7551, www.ballarddesigns.com

-- Crate and Barrel, 800-967-6696, www.crateandbarrel.com

-- Horchow, 877-944-9888, www.horchow.com

-- Neiman Marcus, 888-888-4757, www.neimanmarcus.com

-- Serena & Lily, 866-597-2742, www.serenaandlily.com

-- Wisteria, 800-320-9757, www.wisteria.com

SIDEBAR A

ORNAMENTAL DECOR

The most colorful, patterned and embellished ornaments may beg for solo status, getting free from all the others relegated to the tree. Spotlight a few by hanging them from a chandelier. Or suspend them over a doorway. Glass or translucent spheres seem to glow when the light shines through, say in a window. Or place a collection in a bowl, on a side table or sideboard. Look for wire containers -- vintage or even new ones, such as one shaped like a tree, -- to show off those holiday orbs.

SIDEBAR B

ADD DEPTH TO YOUR HOLIDAY PALETTE

Traditional holiday color schemes and materials have expanded to include many more options than ever before -- like shots of turquoise or regal purple teamed with rich gold. Plus, there's embroidery, beading, texture on textiles, such as Christmas stockings and tree skirts, that offer everything from confetti-like tufts to preppy stripes to retro color combinations and coastal symbols like starfish and coral, which can cozy up urban interiors, too.

(For editorial questions, please contact Universal Uclick at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

Traditions, memories of past celebrations, loved ones and good times all are tied to the holidays. And it's the home, particularly the table where family and friends gather, that is most evocative. It draws out the warm and fuzzy good feelings of being together, sharing a repast.

Just the thought of turkey and whichever is your favorite Thanksgiving side dish -- sweet potato casserole with marshmallows, green bean casserole, sage and bread stuffing, and of course, pumpkin or pecan pie -- make the mouth water.

The celebratory mood demands something extra special at the table. Customization has been a huge buzzword in home design the past few years. No better time to put your personal stamp on entertaining than by accentuating all those little details that make the home inviting.

No matter what your style or decor, there are plenty of ways to transcend your comfort zone, with a few key ingredients. There's not just one recipe for freshening or spicing up your tabletop decor, and you can make each holiday special by tweaking the table, starting with Thanksgiving, through Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year's.

Texture and layering especially resonate in home furnishings today, and that's certainly true on the table. Solid-colored plates and serveware take on a more artisanal dimension with relief work that adds tone-on-tone pattern that can be flowery or geometric. Embroidered or beaded textiles -- placemats and napkins -- can accentuate color and lend a dressed-up sparkle.

More simple style, less clutter also has been a design mantra. But these are days for abbondanza, or richness and abundance, so the two may be in a bit of conflict. What's perhaps more apparent, at least in multiple magazine spreads, is a mix of high and low -- shiny and matte, metallic and glittery with rough-hewn. Spotted at the October furniture market in High Point, North Carolina, for example, were burlap pillows with rhinestone decorations. This kind of disparate juxtaposition can be highly effective on the table as well.

Of course, it goes without saying that not everything has to match anymore. Bunny Williams, who recently introduced dinnerware for Ballard Designs, says: "I don't own full sets of china. I prefer to create my own uniquely mismatched service. This always results in a more interesting dinner table."

Williams' new patterns do that. One called Melange features a couple of different borders and modern leafy patterns on salad plates. All are in soft greens and apricots, really sort of perfect year-round, but especially fresh on the fall table.

Most people are drawn to the palette of the season -- particularly in the fall when leaves, gourds, pumpkins, even ornamental cabbage evoke rich oranges, reds, golden yellows and aubergines. The nature theme can be expressed on dinnerware, tablecloths, placemats and napkins, and in serving pieces.

More organic motifs and materials seem to have promoted a more relaxed approach as well. When tastemakers like Aerin Lauder show a more playful attitude, like integrating her sons' toy action figures, bowls with seashells or stones on dinner tables with beautiful heirloom pieces from her grandmother Estee, it signals a kind of blessing. She has said that the formal style of entertaining is really fun when you first get married -- "but my tastes have changed, and now I like a more casual mood."

Besides, a mix of vintage dinnerware with contemporary pieces remains a hot trend in tabletop because it creates a more modern ambience. Just adding a single element, such as an accent plate, a showstopping charger or statement serveware, with strategically placed color can make all the difference. And there's always room for a hint of sheen to reflect candlelight.

More glam looks seem especially suited to Hanukkah and Christmas. As we're seeing in home fashions, a bit of shimmer is like magic on fabrics and accessories. It can be low-key or full-out, but still elegant and tasteful. Beads, crystals, sequins or rhinestones decorating placemats, cloths and napkins can provide a gala backdrop for generic white china that will transition to a dressed-up elegance that transcends a particular style.

Metallic finishes also lend a glimmer that may be polished, burnished or matte. A love of gold has been prominent in furnishings, but silver and even copper remain personal favorites for some. One holiday table shown at Pier I Imports keeps a consistent silver theme, from beaded plate chargers to glasses decorated with silvery snowflakes to bowls with ornaments.

London-based designer Kelly Hoppen recently launched a luxury online store (www.kellyhoppen.com) that features her "simple, tactile, luxurious designs." Her signature palette of neutrals includes gray, expressed in zen stoneware, which is beautifully accented with both gold and silver accessories.

As for color, you don't really have to lock in to expected combinations like red and green for Christmas. You might take cues from your own decor. Or choose a hue that you really love and go with it as the base for neutral or patterned plates -- then bring a little bit of it into an adjacent room.

Svitlana Flom, who writes a decor blog called Art de Fete, chose a soft shade of lavender and teamed it with silver for an unconventional holiday tablescape. She called on New York floral designer Olga Gerasimenko, from Blooming Bears, to design three simple pieces that would be an easy DIY with supermarket flowers -- a pair of white globes made up of carnations set into plastic foam; a larger globe blossoming with carnations in white and shades of purple; some white mums, dotted with berry stems of silver brunia and rimmed with white rice flowers. In the living area, which is visible from the table, Flom also picked up the color and popped in some pillows and a throw in complementary hues, and even mixed in books with purple spines to tie in the scheme.

Also, think of serveware as both decorative and functional, like a soup tureen, butter dish, bowl or platter. Artistry has reached a new level, with amazingly realistic hand-painted looks -- some fresco-like, such as turkey and pheasant platters designed in house at Pottery Barn, and whimsical, almost retro looks that are highly graphic, like turkey platters at Crate and Barrel.

No matter what you choose, make it your own. And enjoy the ambience you've created, with your family and friends.

Sources

-- Ballard Designs, 800-536-7551, www.ballarddesigns.com

-- Crate and Barrel, 800-967-6696, www.crateandbarrel.com

-- Kelly Hoppen, +011 44 203 701 9833 in London, www.kellyhoppen.com

-- Kim Seybert, 212-564-7850, www.kimseybert.com; also available at www.neimanmarcus.com

-- Lenox, 800-223-4311, www.lenox.com

-- Napa Style, 866-766-6272, www.napastyle.com

-- Neiman Marcus, 888-888-4757, www.neimanmarcus.com

-- Pier I Imports, 800-245-4595, www.pier1.com

-- Pottery Barn, 888-779-5176, www.potterybarn.com

-- Wisteria, 800-320-9757, www.wisteria.com

SIDEBAR A

POWERS UP PATTERNS

Dressing the table offers plenty of options, from fully covered with a cloth, adorned with a runner (like a throw over a chair), or defining each plate with a placemat.

The choices range from simple homespun materials, like linen and burlap to cotton, velvet and even silks and brocades, to woven materials like rattan. Embellishment with pattern can be a festive accent, whether it's in printing or weaves, as with metallic threads, or embroidered with sequins, rhinestones, crystals and other beads.

Prints are especially fetching this year, more graphic and colorful, partially due to advances in digital printing. So designs can be realistic, retro or stylized.

SIDEBAR B

TABLETOP TAILORED FOR THE SEASON

There are more seasonal choices than ever for tabletop design, even among the expected turkey, pumpkin and Santa tureens.

Some highlight craftsmanship, such as a beautiful lidded butter dish from Pottery Barn, whose top is cast from a real leaf in a burnished gold finish. Others improve on printing, with decal, screened or digitally produced images that reproduce the feel and color of the originals.

(For editorial questions, please contact Universal Uclick at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)