u/strawberrielipstick

I just moved into a new apartment and have this little nook in the living room that I don’t quite know how to style. I’d love to use it for my books (all those boxes plus two big stacks so, a lot!) but I feel like a regular bookshelf would look awkward there because the ceiling is so high. I wanted to do floating shelves on the wall, but the studs aren’t in the right spot for that. The rest of my decor (ignore the fireplace, it’s going) is midcentury maximalist — warm colors, wood, etc.

Any and all ideas are welcome! The space measures 32 inches wide and 9 feet tall.

I bought this coffee table (the lighter one) off Facebook marketplace because I love the midcentury modern style and it was about $200 less than the other darker wood ones I’d been seeing (like the picture on the right). I figured I could stain it to be more warm toned and a little darker, but I’ve never done a project like this before.

From what I’ve researched I know I need to sand to remove the finish, then stain, then seal. What products are the best to use for those steps? I don’t have access to a sander so I’ll have to do it by hand. Any tips are much appreciated!