In these days of e-readers, I must confess, I still love books. There’s something wonderfully comfortable about reading a book and turning the pages one by one. So it’s only fitting that bookcases are one of my favourite pieces of furniture. Practical and playful all at once, bookcases are among the most versatile furniture in your home.

Types of Bookcases

Bookcases are available in wood, metal, plastic and combinations of all of these. There’s a huge variety of styles, themes and sizes available depending on how much space you have, how the bookcase will be used and your home décor. Many bookcases are a blend of the styles below and often incorporate doors for added storage – and we all love that!

Barrister Bookcases are stackable or fixed with separate glass doors hinged at the top of each shelf to slide up and out of the way. Traditional in appearance, these are great bookcases to hold items that need protection and have deep tall shelves to accommodate very large books.

Modular Bookcases can be used individually or in groups, in endless configurations, stacked horizontally or vertically. They are often cube units that slide or snap together to create a tall or low horizontal bookcase – great for contemporary spaces.

Ladder Bookcases look like a ladder with shelves where ladder rungs would be. With some ladder bookcases the shelves vary in size, starting larger at the bottom through to smaller at the top. This bookcase has a sleek design and works great in small spaces.

Shelf Bookcases are the most common type of bookcase. They can be open-backed or closed-backed with adjustable or non-adjustable shelves, free-standing or built into the wall. These bookcases can be 2 shelves up to 6 shelves or more and can be used alone or placed with other units. The variety is endless!

Plain bookcases can be dressed up to make a style statement. You can paint them the same colour as your walls to blend in or paint them in a contrasting colour for impact – go bright and bold. A gentle pastel may also be charming, depending on your decor. Black or white are always great choices too. Another clever option is to wallpaper the back wall of the bookcase, but then you’ll need to keep your displays less fussy, perhaps focused on solid colours.

Tip! Paint the inside back wall of your bookcase two shades darker than your room wall.

Decorating a Bookcase

It starts with books certainly, but from there, use your imagination. View each shelf as a display for your treasures and trinkets too. Vary height and size for interest. Bookcases are a great place for family photos or heirlooms as well. Add an antique piece or a tall statue – and of course – your collections. Don’t forget that bookcases can also be used for storage. If it’s on display, use pretty wicker baskets or boxes covered in fabric.

Hmmm….But Where?

Most bookcases are high and narrow in depth, offering a small footprint on your floor space. What this means is that they can fit almost anywhere in your home. The living room, family room, office, and bedrooms certainly, but what about in a hallway or on staircase landing or even in a stairwell perhaps? What about a kitchen bookcase for your recipe books? Or a tiny bookcase for the powder room with funny little books, lovely soaps, towels and a candle? Remember, built-ins give you the option to put a bookcase exactly where you want and the style and size you need.

What I like best about bookcases is that they combine function and aesthetics beautifully – providing a home for your books and an opportunity to showcase your style!

Tags: decor, Furniture