Whether you have an extensive collection of books or just a few valuable titles, bookshelves are the perfect way to keep your selections organized in an organized and easily accessible way. The best book shelves also match your style and provide ample storage space for your books.
Choosing the best shelves is not always an easy task; there are many options on the market, which can make it challenging to find the product that best meets your needs. The following quality options will aid you in your quest to find the best shelving for your home library.
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Best Bookshelves – Buying Guide
The most important factors that you should check for before buying a bookshelf for your home are as follows:
1. Size:
The size of the bookshelf is one of the first and most important factors that you must consider. To decide the size, you will first have to check that how much space is available in the room where you are planning to install the bookshelf.
If there is a lot of open space, you can buy a wide bookshelf that is several feet wide.
However, if there is not enough space but you have many books, you should look for a longer shelf rather than going for a wide bookshelf.
But if you don’t have many books, you can buy one or more small bookcases. Hence, you should measure the space available in your place and then select the size.
Apart from this, another pointer that you must consider is whether there are children at your home or not? If yes, do you want to give access to the bookshelf to the kids? If the answer is yes, you can buy a shorter option for the bookshelf.
However, if you don’t want to give access to the kids, you can buy a taller bookshelf where you can even keep fragile items on the shelf. Make sure that you mount the bookshelf on the wall though.
2. Depth:
Most of the bookshelves are about 12 inches deep so that there is more space for storage. However, there are a few models of bookcases like leaning style or ladder style bookshelves that feature narrow shelves. Think of what type of books (thick or thin) are you going to store in the bookshelf and then buy accordingly.
3. Material:
Bookcases are made using different types of materials. Some of the most commonly used materials are as follows:
- Wood:
Wooden bookshelves feature a solid, durable, and long-lasting frame. They offer a traditional look to the interior of your house. Wood is considered as an ideal and standard material used to make a bookshelf. They can withstand a good amount of weight too.
- MDF or Particle Board:
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, you can check for a bookshelf that is made using MDF (medium-density fiberboard) or particle board. These bookshelves look like ones made using real wood and are available at an affordable price.
However, particle board is not very sturdy. Thus, before loading up the shelf with books, you must consider weight restrictions as well.
- Metal:
Bookshelves made using metal offer sturdy storage option and are less bulky when compared to the shelves made using wood or particle board. Thus, if you prefer having a streamlined or contemporary style bookshelf at your home, you can buy metal bookshelves.
You will find many lightweight designs with different shape options in metal shelves. These designs go very well with the interior of your house. Some bookcases with metal frames use marble or wood shelving. These types of bookshelves are perfect to be used in offices.
- Laminate:
Laminate bookshelves look like any other laminate furniture set. There is a protective layer that is either vinyl-based or plastic-based. Due to its modern design, the structure and the shelves look neat and fresh. You can get these shelves in any color and they are resistant to spills and dings as well.
- Glass:
Bookshelves with glass frames are usually available with a metallic support structure that connects multiple pieces of glass. There are some bookshelves that are constructed completely using glass. However, they are rarely available.
4. Design:
Before going to shop for a bookshelf, you can think of a design that will look good in your house. Choosing the appropriate design will help you in narrowing down your choices to a great extent. This will also help you in focusing on the style or material that you should check for.
Bookshelves are available in the following designs:
- Cube:
In cube-shaped bookshelves, you will find cubic spaces where you can either store your books or other belongings. The frames are either in square shape or rectangle to make a symmetrical array of cubes.
If you are looking forward to buying a modern bookshelf, you can buy a casual cube-style bookshelf that can be expanded in either height or width.
- Standard:
Bookshelves available in standard designs are usually large and are available as a single piece of furniture with multiple horizontal shelves, support walls, and a backing wall. These bookshelves are often rectangular-shaped and tall. However, this might not be the case always. The commonly used construction material to make standard bookcases is wood. You might find them in other materials too.
If you are looking to buy a basic bookshelf, you can go ahead with a standard bookcase. You can keep rectangle-shaped hardcover books on these shelves that are around 10 inches deep.
- Modular or Built-in:
Modular bookshelves usually come in sets of 2, or more shelves. These shelves can either be interlocked or they can even rest against each other. You can arrange them in a design of your choice. They are often available in cube-based structures and are designed in a way to meet all your requirements.
- Ladder and Leaning Bookshelves:
Leaning and ladder bookshelves offer the users a great solution to manage and optimize the space at your office or home.
Leaning bookshelves feature a special design and are dependent upon balancing against the wall. The overall frame of these bookshelves has a tilted look whereas the shelves remain horizontal when you are placing the frame against the wall at an appropriate angle.
There are some “stepped” shelves too. The size of these shelves decreases gradually as you move up.
- Corner:
Corner bookshelves are great to be used in smaller rooms, apartments, or for those who don’t have much space to keep the bookshelf. These types of bookshelves are made at the right angle with an ideal shape so that they can be wedged in tight nooks.
Corner bookshelves tend to hold a lesser number of books when compared to a standard bookcase. However, it is ideal for keeping picture albums, scrapbooks, or storybooks.
- Barrister:
As the name suggests, the barrister bookcases were initially designed to help lawyers in storing and moving the extensive collection of law books. These types of bookshelves have doors with smoked glass so that the books remain in place even when you are moving the entire bookshelf.
These bookshelves look formal and have either solid or flip-up glass doors. If you prefer buying furniture that looks traditional or vintage, you can buy a barrister bookcase. It is even suitable for those who have a lot of professional space available.
- Etagere:
The etagere bookshelf looks delicate when compared to a standard bookshelf. It has an open back and the shelves are usually made using glass. The standard bookshelves offer functionality whereas the etagere bookcase is more about form.
- Scaffold:
The scaffold bookshelves are named after the way they look. The shelving in these bookcases is often suspended between two ladder-like supports.
5. Style:
Talking about the style, there are various options for bookshelves available in the market. The most common styles are as follows:
- Traditional:
Traditional bookshelves feature a solid appearance and feature artful detail. These were available in the era of ancient kings and queens.
Most of them feature carved wood details and ornamental work or accent to give them a vintage look.
- Modern:
The modern bookshelves belong to the era of the mid-20th century. They often feature a minimalistic design, but they catch your attention quickly.
Modern bookshelves are usually asymmetrical and don’t have back support.
- Contemporary:
One of the most amazing features of contemporary bookshelves is there is no specific theory or look behind its design.
Bookshelves in contemporary design often go well with the interior of your house and available in various shapes. Most of them feature a progressive tone such as a ladder-type design.
- Rustic:
Rustic bookshelves feature an appearance that looks similar to a cottage or a pastoral. These shelves are often made using natural wood. They are broad and have a simple shape and design.
Even though they look a bit rugged, there is something beautiful about these shelves.
- Coastal:
Coastal bookshelves are rare styled. They look like furniture made using bamboo. Coastal bookshelves feature a natural yet rustic look.
You can get a nice and calm feel after seeing these types of bookshelves.
- Industrial:
The industry-styled bookshelves look very fascinating too. They usually feature a bold, strong, and a metallic construction and sometimes wood.
6. Adjustable Shelves:
Many manufacturers make bookshelves where you can do a little bit of customizations. Hence, there are a few adjustable shelves too.
These adjustable shelves are very useful if you want to keep large books or large objects in the bookshelf. You can simply remove the shelf and keep the book accordingly.
Note:
If the shelves in the bookcase are fixed, measure the space that you require to keep the book beforehand. Adjustable shelves give you flexibility and you can adjust the height of the shelves any time.
7. On-Display or Hidden Away:
You can buy a bookshelf with doors and drawers so that there is no unwanted clutter visible to anyone. Bookshelves that have doors are also called as bookshelf cabinets. They provide security and keep the books safe and dust-free.
Many users prefer buying display bookcases as they not only store the books/items but are easily available on display too. If you have special pictures, mementos, or other artworks, you can keep them in the display bookshelf.
The best part about open bookshelves is they can be accessed from both front as well as back. If you have a big and spacious living room, you can buy an open bookcase and even use it as a room divider. You will have to place it perpendicular to a wall. Check the depth of the shelves and then you can store the books in a way that the spines face out from both sides.
8. Finish and Style:
A piece of furniture that looks good at one corner of your house might not look that great on the other corner. Hence, check the style and the finish of the bookshelf properly and see if it will look good at the place where you are planning to place it.
Styling of the bookshelf matters a lot too. Sometimes, in a modern-style room, rustic bookcase suits perfectly well.
9. Wheels:
If you are thinking to use the bookshelf as a room divider or if you are more like to redecorate the room frequently, you can buy a bookshelf with wheels. This will make it easier to move the bookshelf from one room to the other.
What are the Different Kinds of Bookshelves Available on the Market?
Taking the size and design of a bookshelf into consideration, the best bookshelves in India have been categorized into the following types:
Corner Bookshelves
These bookshelves go with those minor apartments, rooms, and for the people who are trying to save some space in their shelter. In a single lunge, they appear amazing by producing a smooth flow above the curves within your home design and reallocate working space to unheeded regions.
Ladder & Leaning Bookshelves
The Ladder-type bookshelves as well as those leaning bookshelves provide you with a method to elevate space whilst augmenting the overall décor of your home or office. Their leaning or ladder designs is idyllic in studio apartments or the study rooms, where a safety deposit may dishearten occupants from attaching something to the walls of the room.
Wall-mounted Bookshelves
These are the bookshelves which are outstanding for the people who don’t possess an abundance of floor space and are confused about what they can do with the walls. The ultimate wall-mounted bookshelves are going to be about eye-level and equally as fascinating as a suitably placed artwork piece.
Tower Bookshelves
The bookshelves having a tower design split the space in slanting and hefty rooms having an attractive, lean height. They lure sight lines ascending in the rooms having tall ceilings and are outstanding contrast sections in the rooms subjugated by straight lines. The tower bookshelves might further frame additional noteworthy piece of furniture, such as a lounger, an entertainment center, and sofa or, within intention, a fireplace.
Tips for Your Bookshelf
In case the books comprise of anything that you might desire to retain for generations, you must provide it with the proper care. Initially, watch out for moisture, mildew, and sunshine exposure for your books. Next, in case you want to take some additional measure, think through bookcases having gliding glass or hinged doors. To finish, if you are going to be assigning large books on the top of the bookshelf, bookends are an outright necessity. Not just do artistic bookends appear striking in your house; they are nice gifts as well.
While you’re determining how to beautify your bookshelves, begin with what you possess. The books are a nice place to begin with. Arrange them in whichever way you desire: by topic matter, by shade, by mass or by writer. Organize a few books facing outwards and brace them with attractive accent fragments, similar to an Audubon text having a bird statuette positioned ahead it. The elevated, frivolous shelves are going to strain when subjected to hefty loads. Similarly, small, strong shelf sets are going to look stroppy if covered in petite decor. Like every time, have faith in your personal taste, style, and decision when you consider purchasing the correct piece for your office or house.
Conclusion
A book shelf is a unique furniture that is used for style and storage. If you are a book-lover, then having a bookshelf that will stack your collectives is a must have.
We understand this emotion way too well, which is why have ensured to put up the best bookshelves that can be availed at cheaper cost in our list.
Our personal favorite is Kurtzy, for its contemporary design, superior quality and also more number of shelves, that makes it a utility cum decorative storage unit.
But, if you think otherwise then we will be very happy to know the reason. So, do share your comments and help other buyers too.
Also, if you have already been using any of these bookshelves, then share your experience too.
Stay Intelligent, Keep Reading!
FAQs About Bookshelves
After reading through this guide, you may still have a few questions about selecting the best bookshelves for your home library. Take a few minutes to read through the frequently asked questions and their corresponding answers below.
Q. How do I maximize bookshelf space?
Ideas for maximizing bookshelf space include layering your books, adding a shelf to an existing bookshelf, and even stacking books in a decorative fashion on top of your bookshelf.
Q. How do I make a bookshelf less cluttered?
Try changing up the way you stack books on a bookshelf to make it less cluttered. For example, stand books vertically on part of each shelf, while stacking books in a neat horizontal pile with the spines out on another section of the shelf. Leaving some empty space and adding several decorative items, such as plates, figurines, and vases, can also prevent a bookshelf from looking too cluttered.
Q. How should I organize books?
So many different options exist for organizing your books. Start by thinking about whether function or style is most important to you, and then choose an organization method that fits your preference. Some possible options include organizing your books by author or genre, sorting them by color, displaying them alphabetically by title or author, or arranging them by size. Once you decide how to organize your books, it will be easier to purchase the best bookshelf for your library.
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