Only on bookshelves will you find the vast wisdom of humanity stored into paper, right at your fingertips, as well as the joy of a kid walking into a candy store, looking for a book that you can curl up with and lose yourself in. Books, after all, play a very crucial role in the lives of everyone as the storehouse of information, knowledge, and intelligence. Every book has an important, distinctive role to play, and define our personality. While ‘Astrophysics for People in a Hurry’ summarizes the history and workings of the universe in a digestible form for a space and science enthusiast, Dante’s ‘The Divine Comedy’ can inspire the inner poet in you. Similar to unique books, every book shelf design for home also tells a different story.
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If you are a bookworm with the habit of hoarding books every time you visit a bookstore, more from a logistical standpoint, having a clever bookshelf design means saving a lot of space in your home, organizing your books, as well as adding to the beauty of the house. So, if you are planning to organize your pile of novels and inspiring autobiographies in a remodelled home library, or even create a new one for them, we have rounded up a list of the best bookshelf designs for home. Before we list them out, however, let us go over why book rack designs are making a comeback this year, and which things you must keep in mind before purchasing a bookshelf.
Why Beautiful Bookshelf Designs Are Making a Comeback
The story of bookshelves designs over the turn of the new millennium seemed like its epilogue was being written in history books. When the digital age took an overpowering turn, the death of the physical book was considered to be an inevitability. That story sprouted a new sequel.
Jump to the COVID-19 pandemic and work-from-home video conferencing calls, beautiful bookcases became a prime highlight as a background for most of us. In self-isolation, most of us have discovered the value of a hardbound thriller fiction at home. Most television shows revealed exquisite bookshelves in the backdrop of news pundits and celebrities. From coffee-table books, rare edition volumes of tomes, to vast collection of fairy tales, vintage comic books and more, lined up on trendy modern bookshelf designs to represent our personality and who we are in our humble abode – readers, writers, designers, collectors and all.
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And why not celebrate our bookshelf design on the wall, under the stairs, or even one in the corner of a cosy room? Bookshelves not only add to the beauty of the house, but nowadays, they are a vital part of interior decoration and home library interior design. They are available in multipurpose sizes and styles and cultivate the habit of reading among family members.
That said, it is important for us to make some important considerations before purchasing a bookshelf.
Now that you have settled on these four factors to consider, let us look at some of the more creative and modern bookshelf designs for home to take inspiration from:
1. Stack ‘Em Up Straight!
Sometimes, the best plan is the simplest one. This is why most modern book rack designs incorporate straight and patterned shelves that look like library rack designs. If you want to create an in-built bookshelf design on the wall, stacking up books in compartmentalized straight shelves can make for an elegant yet simple wall bookshelf design. All you need is a sturdy flat surface for the books to be kept on. What’s more, this type of bookshelf design goes very well with any of your rooms in the house, be it creating a statement with an array of shelves surrounding a TV unit in your living room, creating closed bookshelf designs using glass in your study/workroom, or creating a floating book shelf design on wall or a hanging design just above your bed. If you have your dimension and space in mind, creating a bespoke straight bookshelf will not take much time with the help of your local contractor.
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2. Make It Part of Your Bedroom Décor
A bedroom library with quirky bedroom bookshelf designs can help make a statement about your personality and aspirations, all the while being intimate. For people who like to curl up in their blanket with a nice book, a cosy bedroom library can be a fun notion. Aside from having the advantage of simply reaching out to grab your favourite book without much effort, you also get to keep your bed uncluttered. Moreover, given that a bookshelf can be a representation of your life’s achievements, personal development goals, aspirations etc, you can make a real statement about who you are with a bookshelf design for your bedroom. Building a cabinet like the one in the picture, for example, is easy with the help of a local contractor and even possible with several DIY options in the market. It is best to avoid stacking more than one row of the bookshelf above the bed in case they fall right on top of you, and rather place them on the side or along the walls of the bedroom.
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3. A Curious Staircase of Books
For a pathway that makes most of us work running up and down, why not put your staircase to work for a change? From modular, to racked, to covered formats, you are sure to find some hidden storage to build a range of creative bookshelf designs for small rooms in your home. You store books under the steps from the top to the bottom. You can create straight shelves at the intervals of the staircase, you can even store them along the walls of the railing! You are sure to never run out of unique bookshelf designs. Not only are these clever ways to make use of underutilized space we can find anywhere especially along the stairs, with so many books easily accessible, but you might also end up reading one right on the stairs!
4. Go For Any Angle!
If you prefer the statement of creating something unexpected, try to keep your bookshelves at non-traditional angles, and see experience the difference it makes. As one of the latest bookshelf design concepts out there, you are sure to create stunning, out-of-the-box looks with angular bookshelf designs for the living room. The best part about such built-in angular designs is that they can fit anywhere in the house in all shapes and sizes. Even in small spaces, an angular-shaped bookcase is sure to be the highlight of the wall or even the room. The sky is literally the limit on how whacky or large or small you would like your bookshelf to be!
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5. Bear Books from the Tree of Knowledge
If you are looking for a trending bookshelf design on the wall, look no further than this modern wall book rack design, i.e., the ‘tree of knowledge or the ‘wisdom tree’. As the name suggests, you can both build a bespoke bookshelf design for study rooms, or even simply order a DIY one online. The branch-like angular shelves give you the freedom to place both open, free, face downor standing – as you please! And don’t think that the one in the image above is the only option you have, as you can find several variations of this concept, including closed shelves, and straight shelved ones in the market.
6. Try Open Shelving for a Modern Look
Rounding back to simple bookshelf design ideas for a minute, you must definitely consider an open shelf design for your books. Available in both l shaped bookshelf designs and angular ones, open shelves, as opposed to covered book rack design for study room, give you unprecedented access as nothing is out of view. Not only can you display your decorative pieces, but such bookshelf ideas also use less material while creating an equally sturdy space for your collection. If you are feeling experimentative, you can even go for a bookshelf with a glass door design for some parts that you would want as drawers or cabinets. Again, the sky is the limit. So go ahead. Add a coffee bar along with your set of Harry Potter novels. Wingardium Leviosa!
7. Un-Cramp A Corner
Things To Consider Before Settling on a Bookshelf Design
Everyone is usually proud to display their favourite books and décor accent pieces on beautiful bookshelf designs, but it must also be practical and useful as well. Here are some of the factors you must consider before deciding on a book rack design for your home.
Budget
Depending on the extent of the book collection you have or want to create, decide if you want to occupy a larger space with the bookshelf, or maybe fill an empty space on the wall. It is best to settle on this first, before deciding on the material of the bookshelf, as you must always buy the best quality bookshelf material for it to be worth the money in the long term.
Material
Which material you pick is important regardless of the books you may choose. Remember that if the collection is vast with a lot of hardbound books, the bookshelf must be sturdy enough to handle them. Wood and plywood in general, support a lot of weight, although you can also go for a composite material or MDF shelving on a lower budget. For more storage over larger spaces, reliability, and strength, steel book rack designs are also a worthy choice.
Size and Space
Once you know the budget and material, you must narrow down the precise size and space required for your bookshelf design. Maybe instead of an overtly large bookshelf, you want a bookshelf that isn’t too tiny, yet occupies an underutilized corner of the living room or goes as a modern bookshelf design on the wall.
Style and Functionality
You must ensure that the bookcase doesn’t look out of place in contrast to your home’s interior décor. Instead of openly displaying your books with traditional open bookshelf designs, you may choose to opt for built-in or modular bookshelf designs. Considering the aesthetics of the bookshelf, therefore, is something that is unique to every person. At the same time, you must also consider the extent of functionality you want in the bookshelf design.
Bookshelf interior design matters
Bookshelf interior design is a wonderful way to add style and organization to any room. It involves using a combination of elements such as colour, lighting, and decor to create a visually pleasing and cohesive look. This can include grouping similar items together, alternating the direction of books, incorporating other elements such as plants and frames, and experimenting with different heights and layouts. By paying attention to the overall design and incorporating personal style, a bookshelf can not only serve its functional purpose but also become a focal point in the room.
For example, hardly anything makes a cuter, cosier part of the room than a well-lit corner wooden bookshelf design. Not only is it one of the more clever, modern bookshelf designs, but a corner bookshelf design is also a great space saver in places that appear to be cramped. From tall standing corner shelves, wall designs, and foldable bookshelves designs for home, to ones with adjustable shelves, you can play around with as many variations as you want to stack up your book collection. This is especially great if you are looking for small bookshelf designs for tiny rooms. While the image above is similar to plywood bookshelf designs, you can also go for iron bookshelf designs to take the weight of additional decorative items or potted plants, e.g., your gardening books collection.
What are the best materials for building bookshelves?
When it comes to building modern bookshelf designs on wall, there are a variety of materials to choose from, each with its own unique properties and benefits. Some of the most popular materials for building bookshelves include:
- Wood: Wood is a classic choice for building bookshelves. Considered to be the best material for bookshelves since ancient times, wood is strong, durable, and easy to work with. There are a variety of types of wood to choose from, including pine, oak, and cherry, each with its own unique look and feel.
- Metal: Metal is a great option for building bookshelves if you’re looking for a modern, industrial look. It is strong, durable, and easy to clean. Some popular metal options for bookshelves include steel and aluminium.
- Glass: Glass is a great option for building bookshelves if you’re looking for a sleek, modern look. It is easy to clean and maintain, and it can make a small space feel larger.
- Plastic: Plastic is a great option for building bookshelves if you’re looking for a lightweight, budget-friendly option. It is easy to work with, and it comes in a variety of colours and styles.
- MDF: MDF is a great option for building bookshelves if you’re looking for a cost-effective option. MDF is made from wood fibres that are compressed and bonded together with resin. It is easy to work with and can be painted or stained to match any decor.
Ultimately, the best material for building bookshelves will depend on your personal preferences, budget, and the look and feel you’re trying to achieve.
What are some battle-tested tips to style up your bookshelf like a pro?
- Group similar items together: Group similar items together, such as books of the same colour, size or genre. This creates a visually pleasing and cohesive look.
- Alternate the direction of the books: Alternate the direction of the books, so some are facing forward and others are facing backward. This adds visual interest and depth to the bookshelf.
- Incorporate other elements: Incorporate other elements such as plants, vases, and frames to add depth and interest to the bookshelf.
- Use bookends: Use bookends to keep books in place and create a more organized look.
- Add lighting: Add lighting to the bookshelf to highlight certain elements and create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
- Experiment with different heights: Experiment with different heights by stacking books or adding other items of different heights. This creates visual interest and depth.
- Vary the colours: Vary the colours of the books and other elements on the bookshelf to add visual interest.
- Leave some space: Leave some space on the bookshelf to make it look less cluttered and give it a more polished look.
- Rotate the books: Rotate the books every few months to keep the bookshelf looking fresh and new.
- Have fun: Have fun with it and don’t be afraid to experiment with different layouts and designs. The key is to create a bookshelf that is visually pleasing and reflective of your personal style. Play around with different arrangements and see what works best for you.
In summary, styling a bookshelf like a pro is all about creating a visually pleasing and cohesive look. This can be achieved by grouping similar items together, alternating the direction of books, incorporating other elements, using bookends, adding lighting, experimenting with different heights, varying colours, leaving some space, rotating books and having fun with the process. With these tips, you’ll be able to create a bookshelf that is both functional and stylish.
Custom-Fit Bookshelf Designs on Demand
The history of bookcases goes as far as the history of books. Even the oldest relics of papyrus scrolls needed special storage space for them, as sources of knowledge and wisdom should be easily accessible to all of us. As the notable American education reformer once stated, “A house without books is like a room without windows”. If we don’t get to see the outside and only see the empty walls staring back at us, we will not be able to learn anything new. Similarly, a home without the presence of books seems empty. If a book collection serves as a healing and nurturing soup for your soul, having a well-organized and stylish bookshelf design idea serves as a healer for your inner decorator. Only bookworms will understand the joy of arranging and rearranging their book collection from time to time with creative home bookshelf designs in the order of author, title, genre, and more. You need a space that can freely allow you the space to do so, all while representing your personality.
You can choose to build a revolving bookcase, a square one, a circular one, ones that are shaped in the form of a pillar, appearing out of nowhere on the wall, hanging from the roof, or even slanting at sudden, weird, angles and circles. So, if you wish your bookshelf to be designed at an affordable cost, be sure to check out NoBroker’s team of top-starred professionals. You can be assured to experience the best-in-class services.
FAQ‘s
Q1. What is a bookcase or bookshelf?
Ans. A bookcase or bookshelf is an item of furniture that helps store and organizes books, and come in varying heights, sizes, design styles, and materials.
Q2. Which materials are used for making bookshelves?
Ans. You will find the best materials for bookshelves to be wood of varying kinds, plywood, particleboard, MDF, metal and even glass.
Q3. What are the different types of bookshelf designs?
Ans. You will find a vast range of bookshelf designs including corner bookcases, angular bookcases, I-shaped bookshelves, ladder/leaning bookcases, covered bookcases, cabinet bookshelves and many more.
Q4. What are the things to consider before deciding on a bookshelf design?
Ans. It is best to consider the budget for the material, the size of the bookshelf, the space needed for the bookshelf, as well as the style suitable for your home’s interior décor.
Q5. What is a modular bookshelf?
Ans. Modular bookshelves are designed to be very flexible in their DIY construction. For example, using a pack of modular shelving items from a company, you can assemble a bookshelf that can be nailed into the wall, left to stand at the corner of the room or more.
