12 Spaces That Prove There’s Always Room for Books
Be inspired by the bookworms on Houzz who have won the book storage war
Bryna Howes
July 26, 2015
Houzz Contributor based in Sydney. Fashion- and lifestyle-obsessed freelance writer with a laptop jam-packed with home and decor ideas for next home update,
Houzz Contributor based in Sydney. Fashion- and lifestyle-obsessed freelance writer... More
While we may not collect books at the same rate as we used to (thanks to the little wonder that is the e-reader), there is something magical about a shelf filled with books. It’s another place that allows you to show off your personality and add character to a room. So toss out your preconceived ideas of how and where to keep your books and try one of these fun bookshelf organization ideas instead. With the right touch, your shelf needn’t be just a shelf.
1. Above a desk. If space is tight and you’ve repurposed an alcove for your home office, go all the way. Add shelving above the desk to reach up to the ceiling — that’s what ladders are for — and fill it with your latest editions.
2. Around an entryway. If you have space to spare around a large entryway, a built-in shelving system at the edges may be just the thing to give it purpose.
3. In the bedroom. Fill your dreams with tales from far away with a custom unit filled with books. This wall unit is painted in a fantastical shade of cherry and is complete with shadow boxes for stashing treasures.
4. In the hallway. If there is one space in your house almost guaranteed to have an open wall, it’s your hallway. Before you get too excited, however, take note: Hallways can be slim and dark. That’s why this example is so inspiring. The shelves are built into the wall, so they don’t jut out and get in the way. Moreover, there is plenty of lighting, effectively turning this corridor into a comfortable library.
5. Ready for the big reveal. A sliding barn door provides a sliver of hope for the future of books.
6. In the closet. Finding room for all your possessions can be tricky when you live in a small space. But don’t despair; use storage space that has been allocated to other items, such as your clothes. Here, a closet does double duty as a bookshelf.
7. Under the stairs. This under-the-stairs work area makes use of every nook and cranny. Notice how the bookshelf sits behind the stairs? It naturally divides the shelf, so the bottom-right side can be used for notebooks, scrapbooks and reference books, while the top-left side can be used for fiction and fun books.
8. In the kitchen island. Naturally, a kitchen-based shelf would work as a great storage space for cookbooks and food magazines, but if you have room for more, use it. Here, convenient cubbies exist in the bulk of a kitchen island.
9. In every corner. Generally when we think of bookshelves, we think of a horizontal shelf that runs across the length of a space and then stops. This wraparound shelf is a really fun way to buy yourself some extra storage and create an eye-catching look all at once.
10. Under the table. When it comes to coffee tables, many of us dream of having a gorgeous tableau of vases, coffee table tomes and candles. But then real life sets in, and our decorative items make way for remote controls and other clutter. One solution is to invest in a layered coffee table (or two) and create your ideal book stack on the bottom level, while leaving the top level free for everything else.
11. In a hidden space. Here’s a creative solution for those who don’t want to create an entire wall of shelving. As you can see, mini shelves run along the top of the wall here, creating an out-of-the-way but easy-to-access storage space (especially with the ladder). It’s also a great way to add interest to the upper third of your room if you live in a home with high ceilings.
12. Under the seat. Window seats or bench seats are a storage dream, but typically the seat lifts up, almost like a trunk lid, to reveal the storage. In this room the storage is accessible from the front of the bench, which makes the bench extra versatile.
Tell us: Where have books found a place in your home? Share your tips and pictures in the Comments.
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Tell us: Where have books found a place in your home? Share your tips and pictures in the Comments.
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My house has a GREAT spot for built-ins (at the sides of a Georgian window in the dining room, with an area they can continue along an adjacent wall. We've just put it off because we thought we'd sell our house, but honestly, I think the last thing it would do is harm the value. Thinking about doing this and getting rid of the boring plain bookcases in the study, instead of buying more bookcases.
One of the best things about personal libraries is that they reveal so much about their owner and what their priorities in life are, the actual storage is somewhat immaterial to that as long as organised and tidy. I organised my books by colour to sell my last house, but getting them back to proper friendly access took me much, much, longer upon moving into my new home. I would never do it again!
in my first (small!!!) house, I "built" a side table between arm chairs, entirely out of books, after running out of shelve space