Bookcases and libraries for the home, varieties with sizes

Possible designs

There are two main bookcase designs that are the most versatile.

These include:

Open

An open cabinet is very convenient, because there you can easily see and find the book you need at the moment. They speed up and simplify access to printed publications. The books located in such a pencil case are themselves a decoration of the room.

Most often, such cabinets are installed in rooms decorated in a modern style. This cabinet looks very elegant and does not clutter up the room.

Ordinary open bookcases come in the most unusual shapes and designs. Plus, you don't have to constantly open and close doors to find the book you need. Its only drawback is that printed buildings are not properly protected from the effects of temperature and moisture.

They can also be negatively affected by exposure to sunlight. Therefore, such models are most often installed in dark rooms.

Closed

Furniture for closed books provides better storage conditions for printed publications. It is necessary if you have a lot of old books and other valuable literature at home. This way, the books in the locked cabinet will be completely protected. Closed cabinets can be with a transparent glass door or solid closed from any other material.

Typically, in such cabinets they try to maintain a humidity of approximately 50% and a temperature no higher than 20°C.

Separately, some models of bookcases should be highlighted:

Angular.

It is perfect for small spaces. It will allow you to organize the space in the room in the most functional way and occupy free corners. Such a convenient and compact design will not clutter up the room and will help you save space.

In addition, in such a cabinet you can very conveniently organize a book storage system.

Mounted.

This is a model of a bookcase that is mounted on the wall. Such pieces of furniture are installed if there is little free space in the room and the owners of the house do not have many books. Such models are also available open or closed. Their design and model range are very diverse.

Arched.

This is a model that involves storing books around the doorway. Thus, the shelves will be arranged in the shape of an arch. This is a very stylish and unusual solution.

Also, according to the type of construction, all bookcases are divided into several types:

Corpus.

This is a classic traditional bookcase option. Characterized by high height and standard equipment. It allows you to make the room visually taller and more spacious and looks very impressive.

Modular.

This bookcase model is installed tightly to the wall and is one of its components. In this case, they purchase a whole set of furniture of the same design.

You can combine it with other interior items.

Rack.

This is an open type model that does not have a back wall or doors. This model perfectly performs the function of a partition and is an excellent solution for zoning. If you want to install it against a wall, then you need to secure it quite well, since the structure itself is not very stable.

Closet.

This is one of the most modern bookcase models. It has a sliding door design. This product will fit into any size room as it takes up very little space. It can even be installed in a niche. A sliding wardrobe can protect books from external influences.

Dust, dirt, and direct rays of the sun do not penetrate there.

Bookcases and their varieties

According to their façade, bookcases can be:

open: bookshelves are open cabinets for storing books;
closed: the front facade can be completely closed, which will protect books from dust.

The fronts of the cabinet in which books are stored can be opaque, completely hiding the contents behind blank wooden facades or opaque glass doors. In this case, the bookcase, if necessary, will reliably hide the temporary disorder that has arisen in it from prying eyes, which is especially convenient for the child.

And bookcases with glass allow you to see their contents, which helps to immediately determine the location of the book that needs to be found urgently.

Important! If a bookcase with glass doors is purchased for a family with small children, it would be better to make sure of the quality and strength of the glass used. An option is possible: choosing a cabinet with a combined facade, in which the glass element is used only in the upper part.

Based on your location, you can choose the most suitable cabinet from the following types:

A free-standing linear bookcase can be selected to suit any room size. These cabinets are easy to install, often reaching the ceiling in height, thereby allowing maximum use of the occupied space of the room. Moreover, open bookcases - shelving - can be placed not only along the wall. In modern interiors they are often used as a kind of partition in the room. Among the linear cabinets, you can also purchase a wall-mounted version of the cabinet;
A sliding wardrobe is a more spacious version of a bookcase. It can occupy the entire wall, or it can be built-in, conveniently fitting into an existing niche in the room;

A corner bookcase will allow you to effectively use the corner space of the room and thereby make the interior of the room more impressive. A corner bookcase allows you to maintain the impression of sufficient free space in the room and at the same time will be convenient in its capacity.
a modular closet consists of several sections that can be arranged in different ways, literally designing the arrangement. The components of a modular bookcase allow you to use different elements of the room: for example, around a TV, a window or a doorway.

Material

Types of materials used in the production of bookshelves:

Wooden. Models made from natural wood or boards are a classic solution that always has a very beautiful and authentic appearance. Wood combines well with glass or metal and is suitable for making carved shelves or racks with any configuration.
Metal. Iron models are distinguished by high strength qualities and durability. Sometimes metal is used only to create a frame to which shelves made of any other materials are attached.
Plastic. Quite a popular option, which is distinguished by its neat execution, extreme lightness and inexpensive cost.
Chipboard/chipboard. Such shelves have excellent performance, have a wide variety of colors and shapes, and are also characterized by a very affordable price.
Drywall. Racks and shelves made of plasterboard fit organically into a wide variety of interior spaces, are quite durable and provide the ability to equip lighting.

Book shelf colors

The classic solution is considered to be designs in a dark wenge shade. They look very expensive and give the space a certain luxury.

For a more formal design, they prefer black, white, gray bookshelves or black and white models that simultaneously combine two contrasting colors that fill the decor with the spirit of modernity.

Location

For a more rational use of free space in the room, install structures for books in the corner. Such products can be wall-mounted, placed on the floor, or have several sections. Window openings framed with books have a particularly original look.

An elegant wooden or plastic model by the window will help create a new interior image and add some zest to the room.

To give the atmosphere a special piquancy, you can place shelves for books above the fireplace, place them on both sides of the fireplace or TV. Products above the bed in combination with wall sconces will help create a stylish design and comfortable reading before bed.

It is easy to achieve significant space savings due to the design installed around the doorway, which involves storing a large number of publications.

Door types

It is believed that the most reliable way to store printed publications is a bookcase with doors. Moreover, a wide variety of materials are used to make doors. It can be glass, plastic or wood.

There are also models with a mirror finish.

According to their type, bookcase doors can be:

Swing.

Such bookcases are a traditional option. In this case, you can open the cabinet by pulling the door handle towards you. A special feature of hinged cabinets is that manufacturers often install additional magnets in them so that the door closes very tightly and does not open on its own.

Folding.

Such designs are used less frequently, since they can make it difficult to access books and are not very convenient to open. But the folding doors look very original.

Coupe.

This option is one of the most modern and relevant. This type of cabinet opens with a sideways movement, thanks to which the doors slide smoothly to the side. At the same time, there are special narrow panels on the cabinet that you can grab when opening. They protect the cabinet from fingerprints.

This bookcase looks very interesting and unusual; it is perfect for decorating a modern living room.

Secrets of bookcases

If the ceiling is small, it is better to choose tall but narrow bookcases or shelves;
A small room can be adjusted by choosing a bookcase with shelves that decrease in height and making translucent doors;
It is better to fasten any bookcases tightly to the wall;
Choose cabinets with height-adjustable shelves;
Modular sectional bookcases are functional and convenient, as they can be purchased or changed if necessary;
It is more difficult to see a book through tinted glass without opening the cabinet;
Closed bookcases must have ventilation holes to prevent books from getting damaged;
You cannot place books near heating appliances and ventilate the room during rain; direct sunlight should not fall on books;
Additional accessories for the library can make life much easier for a bibliophile: book dividers and limiters, a special stand for access to high shelves, lighting fixtures for bookcases, etc.;
A rack with shelves of regular geometric shape contains more books;
Shelves of different heights are very functional.

Filling options

Despite the fact that traditional bookcases are a structure with shelves, these products can have a wide variety of contents. Moreover, these can be either classic open shelves or closed drawers and other elements.

As for the shelves, they are usually located in several rows above each other. Moreover, certain requirements are imposed on them.

The shelves should be approximately 3 cm thick. This condition is necessary to comply with, since they will be able to support the weight of books.

They should be no more than 100 cm in length. In addition to this standard filling option, any bookcase should have high bookshelves for placing large-format printed publications and small shelves for storing magazines.

Filling in the form of a separate compartment for special antique books is also perfect.

To store large publications, such as encyclopedias, it is necessary to provide drawers. Moreover, they can be deep or, conversely, very small. You can place writing utensils, newspapers, and magazines in them.

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Reading is a favorite leisure activity for many people, regardless of age or profession. Despite the fact that reading on the Internet is firmly established in our lives, reading printed books cannot be replaced by anything.

It is advisable from childhood, as soon as the child has learned to read, to have a separate bookshelf or small bookcase for him. This will not only teach you order, but also teach you to love books and handle them with care.

It is better to store books in sections:

political literature,
reference books,
works of art,
teaching aids,
technical books, etc.

Cabinets and shelves for books

Cabinets and shelves for books can be purchased at the store, or you can make them yourself.

Standard rack of 6 shelves

Standard bookcase size:

depth - 22 cm,
distance between shelves - 28 cm,
length - 100 cm,
The total height of the rack, designed for 6 shelves, is 203 cm, taking into account the thickness of the shelves and cornice.

The rack is placed directly on the floor against the wall.

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Rack of 2-3 shelves

A rack of two or three shelves can be hung on the wall using strong metal nails or rings. books, especially in bulk, are very heavy. Therefore, care should be taken to ensure that the nails or crutches are strong and that they are firmly driven into the wall.

It is rational to place hanging bookshelves in the walls or in niches. In this case, you can equip the bookshelves with doors, thus obtaining something like a built-in wardrobe.

If it is not possible to glaze a bookshelf or close it with doors, you can make thick curtains from washable fabric to protect books from dust.

It is better to make shelves in bookcases and racks mobile so that you can raise or lower them, depending on the format of the books.

When determining the number of shelves required to accommodate all the books, you need to take into account that an average of 60 books are installed on a shelf 1 m long.

If the racks are very high, then you can use a stepladder to use the rack.

Even for the most modest home library it is necessary to create a catalog so that finding the right book does not become a big problem.

Bookshelves and racks can be made in different modern designs

Source: book “Useful Tips” Photo - Internet

Combined options

Bookcases in modern times are often combined with other furniture. Two different functional elements can be easily separated by a partition. So, a bookcase can be combined with a wardrobe. However, both of them can have the same design. Such furniture is somewhat reminiscent of a modular wall, in which the role of bookshelves will be played by a pencil case.

The wardrobe in such designs usually has a classic closed type design.

This solution is perfect for storing books and clothes. It can be installed in any living room and even in the bedroom. Also, models with a place for a TV are very often installed in the hall.

They can also accommodate other household appliances, as well as some decorative elements, such as photo frames, figurines, and watches. They are a great addition to any bookcase. This design can become the centerpiece of any living room.

A combined version of a bookcase is very often installed in a children's room.

In this case, you can purchase a model that will be designed for storing books and toys. Books can be placed on the shelves, and the shelves can be closed, and toys and children's accessories can be placed on open shelves, alternating them with books. In the children's room, combined models with a computer desk are often installed.

Such furniture designs will help to properly organize your child’s workplace.

Bookcase height

As a rule, when choosing a bookcase, library buyers are guided by the argument that the height should be such that books can be reached by hand; this is relevant for shops and offices, but completely inapplicable for a home or apartment. There will definitely be something on a bookcase in a small apartment, which is why the best choice would be a bookcase that reaches the ceiling, and it is not at all necessary to make the upper sections the same as the lower ones, and put only books there. In addition, special removable steps for distant books are sold.

Modern Design Ideas

Modern designers offer very stylish and original cabinet models. Separately, a bookcase in the form of an armchair or in the form of a ladder should be highlighted. This is a very stylish and functional solution that can become the highlight of any interior.

Unusual and stylish cabinets will help not only organize a place to store books, but also decorate any room.

Very often, designers complement them with lighting. This way you can pay attention to some rare famous books and publications by highlighting them. In addition, this way you can create background lighting in any room and add a little charm to such a bookcase.

In this case, LED lamps are used for illumination, which do not heat up at all and do not cause any harm to the books located inside the cabinet.

Bookcases with corner shelves look quite stylish. They may not have the usual straight shapes, but elegant, uncomplicated lines. As a rule, shelving is located along the edges of such a bookcase.

You can put very beautifully and interestingly designed books on them.

Designers also offer other bold solutions. Bookshelves look interesting if they are placed not in a straight line parallel to the floor, but at different angles, as if randomly located on the wall.

Bookcases in which open shelves alternate with open structures look quite beautiful.

Some designers offer honeycomb-shaped cabinets. As a rule, they are even made from warm yellowish-colored materials. Designers also present unusual racks that have skewed walls. They resemble shelves that have been displaced by the wind. Bookcases that are made in the shape of a piano look very unusual.

They are a luxurious addition to a room decorated in a classic style.

Interesting Bookcase Design Ideas

Nowadays, the range on the furniture market is quite wide, and everyone can find for themselves not only a reliable, but also a stylish, extraordinary option. It is impossible not to mention the home bookcase, which resembles a staircase in its appearance. The model is functional, original and will fit into almost any interior, becoming its central element. It will not only help in organizing a place to place and store books, but will also decorate any room.

Manufacturers almost always equip staircase-style cabinets with functional lighting. Firstly, it will redirect the visitor's attention to the most valuable and rare items on the shelves. Secondly, soft light will create a homely atmosphere in the room. If you want to add even more charm to your design, choose models with LED lights. With their help you can avoid heating the surface of books.

A home bookcase with corner shelves will also be a fashionable solution. Models come with both classic straight shapes and smooth, beautiful lines. Typically, shelving is located at the edges of the structure. Books with the brightest and most attractive bindings, magazines with interesting covers are often placed on them.

A good option would be shelves for books that are placed at different angles that are not direct to each other or to the floor surface. It looks chaotic, but at the same time creative. You can pay attention to models with alternating types of shelves, where after the open structure there is a closed one.

Bookcases in the shape of a honeycomb look interesting. To make them look like real ones, they are sometimes made in warm colors with a yellowish tint. Designers recommend taking a closer look at shelving with inclined walls. The shelves seemed to have shifted due to a gust of wind. Furniture that resembles a piano will look unusual. It will fit into a classic interior and help it sparkle with new colors.

Choosing shelves for books

So, bookshelves can be placed in any room. Moreover, it is not at all necessary to use them only for their intended purpose. To give the interior originality, you can complement them with paintings, posters, souvenirs or photographs. If you prefer wall-mounted products, you should not place them at too high a height.

This way they will be both more beautiful and more functional. For example, it is very convenient to reach a book without getting up from your favorite chair.

This type of furniture looks great on the wall behind the sofa. Now - about the choice of material. It is necessary to take into account not only the aesthetics of the product, but also its compliance with the style of the room.

It is equally important to consider when choosing a product the format of the literature that will be placed on the shelves. If you can’t find something suitable in a furniture store, it is advisable to have it made to order from a specialized company or do it yourself.

Books in the interior

Oddly enough, a book is not just a functional item. It can serve as an interesting and original piece of decor, an excellent accessory for design. Decorating a room with solid volumes and frivolous books with colorful covers is a fascinating activity even for those who have completely switched to the electronic version.

In addition, it is also useful. Thinking through the design, you can get carried away and re-read a half-forgotten book by your favorite author. Here are some interesting options.

Book "wall".

This option is for owners of an extensive home library. Shelves located from floor to ceiling act as an original compositional center. It is no coincidence that many designers use this solution.

You can sort literature according to different criteria: size, texture or cover color.

Placing volumes at an angle.

Such an interesting solution for a living room or bedroom looks so unusual that other decorative items are hardly needed.

"Skyscraper".

Of course, a couple of volumes casually thrown on the coffee table are stylish, but somewhat boring. It is much more interesting to select products according to size and shade and build original architectural compositions.

But if you really love to read, this may create some inconvenience. It is also important that the composition you create does not blend in color with the background.

Books outside the living room, bedroom or study.

They will look great in a kitchen interior or hallway. For example, an “island” design looks great in the kitchen, or a rotating one can be used. This is the perfect place to place light women's novels or weighty cookbooks. But with the bathroom it’s not easy.

Shelves with literature can be placed there if there is a good hood.

Crafts from old volumes.

This is a great way to give new life to literature that you haven't used for a long time. By stringing the volumes onto a metal pin, gluing them and covering them with paint, you will get a wonderful stand for a homemade table.

You can make an original “bed” for low indoor plants, such as succulents, from unnecessary volumes.

Phantom library.

This trick is used when decorating classic home interiors, as well as themed cafes and restaurants. Antique tomes are not cheap, so fake books, which consist of a cover and a plastic insert, help out.

Useful tips

These basic tips will help you optimize the placement of shelves and book volumes on them:

Books should not be placed near heating appliances. The cardboard of the quail may become deformed.
Volumes must be protected from direct UV rays. This causes the pages to become brittle and turn yellow.
It is not advisable to ventilate the home library if it is damp outside. This contributes to the destruction of glue and paper, as well as the appearance of mold.
You should not place books in two rows: this is not very convenient.
Do not stack the volumes too tightly, as the binding may be damaged.
The optimal amount of free space above the books is 30 mm. Therefore, lying copies above book volumes, especially in a closed cabinet, is not the best option.

Criteria for choosing bookcases and shelving for the home

The choice of such structures depends on the required dimensions and the required material from which they will be made. Let's try to figure out what parameters will be optimal for placing literature.

Dimensions of shelving and dimensions of individual shelves

The depth of such structures is selected depending on the planned location of the books. Many owners prefer to save room space by arranging books in two rows, however, experts advise choosing a single-row arrangement system - in this case it will be much easier to find the right publication. With this arrangement, standard shelf sizes of 15-25 cm deep and 21-25 cm high are suitable. But please note that some publications are printed in a non-standard format. For them, you can order a separate shelf of greater depth and height.

Approximate dimensions of furniture for a home library

Important! The length of one shelf should not exceed 1 m, which will provide protection from sagging under the weight of the paper. For the same purpose, the thickness is also chosen - at least 2.5 cm.

What are shelving and cabinets for printed publications made of?

The materials used are quite varied, but the most commonly used are solid wood and chipboard (chipboard). The first one is much more durable, but its cost is much higher. Synthetic materials, such as plastic, can also be used, but such designs are unreliable and are inferior in quality even to chipboard.

Helpful information! Separate glass boxes with various systems for maintaining the microclimate inside are also made to order. Ancient, expensive tomes are stored in such places as museum exhibits.

This is roughly how rare, especially valuable tomes are stored, which everyone should not touch.

Dimensions

The size of the bookcase must meet certain accepted indicators. But at the same time, its dimensions must skillfully fit into the room. If you have a small room, you can put a miniature bookcase in it.

Even the smallest bookcase can accommodate a large number of books.

In larger rooms, such as a hall or library, you can install a large and tall bookcase. Its dimensions can be very diverse; it can consist of 5-10 sections. It is important to purchase products of such a size that the area of the room allows you to install it without unnecessary obstacles. If you are placing a bookcase in a library, it should take up the entire wall.

But if you are purchasing such furniture for room decoration and you have very few books, you can buy a small low cabinet.

An average-sized bookcase in a modern apartment occupies an area of approximately 100 by 30 cm. There are also smaller models. Don't worry that a standard bookcase might not be the right size for you.

You can always take all the necessary measurements and order these products according to individual parameters.

The depth of the bookcase also plays a big role. In order for standard-sized books to fit into it, the shelf must be at least 15 cm deep. The average depth is 25 cm. But for large-format publications, cabinets up to 35 cm deep are provided.

The shelves must be very reliable and thick. It is better if their thickness is at least 2 cm.

The structure must support the weight of books, so usually the shelves are not very long. Large bookcases consist of several sections, which are separated by short shelves. This is also due to the fact that long thin shelves may not be able to withstand the weight of heavy printed publications.

Bookcases and shelving for the home library: design features

Such designs may differ in many ways. They may have a variety of doors, or may not have them at all, and can be assembled in the form of cabinet or modular furniture. Let's try to figure out what each of the varieties is.

Cabinet bookcases with hinged glass doors

This is an inexpensive option that can play an additional role. If you place it not near a wall, but in the form of a peninsula, then it helps zoning the space. Using it in a similar way, you can divide the living room into a reception room and a study. Transparent doors allow you to see what books are behind the glass in the bookcase, and whether there is something there that is needed at the moment.

Hinged doors are the most common type of facades for home furniture

The disadvantage of swinging bookcase doors in a library is the possible risk of injury from hitting the open door. This often happens when a person is thinking.

Built-in bookcases with sliding glass doors: design features

Similar sliding cabinets and libraries for the home are installed in niches. Most often, this is a set of shelves and racks installed “under the ceiling” across the entire wall area. Sliding transparent doors do not interfere with the ability to view the names. They are also convenient because there is no risk of injury from an open door. However, there are some drawbacks here: such opening mechanisms do not provide simultaneous access to two halves of one cabinet. In order to open the second half, you have to close the first, and vice versa.

Sliding doors are less common, however, and they are popular

Open bookcases and libraries for the home

Here, access is open to any shelf, there is no risk of injury, but... books gather dust, which is quite harmful for their storage. This is especially true for valuable ancient volumes, which begin to deteriorate under the influence of dust and humidity. In addition, dust is the natural habitat of a bookworm.

Open cabinets for placing literature have a lower cost

Modular bookcases: photo examples and some information

Modular bookcases, like other furniture of this type, have a lower cost than cabinet structures. Modules are individual elements from which the final version is assembled. They can have different sizes of cabinets with facades made in the same style. Modern modular bookcases look no worse than others, however, the quality of the materials used for the cabinets cannot be called ideal. Such designs have gained high popularity due to their low cost and wide range of sizes, which allows you to choose any width when arranging the modules. By the way, you can do this even before going to the store (and sometimes instead), by calculating the dimensions and cost of the final version online via the Internet. We offer you to look at several examples of such furniture.

Modular bookcases for home library:

Photos of bookshelves and shelving for a home library

We became familiar with modular designs. What types of bookcases or solid wood furniture are there? You can learn about this from our short photo review.

Cabinet furniture for storing home literature:

Style directions

As a rule, bookcases are installed in rooms with a more traditional interior design. But now such a product can be installed in any home, regardless of its design.

So, in a room decorated in a classic style, you can install an old antique wardrobe. It will look very rich and elegant. Any bookcase in the classic style is characterized by rigor and elegance, as well as the smooth lines of the facade.

Often, classic companies are quite massive and large-sized models.

It is better to give preference to models made of natural wood. Moreover, their colors should be the most traditional. A wenge-colored wooden bookcase looks great in a classic living room design. It is better to give preference to models made from valuable wood species.

A cabinet for printed publications with carved elements, as well as fittings made of cast bronze or with overlays, will also look very elegant in a classic living room.

It is believed that such furniture fits perfectly into rooms decorated in the English style. As a rule, the most traditional English bookcases are made from natural cedar, but such products are quite expensive.

Keep in mind that only natural wood products should be installed in an English-designed room.

All of these bookcases are quite large and therefore will definitely become central to the interior of such a room. As a rule, English bookcases have a hinged design. They are usually installed in offices or halls.

This product can also be placed in a room decorated in country style. But at the same time, great attention should be paid to the color of such furniture. It is better if it has a light shade. Also, the requirements for furniture in this style are naturalness and environmental friendliness.

It should be a quality wooden bookcase.

Some install models on legs decorated with carvings in such rooms. This bookcase may have a quirky shape, but it must also be of high quality and functional. These can be either models with doors or products with an open design.

Narrow and medium-sized models of bookcases are installed in a room decorated in Provence style. They should not be the central part of such a room, but only harmoniously complement the interior. It is better if it is a light model, made in pastel colors. Cabinets with an artificially aged finish are perfect.

They should fill the team with lightness and be combined with other interior elements.

The bookcase is also installed in more modern interiors.

So, a model with a facade made of plastic, glass, decorated with chrome-plated steel would be perfect for a room decorated in a high-tech style. This cabinet should have a discreet design; bright colors are unacceptable.

It is better if the facades are white, black or gray. As a rule, this is a rectilinear design, characterized by simplicity of form.

Such a cabinet has a rather laconic design and must meet the requirements of functionality. The decorative function in this case is secondary, so it should not have small details and bright design.

Nowadays a very popular trend is mixing a wide variety of styles.

Moreover, in this case, classic models of such furniture are installed in a room decorated in a loft, high-tech or modern style. These styles can harmoniously complement each other, creating a unique combination. A classic wardrobe can soften a strictly decorated high-tech room and make it brighter.

But at the same time, you need to rely on your taste and maintain a stylistic balance so that the interior design turns out restrained and harmonious.