From books to framed photos, bookcases are perfect for displaying all of your knickknacks in an organized way. If you’ve been stuck on what bookcase to add to your space, keep reading to learn how to choose a bookcase that suits your home (and book storage goals!).

Types of Bookcases
Bookcase Orientations
Bookcase Materials
Bookcase Features

Things to Think About

Before choosing the perfect bookcase, it’s important to consider a few things. Think about how much space you have available for your bookcase, what you want to display, and the style of your home. This will help you choose the right type, orientation, material, and features with ease. This guide will help you choose the best bookcase for your room.

Types of Bookcases

When it comes to bookcase styles, there are a variety to choose from. Review your options below to determine which bookcase design best fits your aesthetic needs and space requirements.

Standard: Standard bookcases are the most popular and the most basic when it comes to design. This freestanding piece of furniture has horizontal shelving, supportive walls, and a back wall. Standard bookcases are designed to sit vertically or horizontally and are commonly made of wood. They are designed to sit flush against a wall.

Etagere: An etagere bookcase has an open back design. This is perfect for displaying your items, and the openness makes your room feel more spacious. If you place it up against a wall, it allows the wall color to show through.

Geometric: Geometric bookcases are unique in design. The frames and shelves of the bookcase come together to create striking geometric silhouettes, ultimately creating a lean, modern design. They are available in a variety of sizes but work well as focal points in larger rooms.

Ladder: Ladder bookcases are known for their space-saving design and their ability to add a casual style to any room. Their shelves are wider on the bottom and get narrower toward the top. These cool bookcases create a unique focal point in the room while adding vertical organizational space.

Barrister: A barrister bookcase is a more formal bookcase and is designed to look like a cabinet.They have glass or solid doors to allow your books to stay safe from dust and little hands while also keeping things tucked away. Barrister bookcases were originally designed to assist lawyers with their law book collections, allowing them to keep their books stored together while the doors kept the books in place when they needed to move their collection.

Library: A library bookcase is perfect if you are a bookworm and want to display your full book collection. Library bookcases are larger in size (both horizontally and vertically) and look best in a large room. Most library bookcases have a solid back wall, but some designs offer an open back.

Room Divider: Room divider bookcases are great for sectioning off specific areas in your home. Room dividers have open backs, meaning you can see through the compartments of the bookcase. The openness makes for a great way to divide rooms because it doesn’t overpower the space, letting you see through to the other side. Place a room divider bookcase in the middle of the room to divide the area or place it up against the wall to use it like a traditional bookcase.

Cube: A cube bookcase is one of the most versatile bookcases. It is designed to have multiple cubbies that are cube-shaped within the bookcase that can be used to store shoes, books, and more. Cube bookcases are either square or rectangular. You can opt to use baskets to fill the cubby, leave the cubbies open, or do a mix of both. Bins and baskets help keep your items organized, out of the way, and out of sight.

Corner: Corner bookcases are designed to sit perfectly in a corner of a room. They have two sides that meet at a point and angle outward in a triangular shape that is best suited for corners. The shelves are smaller than standard bookcases but are designed to fit the corner, helping to maximize storage. Corner bookcases are perfect for small rooms and for using what is often an overlooked space.

Floating: A floating bookcase helps save floor space by elevating the bookcase off of the floor and attaching to the wall. Floating bookcases are designed with an open back, and some have bars on the side to give the appearance that the shelves are floating. Floating bookcases typically come with a mounting kit to help install them to the wall, letting you create a fun focal point on the wall while storing your favorite items.

Step: Step bookcases mirror the appearance of stairs by showcasing a right angle design with a descending side and openwork shelving. Step bookcases are designed to add style and functionality to any space, working especially well tucked in a corner or as a frame to either side of a TV or wall art display. Many step bookcases also have the perfect orientation to fit beneath stairs for space-saving book storage.

Bookcase Orientations

When choosing bookcase designs you can either choose a vertical or horizontal orientation. Both have their own unique benefits and aesthetic appearances to take into consideration.

Vertical: Vertical bookcases are perfect for smaller rooms. They allow you to maximize the amount of storage by increasing the amount of shelves, all without taking up too much floor space.

Horizontal: If you have a larger room, horizontal bookcases are a great option. They are often shorter but longer, allowing you to decorate the top of the bookcase or hang wall art above. While they don’t have many shelves, the shelves are long and allow you to store many items.

Bookcase Materials

There are a variety of material options to consider when determining how to choose a bookcase. Review this section to learn about the benefits of each bookcase material.

Shelf Material

Wood: Wooden shelves are sturdy and durable, allowing you to place more items on the shelf. Wooden shelves are the most popular option when it comes to bookcases and are available in a variety of stain colors, allowing you to easily choose a bookcase that fits with the style of your space.

Metal: Metal shelves are less likely to dent and are easy to maintain. The shelves are sturdy, letting you store your favorite items without worry.

Glass: Glass shelves create a barely there feel, making the room appear larger. Glass shelves are durable but can shatter if not secured properly.

Plastic: Plastic shelves are great for storing lighter items and are easy to clean. While they may not store heavy items, the plastic shelf will last you for years to come and is rust-free.

Frame Material

Wood: Bookcases with wooden frames are the most popular and come in a variety of wood tones. They are strong, durable, and bound to last you for years to come. They tend to be on the heavier side and may require more than one person to move.

Metal: Metal is sturdy, durable, and on the heavier side, making it a bit harder to move easily. It has a powder or painting coating on top of the metal to ensure that it is protected from scratches or rust. For an industrial look, opt for a bookcase with a dark metal frame.

Plastic: A plastic frame for a bookcase is a great option if you have little ones learning to walk and run. It is available in a variety of colors and is less expensive, letting you easily match your style and decor (even if it changes!).

Glass: For a modern look, opt for a bookcase with a glass frame. It allows you to see through the bookcase, letting you find items quickly.

Tip!

Review our guide on How to Style Bookcases for inspiration on decorating bare bookshelves.

Bookcase Features

Now that you have an idea of the style and material you want in a bookcase, it's time to talk features! When determining how to choose a bookcase, there are so many features to choose from! Each of these features can elevate the functionality and aesthetic look of your bookcase.

Adjustable Shelves: Adjustable shelves allow you to set the height of each shelf, letting you customize each to comfortably fit all of your books and decor.

Assembled: Spend more time reading and less time putting your bookcase together by opting for an assembled bookcase. You won’t have to worry about what piece goes where because it will arrive fully assembled for you.

With Doors: Some bookcases come with doors to help protect the items in your bookcase from dust, debris, or little hands reaching in. Opt for a bookcase with doors to keep important items out of sight and looking like new.

With Drawers: If you are looking to store small items that may not sit well on a shelf, opt for a bookcase with drawers. It lets you put those small items away without worrying if they will get lost.

Wall-Mounted: Wall-mounted bookshelves are mounted to the wall with an attachment kit that is included with your bookcase. Keep in mind that wall-mounted bookcases aren’t easy to move around the room.

Stackable: If you are looking for a way to make a shorter bookcase taller, opt for a stackable bookcase. It lets you customize the look of your bookcase or add more storage space when you need it. The stackable bookcases will attach together to create one sturdy bookcase – no one will even know it’s two separate pieces!

Distressed Finish: If you love the rustic look of distressed wood, opt for a bookcase with a distressed finish. It adds a touch of farmhouse and rustic style to your space while allowing you to store your items in a stylish way.

Folding: The best bookshelf or bookcase gives you the flexibility to adapt and change things up. Bookcases don’t have to be a permanent staple in your room. Whether you are looking to easily move them or store them away, opt for a folding bookcase. Once you remove your items from the bookcase, you can fold it up, making it a great option if you need temporary storage or find yourself moving often.

Tip!

Check out The Best Bookcases for Any Space to browse our go-to styles.

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