Bookcases, home libraries - design tips.

Despite the massive use of electronic devices to search for the necessary information, it is impossible to get the same pleasure as from reading a paper book from online publications. Nothing can replace the smell of a new book and the rustle of turning pages. The collections of print lovers are replenished every year, while designers never tire of creating new solutions for such an indispensable attribute for them as bookcases for the home library.

The book collection must be stored in a high-quality and beautiful cabinet

Bookcases and libraries for the home: how to successfully place books

Despite any modern innovations, books have always occupied and will continue to occupy a special place in every home. Some people collect rare publications, others avidly read modern and classic works, some simply boast about the presence of a good library inherited from their grandparents.

A bookcase can perform several functions in the interior

However, all this wealth must be stored somewhere. First of all, you should choose a place where you can successfully install the furniture. Regardless of the design of the products and the style in which they are made, bookcases and libraries represent a classic book storage system.

Today, many design variations of such structures are offered to consumers. Perhaps the best solution is to combine a library with an office or living room. By the way, book walls look very impressive in them. Occupying a minimum of space, such designs provide the ability to create a full-fledged library.

Since modern city apartments do not allow the installation of literature storage systems along the entire length of the rooms, they are sometimes installed in the hallway.

This is interesting! An original place to store book treasures can be the space under the stairs.

The space under the stairs is a great option for placing a bookcase

The appearance of a home library (photos will give inspiration for interior design) can be characterized by both rigor and fashionable design, be modern and stylish. Using designs for storing printed publications, you can create a cozy corner that promotes immersion in the world of books, with shelves reaching to the ceiling. With the help of such furniture, it is easy to set up a full-fledged office for work, the entrance to which is open to household members only with the permission of the owner.

Antique solid wood bookcases and a fireplace can give your home office an old-fashioned and slightly mysterious look. In this case, the space should be used to the maximum, placing bookshelves not only along the wall, but also above the doors, and you can install a compact coffee table near the window.

Library cabinet: optimal product dimensions

Regardless of the room in which you plan to install storage for literature, be it a children's room, a bedroom or a living room, it is incredibly important to arrange the bookcases in such a way that they do not look bulky and perform all the functions assigned to them. The first step is to determine the dimensions of the piece of furniture, select the room in which it will be installed, and also calculate the dimensions of the bookcase.

The closet must accommodate all the books in the house.

Regardless of the type of structure, be it a built-in product, a wall cabinet, a rack or a display case, the most important parameter is the depth of the shelves. This indicator directly depends on how many rows of books are planned to be placed on them. Designers advise displaying printed publications in one row. Thanks to this, they will be clearly visible, and it will also not be difficult to find the book you need.

The typical depth of the shelves is 20 cm, and their height corresponds to the height of most standard books and varies from 20 to 25 cm. However, some collections contain copies of unusual dimensions. In this case, the best solution would be to place several bookcases in the living room, which will differ in size.

Note! Often, when it comes to non-standard parameters of cabinets for literature, it is assumed that their width is from 30 to 35 cm, and the height is within 38 cm.

It is necessary to take into account in advance that the dimensions of the cabinet must correspond to the size of the space allocated to it

For reliability, in order to prevent shelves from sagging under the weight of books, their thickness should be at least 2.5 cm, and their length should be at least one meter. It is no secret that some specimens have atypical sizes. In addition, music lovers prefer to use racks to store collections of their favorite records, which are also characterized by a wide variety of dimensions. In this regard, the best solution would be to independently create a structure according to the selected drawing.

Product modifications

The range of corner cabinets cannot but please with its diversity. And they all perform the function of carefully storing books perfectly. The wardrobe in its classic form is equipped with shelves and doors. Corner cabinets do not lag behind this definition; their classification based on “doors” is as follows:

• With glass;
• With blind doors;
• Without doors - racks.

Otherwise, these can be either corner sections built into the furniture wall or separate full-fledged corner cabinets. It all depends on what you want to install in your apartment. For small rooms, tall separate cabinets are suitable - with their help you can visually increase the height of the ceiling. Large rooms can comfortably accommodate long structures made from different types of cabinets.

Photo of a corner bookcase with glass

Availability of glass

Doors are primarily needed to protect the contents of the cabinet from dust, humidity and sunlight - everything that books are very afraid of. The most popular option is a corner bookcase with transparent glass doors. Through them you can always admire your collection of books, souvenirs and other beautiful memorabilia.

You can buy such a corner bookcase with glass quite inexpensively. Prices for them are set from 2000 rubles. And, for example, the so popular corner bookcase Verona-2 costs from 10,000 rubles. By the way, corner modular bookcases, which are so convenient to rearrange, have gained particular fame.

Photo of a low corner bookcase-shelves

Dimensions

Modern models of corner cabinets allow you to change the height and depth of the shelves. In this regard, in furniture stores you can find the ideal wardrobe for any apartment:

• Tall narrow;
• Tall wide;
• Low narrow or wide;
• Medium sized cabinets.

Pay attention to the stability of tall furniture. Sometimes cheap, low-quality narrow models do not withstand the load or even light physical impact, for example, when cleaning. And if a family with children lives in an apartment, then this issue should move to first place in importance.

Stylish corner bookcase

Color design

Furniture made from fiberboard and other substitutes does not limit its color at all. In stores you will find products in the most daring colors that will fit perfectly into your interior. In connection with the now popular minimalism, monotonous corner bookcases in white or black are displayed in the windows of furniture stores.

Bookcases made of natural wood are less common in extravagant designs. But they do not need such a bright presentation; they themselves show their price and status. MDF products made in wood tones also look great. Thus, wenge, walnut, bleached wood and Sonoma oak are currently at the peak of popularity.

Corner bookcase in wood tone

Library cabinets: a variety of materials for making furniture

The classic, traditional material for the production of such furniture is wood. A solid wood bookcase guarantees that the product will be durable and environmentally friendly.

Today, most apartment owners prefer closed structures to open bookcases. In this case, the following materials are used to create the facade of the product:

Wood, plastic, chipboard, glass and other materials are used to make bookcases

1. Chipboard. The ends of the panels can be covered with PVC film or an aluminum edge, and are often equipped with classic hinges.
2. Glass. In this case, a tinted or transparent material approximately 4 mm thick is used. A special film is applied to its inner side, which protects the glass from damage and prevents it from crumbling in the event of an impact.
3. Mirror. This is an excellent solution for narrow spaces, because it provides the illusion of spaciousness. The mirror can be made in bronze, gray or silver.
4. Frosted glass (satin). With this option for finishing the façade, the surface is matted during sandblasting or chemical etching of the glass. Sliding bookcases with frosted glass have an original and modern look.
5. Decorated plastic. This material has earned the title of environmentally friendly, flexible and unbreakable composition, which is not afraid of impacts, scratches and which can be easily cleaned of dirt.

This is interesting! When it comes to the internal filling of structures, the material for making shelves is often chipboard. The price of a bookcase depends on the processing method. Regardless of whether a furniture profile, melamine or PVC edge was used for finishing, pipes are always made of metal.

White chipboard bookcases are now at the peak of popularity

In addition, aluminum is often used as a material for the frame of a structure. At the same time, it can imitate valuable metal or be decorated like natural wood using film.

Library cabinet for books: design options

In the living rooms of small apartments, you have to find a place not only for bookshelves, but also for other furniture elements. In such a case, you have to zone the entire space, and also select a bookcase that is suitable in size and style.

Design developments delight and surprise with their diversity. At the same time, it is necessary that each volume is preserved in proper form, and the storage system is combined with the overall interior of the room. Even such a familiar object as a book structure can change beyond recognition:

Bookcase display cases are a decoration for rooms

1. Sliding wardrobes for books do an excellent job of preserving products, reliably protecting them from sunlight, dust, moisture and drying out. Due to their convenient design, the presented cabinets significantly save precious room space. At the same time, in a modern design they look incredibly stylish, organically complementing the interior of the room.
2. A compact bookcase with drawers will be an excellent solution for bedrooms or living rooms. At the same time, you can conveniently place books and favorite magazines in the upper sections, and some other necessary things at the bottom.
3. Speaking about bookcases and libraries, it is worth noting that they are often separate rooms that are equipped in a classic style, with shelving located around the perimeter.
4. The shelves installed one above the other constitute an original rack. Showing your imagination, you can easily make the design yourself using the drawing.
5. Built-in wardrobes are often presented in the form of high racks with a large number of shelves, which are characterized by sliding systems or folding doors.
6. Showcases are popular for displaying antique collections of rare books, which are the pride of the owners of the house.
7. Modular furniture consists of individual blocks that can be easily moved and selected, combining with other elements. If desired, it is easy to purchase additional modules, thus expanding the composition of shelves and cabinets.

Sliding wardrobes for books look stylish and are easy to use

Today, sliding libraries are extremely popular. Due to their compactness and functionality, they become an integral part of most modern small-sized apartments.

Wardrobe with doors

Wardrobe with doors - this type of wardrobe fits easily into any interior and is easy to install, however, in small rooms, opening doors may not be very convenient to use.

What kind of libraries are there: a variety of configurations

Depending on the shape and design, the following types of cabinets are distinguished:

• corner;
• built into a niche;
• closed;
• open;
• combined.

Corner bookcases for a home library are an ideal option for small apartments. Such products will allow you to solve several problems at the same time: using a corner, as well as arranging all the literature without taking up much space.

Corner cabinets are ideal for small spaces

Wall-mounted structures will provide reliable storage for printed publications if there are only a few of them. Such products are classic furniture for books. Characterized by their small dimensions, they are mounted on the wall and are especially well located above a desk or computer desk. At the same time, they are absolutely not inferior to full-size structures in terms of functionality and equipment.

Built-in home bookcases are an ergonomic option for storing a small collection of volumes. Such products significantly save precious space and also provide the opportunity to tactfully play with complex interiors.

The name of closed structures speaks for itself: they are equipped with doors. Open products have only shelves, so the books in them are not protected from dust and fading in the sun. But such furniture allows you to quickly find the book you need on the shelf.

This is interesting! Corner open bookcases provide excellent access to your favorite publications.

Open bookcases are more popular than closed ones

As for the combined models, their door inserts are divided into several parts by different section lines, and the dividing strip serves to connect the component elements. Due to this cabinet design, various combinations of materials can be used on one door.

Door types

Swing - the most popular type. To open you just need to pull the handles. Doors are often equipped with magnets.

Note!

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Coupe - such doors were mentioned earlier. This cabinet looks interesting and attractive. Such doors do not take up much space when open.

Hinged - if glass is used as the door material, then this type may not be practical to use.

Glass doors are often used, but it is worth highlighting a number of advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

• Your books will always be on display, so the collection will be visible to all guests
• Always fits any design

Flaws:

• Any dirt is visible, including fingerprints. Therefore, constant care is required
• High price
• Sunlight falls directly on the books, which does not have a very good effect on their safety
• Since books will always be in sight, you need to purchase high-quality, valuable books with interesting bindings

Today, in any city there are many furniture stores where you can purchase a ready-made bookcase, or create your own design (custom-made cabinet).

IKEA cabinets are of high quality, which is guaranteed by the manufacturer.

Book shelving: open, with drawers and other types of designs

The modern market presents to consumers many models of shelving, which differ in their functional features.

Perhaps the most common option is open bookshelves for the home library. These are classic designs, the shelves of which can be arranged in any order. Often such products are used for offices in classic English design. At the same time, cabinets with open shelves are a real decoration of the interior and can easily win the title of the main design element.

You can store only books on the shelves or place decorative details on them

Note! To prevent books from fading in the sun, it is better to equip cabinets with tinted glass. In addition, tinting will help if it is quite difficult to keep the doors perfectly clean.

A cabinet equipped with a shelving unit and complemented by a closed door is an excellent solution due to its practicality. Glass doors will provide the opportunity to search for the necessary literature without opening the structure. A closed bookcase will ensure the safety of volumes, protecting them from dust, moisture and other destructive factors.

Rack cabinets equipped with drawers are often popular in office settings. Narrow structures conveniently accommodate catalogues, employee cards or work books.

Bookshelves, photos of which can be viewed on the Internet for inspiration, allow you to create a reading space in any corner of the house. In the attic and attic, no one will disturb the peace and prevent you from immersing yourself in reading your favorite literature.

Bookshelves can have a non-trivial configuration

For compact rooms, the best option would be corner book shelves, the dimensions of which can significantly save precious room space.

Wooden book racks: ideas for use in the interior

Classic designs are equipped with a back wall and drawers, and therefore often find a place near the walls. As a rule, such products are popular in spacious rooms.

Their significant advantage is the combination of utility and design. This is exactly the case when floor book shelves act as partitions for the purpose of zoning rooms. At the same time, a number of open shelves greatly facilitate the use of books. And due to the thickness of the walls and shelves of the structure, even the heaviest and largest volumes can be placed on them without fear.

Large formats require the installation of racks with movable shelves, the height of which can be easily adjusted. Modular elements, when combined in the process of rotation, create original shapes, giving the interior an impressive appearance.

A wooden shelving unit will look good in any interior.

Note! Corner bookshelves made of wood are especially popular. The modern market presents a rich assortment of both models of straight, strict shapes, and asymmetrical products.

Designs equipped with drawers and blind doors are also a practical option. They are not only suitable for organizing a library, but can also become an additional place to store clothes.

Speaking about the design of bookshelves, it should be noted that the products do not necessarily have to be traditionally dark. For example, a white bookcase will add originality and sophistication to the interior.

Selection of bookcases

7. Consider the number and weight of books.

Before choosing new bookshelves, measure your old ones. Literally, with a tape measure and on the scales. If you measure literature in meters and kilograms, it will be easier for you to determine the size of the future storage, and to understand whether you will need a whole cabinet or whether light shelves will be enough.

Storage rules

• Do not place volumes in two rows; this makes the second row of books practically inaccessible to the reader.
• Store CDs and DVDs separately from books, preferably in a drawer or cabinet specifically designed for this purpose.

In the photo: bookcase EB.BC.CLS.2 from La ebanisteria factory.

8. Consider different book formats.

If you have a lot of large albums, remember that they also need to be placed somewhere. In professional storage systems, the lower shelves are specially made more spacious and deeper (the optimal depth of a standard shelf is 35-40 cm). You can equip the cabinet with drawer-type shelves so that a heavy volume or album can be conveniently viewed. For large formats, movable shelves are also convenient, the height of which can be adjusted as needed.

9. Arrange your books beautifully.

To add variety to the appearance of your library, you can take advantage of the offers of some companies and purchase a pair of not the most spacious, but very impressive cabinets. The bookshelves in them are located not horizontally, but diagonally

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Bookcases: photos of models in accordance with the style decision

Modern furniture manufacturers offer consumers a truly wide range of bookcases for absolutely every taste and budget. At the same time, the design must certainly be in harmony with the design of the room in which it is located.

A wardrobe for a classic interior should be made of natural wood

As for the classic interiors of various cabinets, offices and libraries, bookcases for them should be made in a similar style. Traditionally, these pieces of furniture are made from natural wood of valuable species and are richly decorated with carvings.

Interiors made in the Art Nouveau style do not tolerate cheap things. Only handmade pieces are welcome here. It is desirable that structures for storing books in this style be made from natural, valuable wood. Cabinets for a home library in the Art Nouveau style are the embodiment of grace and elegance.

In order for these products to match the country style, they must be made of natural wood, and also be characterized by simple shapes and simple decor. As a rule, furniture in this case cannot be painted. Country style book storage cabinets are light and simple.

The Art Nouveau style welcomes elegant and high-quality furniture

In rooms whose interior is made in Provence style, narrow and low structures are often installed. The main characteristic feature of the French countryside trend is artificially aged pieces of furniture. Most often, symmetrical products of light shades that have regular shapes are used for this purpose.

For those who do not accept consumer products, designer designs are offered.

This is interesting! Today, to make unique models of bookcases, quite original materials are used. For example, structures made from pallets can take a worthy place in the interior.

Designers never tire of experimenting with configurations and materials for book storage. The presented racks and cabinets serve as an indicator of the individuality and excellent taste of the home owner.

Bookcase made in a minimalist style

Should you buy a bookcase with glass doors for your home?

The first and main purpose of any closet in a room is to organize space. Books, things, clothes and much more are conveniently located on its shelves and drawers, without cluttering the overall appearance of the room.

In the office, everything should have its place, so order is especially important here. Documents and books should not be stored in direct sunlight; they must be stored in a closet. Glass doors come to the aid of those who often look into the closet. Through them you can easily find the thing you need without opening all the doors in a row.

Moreover, a cabinet made of good wood with glass doors does not look massive and is quite expensive. A working atmosphere is created in a room designed in a simple style. Nowadays, high-tech or English classic styles are popular.

A bookcase with glass doors is perfect for these tasks.

Are you afraid of getting lost in all the variety of bookcases with glass doors? Then carefully watch the following video:

White bookcase: furniture for people with a subtle sense of style

Light furniture gives the space laconicism, lightness, comfort and an indescribable atmosphere. It is distinguished by a solemn, lush, elegant and at the same time strict, elegant appearance.

Bookcases made of milky oak are characterized by a huge variety of designs. Fittings, shapes, and additional elements change. However, the materials that serve as the basis for the production of such furniture have remained unchanged for more than half a century. The most popular materials used to make light bookcases include:

• natural wood;
• MDF;
• Chipboard.

Due to its naturalness, as well as the absence of components that could harm human health, furniture for home libraries made from natural wood has won the recognition of thousands of consumers. Despite the high cost, a wooden product, if properly cared for, is almost eternal; it will delight the eye for many years.

White cabinets look elegant and laconic, suitable for most styles

If we talk about MDF, it is worth noting that this material is significantly inferior to natural wood in terms of service life. Despite this, MDF is quite widespread today. The secret of such popularity lies in the huge variety of textures, the ability to copy the aesthetics of other materials and, of course, reasonable cost.

Chipboard is also a fairly popular and affordable material, which is often used for the manufacture of budget furniture models intended for installation in residential premises. In addition, chipboard is famous for its rather original aesthetic appearance.

When choosing a light-colored bookcase, you should focus on the stylistic direction in which the space is being decorated. In itself, such a color scheme is universal, since it harmonizes well with many textures and shades. However, if you thoughtlessly combine a large number of colors in one room, you can ruin the interior, giving it a flashy character.

A few words about the manufacturers: the best of the best

The modern furniture market is characterized by a variety of manufacturers who are ready to offer consumers functional, original and reliable furniture at an attractive price. Such companies include the Swedish company IKEA. This is a world-famous brand that rightfully deserves the favorable attitude of customers due to the practicality and durability of the products offered.

Furniture manufacturers offer bookcases for any budget

IKEA bookcases are endowed with the following important advantages:

• made from incredibly durable natural wood - ash, maple, oak or beech;
• characterized by an aesthetic appearance and the presence of many shelves;
• in the process of their production, exclusively environmentally friendly materials are used;
• Having a variety of color textures, they perfectly complement the interior of the room.

In addition, functional and practical designs will delight buyers because their installation does not take much effort and time. Assembly will take just a few hours, and you won’t even need to turn to professionals for help.

Floor designs, exclusive and spacious display cases, large shelving - the range of IKEA bookcases only increases every year, replenished with new models that occupy their rightful place in the interiors of modern apartments and houses.

The Swedish brand IKEA makes cabinets from ash, oak, beech and maple.

Bookcases for your home library: several recommendations for choosing

Before you order this or that bookcase, you should think carefully about how and what exactly to fill it with. The internal space of the structure must be used with maximum practicality, convenience and efficiency.

Such pieces of furniture can be equipped with additional shelves or drawers. Shelves are an excellent option when it comes to a small closet. Moreover, these elements can be either double- or single-row. As for the drawers, they will save the situation if there are books that do not fit. Then they can be folded into boxes and placed on the lower shelves. To give these elements an attractive look, it is recommended to decorate them to your own taste.

Note! It is incredibly important that the number of cabinet doors matches the number of sections inside it.

The bookcase should suit the room in size and style

Modern furniture manufacturers quite often equip their structures with wide doors. In such a case, you should try to place up to two sections behind one door - otherwise difficulties may arise in the process of finding the necessary book.

In addition, when choosing a cabinet, the following parameters deserve special attention:

• suitable style;
• an accurate understanding of what is needed;
• location.

When purchasing cabinets for a library, you should keep in mind that they must match the overall interior of the room. In addition, the intended installation location of the structure is very important. An excellent solution would be to organize a reading room in a dry attic or attic.

The cabinet can be made of any material, the main thing is that it is of high quality

Internal filling of furniture - increasing the functionality of the cabinet

To organize the internal space of libraries they use:

• Shelves
  are a must-have element of any bookcase.

• Drawers
  are great for brochures, documents, notepads, or storing frequently used items (such as recipe books).

• Mezzanines
  are intended for placing literature or, for example, photo albums that are not needed for constant access.

The more additional elements, the more functional the furniture.

Find out also: “Options for filling sliding wardrobes”

If you want an unconventional and stylish option, pay attention to bookcases with pull-out drawers.

DIY bookcases: design principles

The first and most important step in the process of self-manufacturing a structure is drawing up a drawing. In this case, special attention should be paid to some nuances.

First of all, using a level, you need to check how horizontal the floor in the room is. If this is not taken into account, the shelves will be located at a certain angle to the surface. If there is a slope, you will have to decide what is easier: level the surface of the room or take the slope into account and compensate at the base of the structure.

Important! It looks like this: if the slope is 2 mm per 1 m distance, the height of the legs should eliminate this drawback. If the cabinet is 1.5 m long, one leg should be 3 mm smaller than the second (towards the slope).

In addition, the presence of a plinth in the room is also important. If it is present, it is necessary to take this fact into account, since the correctness of the created drawing and the design of the product depends on it.

Before making a cabinet, you need to prepare its drawing

As for tools and equipment, during the work you will need to arm yourself with:

• screwdriver;
• level;
• milling machine;
• drill, chisel, hammer;
• brushes for painting;
• cloth to remove any remaining varnish.

If it is not possible to purchase a milling device or you do not have the skills to work with it, it is recommended to resort to mounting using brackets. Despite the fact that the appearance of the finished product will be less attractive, the work process will be significantly simplified.

Speaking about materials, it should be noted that the best solution would be to choose MDF. This will require:

You need to check if all the necessary tools are available

• two sheets of MDF: for the sides measuring 198x40x2 cm, for the top - 100x40x2 cm;
• shelves – 7 pcs. (97x40x2 cm);
• MDF edge 2 cm wide and 8 mm thick;
• 2 slats of 2 m each and 2 elements of 1 m each;
• wood glue intended for woodworking;
• 2 corners;
• screws;
• stain.

To avoid cutting yourself, when purchasing chipboard and MDF, it is better to ask to prepare the materials directly in the store.

Important! Edges, MDF, chipboard stain must be selected in a single color composition.

Instructions for making a bookcase yourself

For those who have decided to make a modern bookcase with their own hands, we offer the following instructions:

It is important to purchase high-quality fittings and fasteners for the cabinet.

1. Apply stain to the chipboard sheet and allow it to dry.
2. On the inside of the side parts you need to mill grooves 2 cm high and 5 mm deep. The first groove is made at a level of 9 cm, then 6 more grooves are made with an interval of 25 cm between the edges of the recess.
3. Apply glue to the grooves. In this case, you should place the side part in a horizontal position on the floor with the grooves up, insert shelves into it and install the second side element on top.
4. Place the product vertically. Use screws to connect the top and main parts.
5. To give stability to the structure, you additionally need to attach 2 corners in the inner part.
6. Attach the chipboard board to the bookcase from the back using screws.
7. Edge with MDF edge. This can be done either with screws or with glue. In the first case, the product will be less attractive, but more reliable. Using glue, you can provide the structure with the most aesthetic appearance

With a little imagination, a library at home can be placed in absolutely any room. Using free walls, space under windows or an unused corner will create an original and stylish place where your favorite books will find a secluded haven. The process of decorating a unique interior will certainly bring aesthetic pleasure, and in the end all guests of the house will be pleasantly surprised.