For many of us who love books, collecting them, reading them, and hoarding them, bookshelves hold a more nuanced meaning. It is not only a place where one stores their prized possessions, but it also displays them, in turn becoming one with the prized possessions. If you think nobody has this passionate intensity for books and bookshelves, think again, as Belle (cc: Beauty and the Beast) decides to stay after seeing the library (Stockholm syndrome, yes, but also books!), hey, we don’t make the rules. However, having a library or a study is not the most accessible thing, and we know it, so the next best thing is having a good bookshelf, which is available in all shapes and sizes across budgets. Check out our list of the best bookcase designs that will definitely help you buy your perfect shelf—the perfect vessel that carries all those books that you 'plan' to read.
5 Book Shelves Design Ideas To Build Your Own Library
Open Bookshelf
Let's start with the most basic, yet the most popular, simply because of the space it provides. Open bookshelf styles are the most common and allow you to store more books and knick-knacks. You can find these in most libraries and studies, and because of their capacity, they could work well in both drawing rooms and bedrooms.
In-built Shelves
If there is one thing that everyone has been buzzing about in the interior designers community, vis-à-vis shelves, it is the inbuilt shelves. They are supposed to save you space, would be required to be a part of your home planning, and look very elegant as they help the whole place come together. You can have them in the arch shape or just as plane rectangles, and they look best when styled with different elements of decor and, of course, books.
Add Cabinets
Cabinet-style bookshelves work great if you have a vintage-minimal aesthetic with rustic-earthy tones all around. With cabinets, your books have a slightly less chance of collecting dust, i.e., low maintenance, and you can store more stuff above them, which is always a plus for Indian homes as we are a community of champion hoarders.
Floating Shelves
Not the most book-hoarder-friendly, but floating shelves can really work for someone who has a manageable number of books or someone who is looking to decorate while only displaying a few. They also work great for someone who is decorating a small, closed place, most likely an apartment, and cannot afford the space for a huge bookcase, making them perfect to stack your books, decor pieces, or plants with long vines.
Corner Shelves
Bringing in corner shelves is literally killing two birds with one stone. You get a bookshelf to store your books along with other bits and bobs while sorting out decor for your corner. And with corner bookshelves style, you can really take the unconventional route, where you can build a tree structure with branches around that have shelves all over. There are many ready-made options available as well, with zig-zag or stepped bookcase designs, but again, not for hoarders.
Pro-Tip: Check Out 5 ways to style your corners here.
