Cabinet requirements
The main task of a bookcase is to store books, so the bookcase must have a large number of shelves.
The upper shelves are usually designed to store expensive books, the lower ones for cheaper ones. Each shelf should support about 10 kilograms of weight.
Types of material for making cabinets:
- Expensive (from natural wood) - birch, ash, cherry, oak, walnut, etc.
- Budget - chipboard, MDF with laminated, polymer coating.
- Plastic - this material will also not be too expensive. You need to handle it with care, as scratches may remain on the plastic. Plastic will not be environmentally friendly like wood.
Bookcases come in different shapes. Here are some of them:
How to choose a bookcase and shelving for your home: we are guided by the sizes, dimensions and material
In addition to the external characteristics that are most often used, it is worth getting more information about the size of the product, its dimensions and material. The functionality and strength of the structure, its durability, and, therefore, the benefit from the purchase depend on this.
Dimensions and dimensions
There are several ready-made recommendations regarding the size of library cabinets and sections. Of course, the chosen model, first of all, must fit well into the room. There is no point in cluttering a small space with a huge structure. Therefore, before starting to choose a model, measure the free area and determine how much space the closet will take up in the room.
Small modern cabinets are very spacious
The dimensions of large and tall products are different. The number of sections varies. There may be five, or even ten. If the room is positioned as a library, then in this case the sections should occupy the entirety of at least one wall.
For small rooms, it is advisable to purchase low cabinets that are not designed for a large number of books.
The dimensions of small models can be in the range of 100×30 cm. A self-respecting manufacturer is always ready to change the dimensions and dimensions of the product according to the client’s order.
The depth is 15-35 cm. Depending on the format of the books, choose indicators from smaller to larger
The thickness of the shelf and its length are taken into account. If the thickness is less than 2.5 cm, then there is a chance of the product sagging under the weight of printed publications, especially if the length is over one meter.
Material of manufacture
The books, placed in a row, have a decent weight. That is why the shelves are made of reliable and durable material. Approximately, each shelf should easily support more than 10 kg.
They want to choose the best for their home. Many people are looking for bookcases and libraries made of solid wood
But book furniture with veneer is no less popular: inside, under the wooden covering, there is MDF. Cheaper options are also presented in MDF, coated with polyvinyl chloride film with an imitation of wood pattern.
Furniture made from chipboard is also in an affordable price range, but is not considered the best and environmentally friendly.
Aluminum shelving is durable. Increasingly, metal is covered with a film to resemble natural wood. Doors with glass are transparent, frosted or tinted, with or without a sandblasted pattern.
Corner
Corner - a corner cabinet has such a feature that the shelves are arranged in the shape of the letter L, that is, one row of books is perpendicular to the other
Types of designs
A corner bookcase made using the latest technologies is distinguished by increased functionality, versatility, and full compliance with modern concepts of elegance and style. It is ideal for displaying souvenirs, photographs, models of equipment, commemorative postcards, homemade toys, puzzles and sea shells.
Depending on the chosen style, geometric solution, and technical characteristics, such library cabinets are divided into open and closed, collapsible and non-dismountable.
Closet
Sliding wardrobe - sliding doors protect books from dust and sunlight. Sometimes glass doors are used (but such a glass cabinet does not protect books from direct sunlight. The pros and cons are discussed below).
Style and home library: which bookcases will suit different styles (with photo examples)
A bookcase does not suit every interior. To ensure that the room does not lose its attractiveness and its decorative image, it is worth spending some time on selecting highly specific book furniture. Only in this case, the book depository will not become an eyesore and will be able to qualitatively transform a stylish interior.
Classic
Classic is always elegance, which is expressed in shape, color, and lines. For classics, valuable types of wood are selected, which can be decorated with patina or cast bronze.
A simple and beautiful model merges with space in harmony
A simple solution for a classic living room
Country and Provence
Country canons require natural colors or pastel tones. For country music, only natural wood is used. At most, it can be painted.
Light colors do not seem inharmonious against the backdrop of country furnishings
The bleached wood mini-library is especially good
Authentic fittings, aged facades, paintings and patterns will do honor to such furniture.
Delicate Provence does not tolerate massive libraries; models are most often narrow and low
The closet should not attract attention to itself, so no bulkiness, only lightness!
Related article:
Provence style in the interior. Photos, the main canons of style, rules for designing different rooms, selection of decor and finishing materials, recommendations from designers and a selection of the most sophisticated interiors, photo examples of the best options for using the style - in our publication.
Modern Design Ideas
Modern styles, such as high-tech, easily combine book furniture with materials such as plastic, wood, glass, chrome steel. The monotony of the facades does not suffer from the combination of a small color range, namely white, black, gray shades.
The shape of the product can only be stylish, regular geometric shape
Minimalism, with its laconicism, lack of unnecessary decor and bright colors, requires suitable shelves
Although loft is a style of the last century, today it is gaining more and more fans, which adds a touch of modernity to it.
Wardrobe with drawers
Wardrobe with drawers - books are stored in the upper drawers, other things in the lower ones
Methodology for selecting materials
Light wood is typically used to make bookcases and shelving. Housings and support posts are most often made from chipboard and fiberboard. The facing components of book furniture are made of veneer, polymers, and metal.
Since the façade of such furniture is designed to add an element of grace and high aesthetics to the decor, it is usually made from valuable, expensive and elite wood.
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Placing shelves one on top of the other
Placing shelves one on top of the other is the most popular option for shelving, as you can use your imagination, or, based on drawings on the Internet, create a ready-made version with your own hands
Design and types of racks
Book storage racks are usually rectangular in shape. Their main functional elements are horizontal boards, divided into sections by load-bearing posts.
Depending on the application, shelving can be built-in, floor-mounted or wall-mounted. There is also a simplified version of shelving furniture that looks like a bookcase. It is usually made low and equipped with square shelves.
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.
How best to place a system for storing books in different rooms
Books bring people a whole range of emotions: from joy to sadness. This is a whole emotional palette. Such an important object in mental, spiritual and intellectual terms must fit perfectly in the room intended for it. Let's try to find the best place for publications dear to our hearts.
We place a bookcase in the library and study
If the house has such purposeful rooms as a study and a library, then the owners can be quietly envied. In this case, the books are where they should be. The atmosphere in such rooms is literally reading.
Built-in corner bookcases and libraries for the home look interesting. This is a full-fledged part of the wall, making up a single composition
A rational approach by designers will allow for maximum savings on space: the entrance to the office can be turned into a library that is in harmony with the interior of the room and correlates with the office
Corners easily become useful workspaces
How to place books in the living room and dining room
The living room is also a good place for reading. The book depository in this room does honor to the owners of the house and adds respectability to them. Designer bookcases are installed here, which both households and guests admire.
A model with an original frame decorates the interior, adding a unique twist to it.
The living room involves a combination of open and closed storage systems. In the lower compartments, closed with opaque doors, you can store magazines and other periodicals, and place a reading library on the shelves.
Open-type designs are also appropriate for the living room, this is especially true for modern styles
The dining room is quite capable of serving not only as a place for meals, but also as a library. Although this room usually contains furniture with beautiful dishes, why not make it even more functional?
It is very pleasant to dine in the company of Seneca, Dostoevsky, Kant and Cervantes
In the dining room it is better to place cabinets with doors to prevent any dirt from getting on the spines of books.
They also read in the bedroom and children's room.
Although bookcases are rarely placed in the bedroom, this does not mean that this should not be done. Having an interesting book at hand will always be appreciated by those who like to read before bedtime!
Sometimes they don’t even look for a special place to place book furniture. The window space doesn't look cluttered if you fill it with printed publications on open shelves
Bedrooms are decorated with books if the apartment does not have a lot of space and free rooms where a library, albeit small, could fit.
A modern bedroom will benefit from creative bookshelves.
Separate shelves with books add the necessary amount of balance and stability to the bedroom interior.
The children's room is no exception, because we instill a love of reading from an early age. If a child doesn’t see books in his room, how can he develop a love for the printed word?
Children's rooms have open and closed shelves
It will be convenient for school-age children to get textbooks and favorite stories from an open shelf
Books are not only placed in a separate cabinet. Above the bed are the most favorite publications and those that are waiting to be read soon.
Corridor and space near the stairs: a great place for a library
If the corridor is wide enough, it should definitely be used as a book storage. This is an added benefit to the functionality of this often inefficiently used circulation space.
The corridor should not be overly heavy, so choose shallow racks and shelves that do not occupy the entire wall space
The place under the stairs and around it literally begs to be noticed: this is a chic place to place any number of books without worrying about how to fit the wardrobe into the style of the room
Sometimes the expression "books under the stairs" means that they are literally under the stairs
A smart approach to saving usable space
Accommodation options
Along the wall - usually a sofa and a table are placed next to the shelving to make reading comfortable and pleasant.
Note!
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In the corner - most often they choose a glass cabinet that does not take up much space.
In the center of the room - such a cabinet requires a large room. Books are stored not only for personal use, but also for display, so the cabinet should look quite expensive.
Furniture for books and interior
If your room is made in a classic style, then it is better to prefer bookcases made of wood. Carved elements and antique finishes are allowed. Red-brown cabinets add respectability to the room. But if it is made of light wood, then it will become the main element of the spaciousness and airiness of the room.
The classic style of the interior also implies a slight aging of the facades of the furniture. And for those who do not accept this, you can choose cabinets in a more modern classic style, where there are spacious niches with closed and open shelves, drawers and elements with glass. For books that are rarely used or require protection from sunlight and dirt, a closed corner cabinet is ideal.
For a stylish living room, bookcases with mirrored designs are suitable. It is advisable that the doors be decorated with a mirror, but it will look harmonious behind the open shelves. But it is mirror doors that allow you to expand the space and increase it. Transparent doors will help you choose the right book without compromising their protection. Contrasts look good on facades or also MDF, but with frosted or tinted glass. Sliding doors with a solid mirror panel in a golden frame look perfect both in the classic style of the interior and in other mature styles, except hi-tech.
A corner cabinet will not only look harmonious in your discreet style, but will also allow you to organize limited space. Place not only books in it, but also trinkets or photographs dear to your heart on open shelves. It is not necessary to choose only a corner cabinet; it can be built-in or shelved. Perhaps a module made from different types of such cabinets will look organically in the style of your room. The main thing is that they are designed in the same style, otherwise it will be a global bad taste.
What to look for when choosing a cabinet
Dimensions – naturally the number of books that should fit is taken into account. If you want to install a TV, then small sizes are perfect. Such a bookcase in the interior will look very harmonious, performing a double function.
Coloring - the color should be clean and bring comfort. Typically, cabinets with white cladding are chosen to brighten up the room. It is advisable that the interior have furniture with the same color.
Material of manufacture – to prevent books from becoming damp, it is advisable to choose a cabinet made of wood. If you don’t have enough money, you can order from MDF or laminated chipboard.
Note!
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Style – here you need to take into account the interior of the room as a whole. The cabinet should not stand out. The main thing is harmony. The piece of furniture should be combined with the overall style of the room.
Popular models
The design of bookcases and libraries for the home requires the presence of open and closed shelves, drawers, and niches of various sizes. Models are divided into several types depending on the assembly features, design, and type of door fastening. A home library can be placed in a specially equipped niche, along the wall, in the center of the room. Depending on the type of installation of cabinets, there are three types of modifications.
| Model | Characteristics | Advantages | Flaws |
| Modular | Consists of individual elements installed in any order depending on the preferences of the owner and the characteristics of the room | You can adjust the dimensions of the product to the dimensions of the room by rearranging the modules. Possibility to select elements with the desired shelf height | There is a high probability of modules or their parts falling due to careless handling; with frequent movements, the furniture quickly wears out |
| Built-in | It assumes the presence of a niche in the wall in which the side and rear walls are installed and shelves are attached | Saves space. It is distinguished by its robust configuration that does not allow it to fall. Depth allows you to place voluminous publications in the cabinet | Inability to move to another place |
| Hull | It is a fully assembled bookcase, complete with back, front, side walls, shelves, doors | Does not require preparation for installation. Can be moved to another location without dismantling | A strong, level base for installation is required (if placed on an inclined surface, furniture may fall and become deformed) |
A built-in wardrobe is often used as a universal storage system for books, decorative elements, dishes or clothes.
Modular Built-in Cabinet
Depending on the type of manufacturing, the following are distinguished:
- Vertical products. Bookcases in a classic form (the height exceeds the width of the product). Available in pencil cases, two-door models, and open shelves. The advantage of such furniture is that it saves space. Among the disadvantages is the need to use additional equipment (ladders, chairs) in order to get printed publications from the upper shelves.
- Horizontal modifications. Assume a predominance of width over height. These include a display case, a wall shelf, a floor stand, and models with a work area for a laptop. Among the advantages of this type of furniture, one should highlight the unusual design and the ability to fill the space of empty walls in spacious rooms. The downside of this property is the inability to use horizontal models in a small area of the room.
Pros and cons of library cabinets, their distinctive features
Based on the type of accessibility and method of viewing literature, they distinguish:
- Open storage systems with glazed doors or no doors at all. Suitable for storing recent issues of magazines, figurines, watches, photographs.
- Closed structures are equipped with light-tight, tightly closing doors. Designed for storing documents, manuscripts, and rarely used collected works.
A closed bookcase does not allow sunlight to pass through, thereby providing favorable conditions for storing printed publications. Open allows you to quickly find the desired volume, as well as present the most valuable copies to the attention of guests.
Manufacturers produce models with several types of doors with the following features:
- Sliding bookcases for the home are installed in niches. The doors move on horizontal rails along the structure to the left and right. This type of door also has sliding wardrobes for books.
- Hinged ones are divided into three-, two-door and one-door models. The doors are hinged to the side walls. They open using installed handles or by pressing on the surface.
- Models with drawers are suitable for storing catalogs, subject indexes, and miniature publications.
To protect the contents, drawers and doors are equipped with built-in locks. This option improves an office cabinet, a valuable home library, and is used to equip archival storage.
Open
Closed
Vertical Horizontal
Sliding Hinged With drawers
Style examples
Classic - you should choose a cabinet made of wood, decorated with carved elements or bronze overlays. The main thing is to take into account the smoothness of the lines and warm colors.
English style - material - wood. The main distinguishing feature is massiveness. Dark tones can be used (for example, shades of brown)
Country - its peculiarity is its inconspicuousness. The closet should play a secondary role. Carved elements are possible.
High-tech - any materials can be used. The main thing is minimalism and conciseness.
Color solutions
A new library purchased for a home or office must be combined with:
- with the color of existing furniture;
- with the interior of the room;
- with finishing of floors and stairs in case of purchasing wooden cabinets.
Pros and cons of library cabinets, their distinctive features
A certain style allows the use of a specific color scheme:
- for Provence, it is advisable to choose a sliding bookcase in pastel colors;
- dark wood furniture is suitable for a colonial, classic interior;
- for environmental, Japanese, neoclassical trends, it is recommended to purchase libraries of light shades;
- For modern solutions, chrome-plated products and materials in bright, rich colors are selected.
Regardless of the style of the room, a children's bookcase should be colorful, with multiple color combinations possible.
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.
Original home library design
Designers are actively designing and annually offering new original models that combine versatility and original appearance. Designer cabinets emphasize the individuality and style of the interior. Among the wide variety of modifications, the following are especially popular:
- a reading chair with niches instead of a back and side panels;
- staircase with built-in library;
- spiral-shaped design;
- a piano with a rack at the back of the instrument;
- tilted or corner cabinets;
- shelves located diagonally or in a chaotic manner;
- models designed on the principle of alternating open and closed sections;
- products in the form of a honeycomb with invisible fastenings and lighting, creating the impression that the furniture is floating in the air.
Models of bookcases with glass doors, combination with the interior
Models of stylish bookcases are equipped with directional or spot lighting. It can perform both a decorative function, drawing attention to some publications, and the main one - to facilitate the reading process in the absence of daylight. When choosing lamps for lighting fixtures, it is better to give preference to diode products. They provide a sufficient level of illumination in the room and do not harm paper pages.
When choosing a library, it is recommended to pay attention to the design of the bookcase and its style. It is advisable that the furniture be combined with the interior of the room in which it will be installed:
- Bookcases in a modern style are made of glass and chromed metal; they organically fit into trends such as hi-tech and minimalism.
- Antique bookcases with bronze linings and time-worn corners are suitable for creating an English, Victorian or classic interior.
- Plastic modules from Ikea suit eclecticism and minimalism.
- Wooden classics are an ideal companion for eco, country, as well as many historical styles (empire, baroque, neoclassical).
Since the furniture wall takes up most of the room, it is often its appearance that shapes the style of the room. This point should be taken into account during repairs and refurbishment of premises.
High tech
Minimalism
Classic style
English Victorian
Eclecticism
Eco-style Country Empire
Baroque
Neoclassical
Photos of bookcases
Types of cabinets
Furniture for books comes with open shelves, with free access to books, and closed ones, in which the contents are hidden behind glass facades. Closed models ensure that books will not be exposed to dust or moisture, and they will not deteriorate under the influence of ultraviolet radiation.
Usually closed products have holes for ventilation. The optimal conditions in them are 50% humidity and a temperature of 20°C.
Open models that resemble shelving are more preferable if you use books frequently. However, they do not guarantee long-term storage of literature. It is better to place them in a dark place so that the sun's rays do not harm the volumes.
Cabinets can be made of wood or metal, narrow or wide. They are made from solid wood, laminated particle boards, MDF with natural veneer or film.
An interior item that transforms a living room or office
According to their execution they are:
- vertical;
- horizontal;
- rectangular.
Differences between standard and non-standard products
Standard cabinets consist of two parts. The top one is glazed. Beautiful and expensive books that require special protection are placed there. The lower part is usually without glass. It contains regular specimens.
Classic style
Glass doors can be framed in wood. Sometimes there are aluminum ones. When anodizing, the material is covered with a special film made to look like gold, silver or champagne.
Types of products by placement:
- linear;
- built-in;
- modular;
- mounted;
- corner.
Built-in models allow you to use every centimeter of the room. Most often they are made to order . Corner ones are suitable for small spaces. They do not clutter it, but save space.
It is not recommended to place furniture in the bedroom or nursery
Wall mounted ones are mounted on the wall. If you don't have many books, this option is ideal . You can buy both a glazed and an open model. The best location for them is above a desk or computer desk.
The racks have neither a back wall nor doors. They can be used as partitions. If you need to install such a model against a wall, the structure should be secured.
