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Bookshelves designs for living room


24 Inspiring Living Room Bookshelf Ideas

Design Stiles

While the term "shelfie" may have been kicking around the internet since 2014, as far as we're concerned, this trend has officially reached timeless status. (Who can resist an artful arrangement of books, plants, and knickknacks when placed just-so on a sleek bookshelf?) But the latest inspiration rooms we love place a *little* more emphasis on the bookcase's original purpose—that is, storing books.

Whether you're a voracious reader who spends half her monthly budget at the local indie bookstore or just someone who appreciates flipping through a few choice periodicals, there's no denying that a pair of stately bookshelves in the living room lends an elevated, well-appointed air to your space. And with fall in full swing, we can't think of anything that sounds cozier than curling up in your own personal home library with a cup of coffee and a favorite read.

Luckily, no matter if you're blessed with built-ins or just rocking a few IKEA KALLAXes, these designs will fill you with the shelf-confidence you need to make your living room's bookshelves really stand out. (Just don't be surprised if these stacked shelves inspire you to pick up a little more reading material of your own—don't say we didn't warn you.)

Here are our most inspiring bookshelf design ideas for the living room.

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Morse Design

Rule-breakers, rejoice: this expertly-styled shelf shows there's no reason to stay inside the lines. Popping an oversized piece of art out in the center of the shelves creates a playful, eye-catching effect we love.

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Fire Finish Interiors

Blame it on one-too-many viewings of "Beauty & The Beast" when we were kids, but there's something downright dreamy about a rolling library-style ladder. It adds a certain charm and works well if you have taller shelves with novels just out of your reach. Pick up a reclaimed piece to add vintage flair to your shelves.

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House Nine Interior Design

There are two schools of thought when it comes to wall-mounted TVs: one suggests making the TV as unobtrusive as possible through various forms of camouflage. ..but we're partial to the opposite approach. Frame your TV with shelves and let it be the family focal point it is.

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Daniel Triassi

Drop it low. We love the optical illusion of "extending" a few low shelves by color blocking the wall above with the same paint color. Not only does it add a whimsical touch to standard floating shelves, but it lets you play with proportion too—and add lighting right above your favorite titles.

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Olga Naiman

One more way to get your wallpaper fix: by dressing up boxy white built-ins a la designer Olga Naiman. Adding fun prints and colors can help showcase your home library with ease. You can choose to add wallpaper to the entire back of the shelving or pick and choose certain ones to create interest and intrigue.

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Sita Montgomery Interiors

Give your favorite book (and a few hundred of its best friends) the star treatment it deserves. Try adding gallery-style light fixtures mounted right above the shelves to cast a spotlight on your collection. Nothing but the best for a literary masterpiece, right?

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In Honor of Design

This might be the coolest way to draw your eye upward that we've ever seen. A long and skinny expanse of books positioned at the top third of the room's walls brings a personality-filled accent to this cozy den. Adding a row of artwork above only adds a creative edge to your artistic display.

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Bloggaibagis

More of a magazine reader? We hear you. This minimal ledge system makes for the perfect place to display all your favorite glossies (and swap them out whenever the latest issues arrive.)

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Design Stiles

Floating shelves aren't just for the kitchen. Opt for an ultra-airy feel by employing them in a living room—they balance out heavier architectural elements beautifully. As a bonus, stacking floating shelves creates a stunning illusion that is properly displayed without any furniture blockage.

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Allie Wilson Home

If you don't have a ton of space or want to keep things understated, we totally get it. Grabbing a vintage or midcentury modern style shelving unit and dedicating certain portions to your books is an ideal option. You don't have to sacrifice your love of literature due to limited space.

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Our Cliftonwood Home

If you really want your at-home library to shine, you don't just have to focus on the shelving. Try organizing the books together by color. The rainbow trend is eye-catching and creates an artistic masterpiece in its own right.

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K Shan Design

Another way to highlight your favorite novels is by using bookends. However, what you use is entirely up to you and a great way to show some personality. Any type of heavy knick-knack, vintage dećor item, or even a houseplant will do the trick.

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East and Lane

Don't just make a statement with your books—make an entrance. Add bookcases or shelving around the doorway leading into your living room to create a framing effect. If you want to give the impression of a larger space, match the walls and shelves to create a seamless appearance.

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Molly Bruno Interiors

Displaying your collection of books can be done in a variety of ways. Experimenting with color and symmetry is an easy way to ensure your bookcases are tidy and sleek yet don't steal away from what you're truly trying to display. In the living room shown here, the blue bookcases are already a strong focal point. Still, the close attention to detail regarding the shelves and the item placements on each one create a balanced and sophisticated aesthetic.

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Dan Rak Design

Rather than going with wooden bor boxed in shelving, go for a metallic modern version instead. The simple, silver shelving blends into the wall with ease and doesn't take up too much space. It's an ideal option if you have wallpaper or a paint color you aren't wanting to cover up with traditional bookcases.

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Domm Dot Com

No need to limit your collection—take up an entire wall if you have to! Turning your book collection into an accent wall is an incredible conversation starter and puts all your books on display, so you're never too far from a great read. You can also keep your couch close by to create a cozy reading space.

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Katherine Carter

While there is absolutely no shame in lining up every inch of space with books, sometimes you may prefer a more minimal option. If you have a selection of carefully curated books you want to display, try only placing one or two on each shelf to allow them to shine. You can also opt to lay them horizontally and stack them one on top of the other since you'll have the extra space—the unordinary placement will definitely have people's attention.

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Katie Martinez Design

Not ready to commit to a full-on dark bookcase? Opt to paint just the back wall of each shelf to add a bold pop of color that will flatter all your favorite knickknacks. If your shelving is white or a lighter shade, the contrasts will add a bit of drama to your collection.

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Katie Martinez Design

Sometimes we have uneven space or layouts that we simply can't avoid—so make the most of them. Build your bookcase or install your shelves in a way that incorporates the architecture, like the living room shown here did with its shelves custom fit around the slightly raised wall. The dimensional effect was worth the extra effort.

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Lindsey Brooke Design

If your goal is to make a unique impression, then look no further. Rather than displaying the spines of your books, turn them around and display the opposite. If your walls and bookcase are a dark color, this works even better due to the contrast of the lighter pages with the furniture. Who doesn't love a bit of mystery, right?

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Mary Patton Design

Who knew built-ins could stand out so much? A bit of on-trend royal purple paint transforms these shelves into something truly special. The bright bookcase paired with the orange couch truly catches your attention and makes for a fun atmosphere to discuss your favorite chapters with others.

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Marie Flanigan Interiors

If you don't want to stick to straight shelving concepts, we totally get it. Adding angular inserts to a standard built-in bookshelf brings an edgy architectural element we love. Plus, it creates opportunities for more playful styling arrangements.

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Rikki Snyder

For those who prefer a more eclectic style, don't feel limited by your traditional shelving options. Shelves that are completely concealed by your books give a delightful floating appearance and can work as a place to display other dećor items. Take it a step further and use unorthodox items as a place to showcase your books—we're a big fan of the way this wall used old-school desks.

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Rikki Snyder

Dealing with windows and bookcase placement can be tricky but is not impossible to work with. Opting for smaller bookshelves makes a gorgeous impression without blocking any of your natural light. If you happen to have a fireplace like the living room shown here, smaller bookcases can also create a streamlined appearance that looks lovely and cohesive.

20 Home Library Ideas Every Bookworm Will Love

11 Inspiring Living Room Bookshelf Ideas for Spaces of All Sizes

My relationship with my books is everlasting. With their dog-eared pages and patinaed covers, books endure well into our tech-saturated world. Every time I look at my little library, I revel in the literary travels I’ve taken. That’s why I love to explore fresh living room bookshelf ideas for inspiration on how to arrange these bounded beauties.

Typically, the tip for a stylish bookshelf is as follows: include one-third books, one-third home décor accessories, and one-third negative space. I’ve learned this rule of thumb from interviewing countless interior designers. My take? Go rogue. Let the shelves breathe or fill them until they’re brimming. Of course, you want to avoid clutter but you can still play by your own rules. It’s invigorating to create on a clean palette—and in this case, your shelf is your canvas. 

For inspiration, I perused our Home Tour archives to see how some of the most design-savvy women we know style their bookshelves. Each of these shelving arrangements boasts personality and charm. They’re an invitation to mix colors and keepsakes, blend different titles and genres, and lean flea-market finds next to favorite authors.

So, to draw from Camille’s advice from her own recent living room bookshelf refresh: Put on a great playlist, get creative, and breathe some new life into your home with these 10 ideas pulled from some of our favorite spaces.  

Feature image by Michelle Nash.

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Image by Nikole Ramsay

#1: Looking Up

Leave it to Alex McCabe, the co-founder of textile and home décor collection Kip&Co, to boast one of the chicest bookshelves—ever. Everything about this set-up, from the rich black industrial materials to the quirky art, impresses, but what is particularly noteworthy is the vertical scale. McCabe capitalized on the floor-to-ceiling real estate to display her beloved books and keepsakes.

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Photo by Danielle Sabol

#2: Going Minimal

A handful of books. Several noir collectors’ items. Three minimally framed pieces of art. This minimalist bookshelf set-up à la Ashley Robertson is total dream. For one, it proves that you don’t need much to create a conversation-worthy shelf. It also celebrates the beauty found in allowing negative space to breathe.

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Image by Molly Culver

#3: Embracing the Flip Side

Austin-based interior designer Emily Kunas has a knack for merging color and natural materials, as evidenced by her stunning and breezy 70s condo. She also adds an unexpected twist to things: Her shelf boasts extra interest with the books’ spines turned inward. This look offers a layer of natural-hued texture.

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Image by Laura Alexandre

#4: Letting the Books Take the Back Seat

That’s right. It’s a bookshelf—but it’s also a means to display anything you want, be it plants, art, even negative space. Consider only adding a few books to the shelf to let alternate pieces shine. Christina Cleveland nails this décor look in her creative DIY-inspired Austin loft.

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Image by Belathée Photography

#5: Mixing and Matching

No rules are followed on Jennifer Vaughn Miller’s shelf, which is one of a million reasons to love it. The New York-based designer blends sizes, genres, and colors, even tossing in a few notebooks, in her vertical bookshelf. The result is a look that’s equally eclectic and accessible.

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Image by Ashlee Fox

#6: Keeping It Neutral

We know that Anissa Zajac, the co-founder of House Seven Design + Build, says to always follow a plan when it comes to interior design. For her own Indiana cottage, she abides by the rule of allowing neutrals and textures to reign, which is so beautifully exemplified in her bookshelf. With minimal books and ample texture, this look is a study of the beauty of earthy accessories.

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Image by Teal Thomsen

#7: Ladder Matters

There is undeniable ease inside the home of Ashley Merrill. Everything has its place and intention, including this mobile ladder gracing the living room shelves. Leaned against a track that goes from one end of the shelved wall to the other, it allows for easy access to books and keepsakes displayed at high heights. Brilliant and stunning.

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Photo by Michelle Nash.

#8: Color Coding

Grouping books according to their cover colors is such an easy way to add instant dimension to a space. And when you incorporate the color-coding look in a taller bookshelf, it naturally draws the eye upward, thus making a small living room seem bigger.

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Image by Michelle Nash

#9: Two-Sided

Noticed and admired: dual-sized shelves that showcase varying amounts of books and collectibles, as seen in Camille’s cozy, neutral living room. These shelves are different in size while still anchoring the space and offering ample room to showcase a mix of books, plants, and other small home accessories—all of which can be changed and updated for a quick (and affordable) room refresh.

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Image by Belathée Photography

#10: Painted Shelves

Traditionally, bookshelf colors tend to come in neutral wood, black, or white. This makes sense, considering that it’s usually the displayed books and wares that call the attention. But that’s not to say the shelf itself can’t take some of the spotlight, just as Megan O’Neill’s striking sapphire blue bookshelves do here. A coat of vibrant paint seriously ups the ante.

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#11: Crisp White

With the above said about a brightly painted bookshelf, a row of sublimely white shelves will always do the décor trick of streamlining a room. Here, the combination of the low-profile frame and snow-white whites ensures that the color-coded books, magazines, plants, and accessories draw in the eye.

What’s your favorite way to style your bookshelves? Share which of these ideas you’re excited to try, stat!

60+ photos, modern design ideas

Types of bookshelves

Main types of designs.

Wall-mounted

Most common, equipped with wall brackets. Mounted models can be a simple or multi-tiered structure with a different geometric shape. To create an original accent in the room, hanging shelves on ropes will help.

Pictured are hanging bookshelves near the window in the interior of a children's room.

Floor-standing

Similar products in the form of a combination of a cabinet with open shelves for books are characterized by good stability and, if necessary, can be moved to the right place in the room. These furniture elements often have a classic rectangular or corner design.

Pictured is a guest room decorated with floor-standing bookshelves.

Tabletop

These models can be conveniently placed on a table or chest of drawers and serve as storage space for books of various sizes.

Shelving

Such through structures do not clutter up the room and do not steal space, which is especially important in small apartments. Shelving provides convenient storage of the necessary literature and creates a very comfortable and cozy atmosphere in the room. In addition, these shelves can be filled not only with books, but also with various decorative elements, in the form of figurines, souvenirs, dishes, photographs, flowers and other trinkets that complement the decor.

Pictured is a living room interior with a three-tier white bookshelf.

Rack Shelf

Basically, the Rack Shelf is a rotating model or a horizontal rectangular structure on legs, special wheels or casters. Such products are quite mobile and are most often performed in an open version.

Material

Types of materials used in the production of bookshelves:

Photo of bookshelves made of wood in the interior of the living room.

Shapes and sizes

With bookshelves that reach to the ceiling, an entire home library can be placed. Such a multi-level rack is considered more relevant for bright and spacious rooms. A special softening of the geometry of space and the environment can be achieved with the help of round and semicircular models, which have graceful sinuous lines and smooth shapes.

Quite a stylish and at the same time practical interior solution is herringbone products, which consist of several separate modules, shaped structures with honeycombs or diagonal rhombuses.

The photo shows the interior of the study, decorated with a corner bookcase.

The most current and fashionable option are vertical and horizontal shelves or racks. They are very reliable, static and can have any design that blends harmoniously with the overall style of the entire room. In the case of a small room, narrow shelves are perfect, which do not attract too much attention and are a secondary piece of furniture.

Pictured is a contemporary living room with ceiling-height bookshelves.

Bookshelf colors

Designs in dark wenge shade are a classic solution. They look very expensive and endow the space with a certain luxury.

The photo shows white bookshelves located under the stairs in the interior of the hall.

For a more sober design, black, white, gray bookshelves or black and white models are preferred, which combine two contrasting colors at the same time, filling the environment with a modern spirit.

The photo shows the interior of the living room with hanging two-tier bookshelves in turquoise.

Location

For more rational use of free space in the room, book structures are installed in the corner. Such products can be wall-mounted, placed on the floor or have several sections. Window openings framed by 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.

Pictured are illuminated oblique bookshelves located by the attic window in a private house.

To spice up the atmosphere, you can arrange book shelves above the fireplace, place them on both sides of the hearth or TV. To create a stylish design and comfortable reading before going to bed, products above the bed in combination with wall sconces will contribute. Achieving significant space savings is easily achieved through a structure installed around the doorway, which involves the storage of a large number of publications.

Photos of shelves in the interior of rooms

Photo examples of decoration in the design of various rooms.

To the children's room

This piece of furniture is an almost indispensable element in the interior of a schoolchild's room. Shelves with books placed on them provide a neat look to the room, greatly simplify the learning process and allow the child to be accustomed to neatness. For the nursery, they choose the most convenient and at the same time original models, for example, it can be a round rotating rack, shelves in the form of wood, snakes, letters and much more.

The photo shows the interior of a boy's nursery with letter-shaped bookshelves above the table.

The best placement option is a place next to the bed, which provides comfortable reading before going to bed. According to the color scheme in the child's room, both bright products in blue, red and green tones, as well as models in more muted blue, peach or pink shades are appropriate. For a girl, shelves are chosen in the form of houses, a cloud, a flower or various animals. More thoughtful transformer models or interesting options are suitable for a teenager, which can be in the form of a ladder, globe, hemisphere, spiral, zigzag or triangular design.

In the hall

In the living room at the expense of the home library, it turns out to achieve a truly aesthetic design. The place next to the shelves can be turned into a cozy reading nook by decorating it with a soft sofa or a comfortable armchair in combination with a floor lamp.

The photo shows a low floor bookcase in the interior of the living room.

On the balcony

A loggia or balcony area is often equipped with floor systems, hinged corner or straight models. In order to protect books from dust, moisture and UV exposure, closed shelves are also used.

In the bedroom

If there is a niche in the bedroom, it can be supplemented with bookshelves, which can differ in the most diverse form or be complemented by lighting. In this room, such products are often placed near the window, door or above the bed.

In the corridor

It is quite possible to place a home library in a rather long corridor. Such structures are mainly installed away from the front door, equipped with shallow shelves and open facades, showing neatly and orderly arranged literature.

In an office

Shelving up to the ceiling is most often selected for an office and sometimes they are equipped with a retractable stepladder, thereby creating a single compositional design that adds special impressiveness and solidity to the interior.

Design ideas

Quite an original and at the same time practical solution is a rack with glass doors. This design with hinged or sliding doors is perfect for storing valuables that need to be protected from dust, moisture and sunlight. Sometimes a transparent glass facade is decorated with a barely noticeable tint.

The photo shows the design of a bookcase with glass doors in the office interior.

Wrought-iron bookcases are particularly functional and highly decorative. Despite their elegant appearance, they are very durable. Antique products have a truly unique look and unusual design, undoubtedly becoming an original element of the entire interior.

Original shelf selection

Such unique designs are considered an independent interior decoration. For example, an original design solution is an armchair combined with book shelves, which saves space or various products of a non-standard shape, reminiscent of a spiral, a wheel, a world map, and so on. Soaring models that have a hidden mount look especially unusual.

The photo shows the interior with the original wooden bookshelves.

The tree-shaped structure with outstretched branches looks no less original and provides an interesting arrangement of books. Shelves or racks can also be made in the form of letters of different colors, such a design would be especially appropriate for a child's room.

Photo of bookcases

Shelves allow to emphasize the design of the surrounding space and form a practical interior. They are particularly light and mobile, which makes it possible to change their location at any time.

Pictured here is a corner wooden bookcase in a spacious living room.

Thanks to the narrow shelving, which has a rather sophisticated and elegant appearance, it turns out to make the most efficient use of the free space of the room. In addition, with the help of a two-sided design, you can achieve competent zoning of space.

Examples for different styles

For rooms made in the classical direction, natural wood shelves are especially appropriate, which can be decorated with beautiful openwork carvings. In the Provence style, simplified narrower designs of white, milky, beige, pale brown or pink are most often found, with a vintage finish and an old look.

The photo shows a living room interior in a modern style with geometric bookshelves located above the fireplace.

Loft style suggests bookshelves with careless design, placed, for example, in an asymmetrical or checkerboard pattern. More massive racks made of dark-colored materials fit perfectly here.

Scandinavian design, characterized by simple open rectangular or square models, made in predominantly white or cool colors.

In high-tech style, shelves with a glossy surface look very fashionable and weightless, and for minimalism they prefer matte designs. A functional modern interior is characterized by the most comfortable open shelving or modular products with clear lines in bright, deep or natural colors.

Photo gallery

Bookshelves and racks provide functional placement of literary publications, provide the necessary conditions for their storage, and also become a decoration of the entire interior space.

Bookshelves in the interior - 50 photos of design examples

Interior without accent additions, accessories is simple and boring. You can dilute the facelessness of the image, revive the room with the help of details.

Bookshelves in the interior will perfectly cope with this task.

Types of bookshelves

Bookshelves in a modern interpretation are not a banal bookcase, but a stylish interior detail.

Often with its help many tasks are solved: zoning, transformation of space.

Bookshelves can be completely different and this is achieved by:

A wide variety of materials are used to make bookshelves:

Wood is perfect for classic interiors. If you combine it with an unusual, extraordinary design, you can get a stylish solution for a modern interior.

These bookshelves are perfect for children's rooms. Eco-friendly and safe wood will be the best solution for choosing furniture for a baby.

Glass bookshelves to enhance any contemporary style. They will give weightlessness to minimalism, support a look into the future of high-tech.

Glass shelves are ideal for a small room, they will refresh the interior, but will look light and casual.

Books placed on such shelves will give the impression of floating in the air. A very interesting solution. If such shelves are illuminated with neon lights, you get an absolutely amazing style.

Metal bookshelves are used less frequently in design. They will be the perfect addition to the interior of the loft. Support his idea, create interesting accents. Shelves made of metal can often be found in office spaces. This is where they fit into the overall look in the best way.

Plastic is a universal material for bookshelves. With it, you can create the most unexpected designs. Unique bookshelves made of plastic will be a stylish addition to any interior.

Color combinations can also be varied here. It is plastic that can be painted in bright, even acidic colors and get an extraordinary solution for a creative nature. Shelves made of plastic are able to perfectly transform the space.

How to choose a bookshelf?

The choice should primarily be based on the purpose of this piece of furniture. It is worth considering the scale of the library, the forecast of its subsequent replenishment, the size of the books. Each tome must take its place. Moreover, they do not create a messier heap, but a clear structure. The library suggests order, not chaos.

It is necessary to take into account the size of the bookshelves themselves and the space in which they will be located. Shelves should not create a heaping effect (unless it is a separate office where bookcases are given a central place). A free approach is required to the shelf in order to be able to use it without hindrance.

Often, when there are large spaces, shelves are placed under the stairs or separate large shelves. In this case, for the convenience of using the upper sections, it is necessary to provide the structure with a stepladder. Remote groups provide illumination.

The main thing when choosing a bookshelf is to determine its main functions. If this is a decorative element, you can completely immerse yourself in the selection of an aesthetic look that suits the interior. When the main purpose of the shelf is to store books, you should carefully consider the reliability of the design for storing a large number of folios.

You can focus on the design and choose a model combined, for example, with a sofa. Such a solution will attract views, surprise visitors.

Using the bookshelf will be incredibly convenient. The photo of the bookshelves in the interior shows how great a variety of unique models is.

Unusual shelf designs can not only impress, but also perform a practical function. A zigzag bookshelf is able to hold a book open in the right place. The spiral shelf refreshes the interior, and thanks to reliable grips, books are held even upside down.

The interior of the room in which the largest or most important part of life, of course, should be comfortable, set to positive. You can diversify the appearance of the room not only with the help of trinkets. A great opportunity to create an interesting picture can be a bookshelf.

Photo of bookshelves in the interior