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Storage for books in bedroom


The Ultimate Guide – Flip Those Books!

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Book lovers and booksellers who live in small apartments often face a huge challenge: how can they store their ever-growing collection of books? Many start storing books in their bedrooms – but this can be tough, especially if you’ve got a lot of other belongings.

So, how do you store books in a small bedroom? You can store books in a small bedroom using the following methods:

The rest of this article will cover all of the ins and outs of storing books in a small bedroom:

Choose the Right Shelves

It’s tempting to get the traditional horizontal bookshelf or bookcase that is a common feature in many booklovers’ homes.

But, when you’re working with limited space, you need to think outside of the box when it comes to shelving. As such, you should look for shelves that can be mounted on any spare wall space so that they don’t use up precious floor space.

Fixed Bracket Shelves

Fixed bracket shelves are shelves that are mounted onto a wall. To install them, you place them on top of brackets that have been nailed into the wall.

Because of this sturdy installation method, these shelves are unyielding and can bear the weight of extremely heavy books.

Floating Shelves

Floating shelves are similar to fixed bracket shelves in that they are broad flat shelves that can be mounted onto a wall, saving on floor space. But instead of having visible brackets, the brackets are hidden into the shelves, making them more aesthetically appealing.

If you want to install some floating shelves in your bedroom, I recommend these BAYKA Floating Shelves (available on Amazon).

Ladder Shelves

Ladder shelves resemble ladders in that they’re super thin and space-effective. But, their ‘rungs’ are flatter and broader when compared to a traditional ladder. This additional width allows you to stack books or decorative items on them.

These shelves have to be placed standing vertical against a wall. However, they are more versatile than a traditional bookshelf because they can be placed against the wall at an angle, allowing you to utilize the space beneath them.

If you want to store books in a smart and versatile manner, I recommend picking up the Casual Home 5-Shelf Ladder Bookcase (available on Amazon).

Corner Shelves

Corner shelves are designed to fit snugly in the corners of rooms.

They typically offer less storage space than wall shelves but are great when you have limited space, as they make use of space, which would have otherwise been left empty.

Look for multi-tiered corner shelves that stack upwards, as they’ll give you more space on which to store your books.

You may have to stack your books horizontally on a corner shelf, as many don’t have siding to support vertically stacked books.

If you want a corner shelf, I recommend buying the Furinno Turn-N-Tube 5 Tier Corner Shelf (available on Amazon).

Cube Shelves

Cube shelves are sets of cubes that can be assembled and mounted on the wall. They’re like floating shelves, but offer a bit more flexibility in book placement.

Cube shelves allow you to make use of any empty wall space you have and are great for storing horizontally stacked books.

Before you head out to buy cube shelves, make sure that you have measured the amount of space you have on your walls so you can match those dimensions to the cubes you buy.

If you think cube shelves are the best storage option for your books, I recommend getting these Floating Shelves – 10 Squares (available on Amazon).

Innovative places to store your books

If you can’t afford to buy a new set of shelves, or if you’ve used up all your shelving and still have tons of books to store, there are several other solutions available.

Store books under your bed

If you have storage space under your bed, consider storing your books under it.

Or, if you have a high bed but don’t have built-in storage, neatly horizontally stack your books under the bed frame – it’s a great place to store them, and it also adds to the decor of your bedroom!

Store books behind your bed’s headboard

Your bed likely has a headboard – most headboards are thin and wooden and add an aesthetic touch to your bed. Use some planks and carpeting tools to construct a small nook in your headboard, which will be perfect for slipping in some of your favorite bedtime reads.

Store books in dressing table drawers & wardrobes

There’s probably already of furniture in your room that offers storage space. If you have extra space in your wardrobe or your chest of drawers, then use them as book holders.

Either put the books directly into the space or add partitions and shelves to help you be more organized.

Store books on window ledges and mantelpieces

Any flat surface is fair game for storing books. Consider artfully displaying your books along a windowpane to make the view out of your room more appealing.

Or, if you have a fireplace, swap out the decorations on top of it with books. If you are doing this, make sure that the heat from the fireplace is not going to reach your precious books!

Store books in baskets and containers

Use baskets, containers, and crates to store books that you don’t read very often. Once you have filled your basket, place it under your bed or another part of your room.

Store books in a wheeling storage cart

You can pile books and magazines into a wheeling storage cart, which you can then place anywhere in your room – even in front of your wardrobe or bathroom door. Whenever you need to access your closet or bathroom, you can simply wheel the cart out of the way.

Make sure that the books that you are putting in the cart are light so that the cart is easily maneuverable.

If you want a wheeling storage cart, I recommend the SPACEKEEPER 3-Tier Slide Out Storage Cart (available on Amazon).

Make a table out of your books

If you have enough hardcover books, you can stack them against a wall to fashion a side table of sorts.

Stack the books smartly to ensure that your ‘table’ is at an even height. You can then use it to display vases, photographs, and other items to break up the visual impact of so many books in one place.

Note: If you’re selling books online, making a table out of them is not a good idea. You’ll have to “disassemble” the table every time one of your books sells. Therefore, book tables are best used for decorative purposes only.

Store books in a mini-bookcase

If you have some free table or console space, get yourself a mini bookcase that you can shelve books in.

A mini bookcase is similar to a regular bookcase in design but is small enough to perch on top of flat surfaces. It’s great for organizing books on top of furniture or in a small open area of your room.

If you want a mini-bookcase, I recommend the Furinno 3-Tier Open Shelf Bookcase (available on Amazon).

What else do you need to consider?

On top of innovative storage solutions, there are a few other considerations to keep in mind if you’re storing books in your small bedroom.

Stack your books right

We often want to arrange and align our books vertically, as it’s the traditional way of doing things. But, if you stack your books horizontally – one on top of another – you’ll be able to arrange them vertically, which will give you more space to store books.

When arranging your books this way, make sure that you are facing the spine of the books towards you so that you can read the titles.

Make sure you’re organized

When trying out new storage solutions, it’s helpful to use a system that will allow you to remember which book you’ve put where. Use labels or color codes and store your books according to genres, titles, authors, or the frequency of which you read them.

If you’re selling books online, sorting your books alphabetically or by SKU number is your best bet.

Also, it would help if you spent some time working out what organization pattern you like. Figuring this out will save you hours of toil when you try to find a particular title under your bed, on your window sill, or on the shelves that adorn your walls.

Final thoughts

With some organization and an understanding of the various ways you can store your books, you’ll find that there’s plenty of space in your bedroom if you get creative.

To recap, here are the ways you can store books in a small bedroom:

The Best Ways To Store Books In Your Bedroom

Style

Bedroom

by Faith Cummings

published Apr 13, 2022

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Over the last two years, many people have sought comfort in books for a much-needed escape. U.S. print book sales rose by 9 percent(!) in 2021. If all that book purchasing didn’t include a move to a roomier space, that may mean you’ve officially run out of shelf space.

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But there’s no reason to worry if this sounds familiar: Books can be stored almost anywhere and showcased in the most unusual spaces and imaginative ways. Whether that’s placing a shelf in an unexpected spot or designing the most impressive stack right on the floor, there’s no shortage of options, including your bedroom.

According to library designer Christy Shannon Smirl, founder of Foxtail Books, “Home libraries and bookshelves were an area that a lot of people decided to improve between 2020 and 2021, either by reorganizing, getting rid of books, or trying a new design angle.” Terri Hamm opened her bookstore Kindred Stories during the pandemic, first as a pop-up and eventually as a brick and mortar shop, to fill the void in the city for Black bookstore spaces in Houston.

Smirl and Hamm share their advice for how to creatively display your books in your bedroom, so you never have to go far to snuggle up with your favorite tome.

What Books Should You Keep in The Bedroom?

If you have room for an actual bookcase in your bedroom, Smirl suggests that you only showcase genres and subjects that you’ll want to see every day in the room where you start your day and wind down. “Which books are your favorites? Would you rather have them in this space, or on display where guests are more likely to see them?” she asks. “Are there topics that feel more private, that you would rather keep here than in a shared space?”

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How Should You Style Bedroom Bookshelves?

Strategic styling can make your books enhance your bedroom’s decor. “I like to alternate between vertical (normally shelved) books and horizontal stacks, which can function as bookends or sit beneath an interesting object,” says Smirl. Facing a book out (truly displaying it like a bookstore or library does) is less common in the home, but if you have a small stand or can get a book to stand up just so, it can show off a great cover or a beloved classic. 

Smirl notes that objects like ceramics, small sculptures, interesting antiques, or natural pieces like stone or driftwood can be used as bookends or stand-alone pieces that complement the books and add interest in the room.“I’ve started to notice more simple, modern bookends and small easels for book display in recent years, and I hope that trend continues for bookish consumers. ” 

As for Instagram-worthy rainbow book styling? Smirl prefers to remain neutral on the color-coded trend, as she’s a firm believer in everyone doing what they want with their books. Hamm says she prefers arranging books by subject over appearance. 

How Do You Store Books In Small Bedrooms?

If you have high ceilings, get a bookshelf that goes all the way up for a dramatic effect that also holds the most books, says Smirl. Hamm also recommends taking advantage of vertical spaces as much as possible. “If you’re looking for a cool vertical bookshelf, check out the Story Bookcase from Design Within Reach,” she advises. 

For tight corners, consider simple wooden crates, which Hamm used as flexible book displays in her pop-up bookstore days. You could use one as a bedside table with built-in book storage, stack two horizontally to make a shelf, or place one atop or under an existing piece of furniture .

Editing is also key if you’re short on space. “If something has to give, consider your personal policy for which books you keep forever and which might be passed along to a new home,” says Smirl. “A home packed full of books is delightful until it isn’t, and that tipping point is something each person has to decide for themselves.” Smirl notes that her primary bedroom isn’t big, so she and her husband the books they are currently reading by their bedsides (they also have a few bookended on top of a dresser that they’ll read next). “We used to let our books overflow, teetering on the table, a stack under the bed, New Yorkers on the windowsill. We simplified the space, streamlined what we keep in that room, and upgraded our living room coffee table — a much better spot for the larger books, magazines, and anything we’re not currently reading.” 

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What Books Should Go In Guest Bedrooms?

Even if you don’t have a dedicated bookshelf, there’s usually a good spot on a desk or a dresser in a guest bedroom for a small stack of books. “I always recommend locally relevant books in guest bedrooms — city guides, trail books, natural history, photography — books that will help your guests learn more about where you live (and help them enjoy it),” says Smirl. Hamm suggests you might organize books arounds a theme. “I have a stack of books on my coffee table that celebrate Black art history,” she states. “The colors of the sleeves and cloth binding all flow together although they aren’t the same color. Organizing books into little vignettes around a specific theme can be great conversation starters when hosting.”

5 useful ideas — INMYROOM

Tips

Multifunctional furniture, comfortable shelves by the window, roomy shelving under the ceiling – we are looking for the best alternatives for placing a home library in a typical home

Printed literature, even in the age of technology, does not lose its relevance. And it, of course, requires more space than a tablet or e-reader. The issue of book storage for small-sized owners can become an edge: what to do if the footage is limited to square meters, but you still want to equip your home library? Just follow the main rule: use the space to the maximum.

1. Multifunctional furniture: comfortable book storage

multifunctional today furniture is a must-have in a small apartment. For those who like to read before sleeping literature under the bed is ideal. Roomy retractable boxes will protect folded things from dust, and a podium with open shelves, in addition, it will become an original decor element in the bedroom.

Withdrawable modules on wheels are a great addition to for children: one movement - a primer and a collection of fairy tales are already in the hands of a child. Another the best option is a library chair. Along the perimeter of the furniture are provided shelves of different sizes - it is very convenient to fold literature. Significant advantage of furniture - the ability to move it from one place to another: today in the bedroom, tomorrow in the living room, and a week later on the loggia.

2. Library by the window: a paradise for bibliophiles

windows are not enabled. Maximum - there can be a desk. Rather, fix this puncture and place your home library here. The idea is distinguished by its practicality and functionality. In this way, you can use the unused area and equip a convenient area for reading. Just hang above the window, below it and on the sides of the shelves - Every book has its rightful place. And cover a wide window sill with a mattress, with a blanket - and a little paradise for the bibliophile has been created.

3. Bookshelves: great possibilities

Bookshelves – standard offer for book storage. What about corners? At a limited area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room just needs to use the corners. Organized in them, a place to store books will not clutter up the room, but on the contrary, it will visually expand it. Floor-to-ceiling open narrow shelves look stylish and outstanding, and a high "stack of books" will create the illusion of high ceilings.

Perhaps this solution is not only for young parents: a large number of corners is a danger for a small child, and adults, due to the curiosity of the baby, can to be left without a home library at all. A safe alternative is to store books under the ceiling. You can embody the idea in the hall above the door, in the living room above the TV or in the bedroom above the bed. Books under the ceiling are great save space, but remember: a large number of them can create an oppressive feeling.

4. Maximum storage: use racks

Large quantity shelves and again a large number of shelves - the main advantage of any bookcase. It can be tall, wide, unusually shaped, or even the whole wall. The rack will act as a partition without any problems - the problem will be solved book storage and space zoning. Can be placed along a wall an interior door or around the perimeter above the bed.

But such furniture for intellectuals will not be the best solution for an overly small room. A large number of books and a bulky rack will carry a tangible visual load. If you can’t refuse the idea in any way, decorate the interior in bright colors, with light decor and sophisticated furniture. forms.

5. A little creative: book organizers

Original organizer for books - a great solution for a child's room. Let your imagination run wild! Can be sewn textile pockets, hanging the holder for literature on the crib, on door or just on the wall. No less convenient and stylish option - the system storage with metal or plastic baskets. It will be good for young people. book lovers, and parents will be allowed not only to teach the child order, but also to save space in the children's room.

14 Very Unusual and Stylish Ways to Place Books in Your Apartment

1 Under the Table

Put the books in even piles and place them under the table - it will look like they are extra legs. If you place a few additional decorative elements on the table, you get a complete composition.

Design: Anne-Sophie Pailleret

2 Beside or under the bed

This alcove bed is a great place to store your favorites from your personal library. If you cannot find a similar model, move a mini-rack to the back, which is not against the wall, and place books in it.

Photo: columbineshowroom.com

3 Along the wall

Even on the wall of a narrow long corridor you can find a place for a small shelf and put books on it. Get a kind of showcase. On the opposite wall, you can hang a framed photo or a picture.

Photo: cookconstructionsf.com

4 Under the stairs

If you are a happy owner of a country house, you can also use the space under the stairs to store books.

Design: Locati Architects

5 In a decorative fireplace

A raised fireplace is a statement piece in itself, but it's always better to decorate it with something. Inside you can put candles, put firewood or ... books with magazines - why not?

Design: Dolce Vita Studios

6 In a room divider

Take a look at this practical room solution: on the one hand, it is a partition that outlines the living area, on the other, a bookcase.

Design: DIN interiorismo

7 Like a flower stand

Stack your books and place a houseplant pot on top. Such a decision will add bohemianism to the interior.

Photo: alvhemmakleri.se

8 In a coffee table

Normally, books or magazines lie on the table top, but nothing prevents you from choosing a model with storage sections. Don't want to spend? Just connect four identical drawers together and get a spectacular hand-made table, which is convenient to store books and other little things.

Photo: goodshomedesign.com

9 On low shelves

As a rule, shelves are hung at eye level - if you want to stand out, place them almost on the floor. This solution is especially appropriate if you live in an attic with a sloping roof.

Design: Charlotte Minty Interior Design

10 In a mini closet in the closet

Look at this compact and truly unusual solution. Such a bookcase in the restroom will definitely surprise guests!

Design: Smith & Vansant Architects

11 As a seat

The photo shows a real model of a stool, which consists of a stand with legs, belts, a pillow and newspapers or magazines, which, if desired, can be replaced by large books (for example, albums with reproductions).

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