Beautiful Bookcases For More Than Just Books!

When is a bookcase not a bookcase? When it’s a stunning piece of furniture showcasing not just books but beautiful homewares items too!

What is a bookcase?

Also referred to as a bookshelf, a bookcase is a shelving unit with either fixed or adjustable shelves. While the original purpose of a bookcase may be for storing books, the modern bookcase adds style and interest to your home or office decor.

A bookcase can be used in many ways, including:

• As a piece of office furniture used for storage
• To display books and accessories within the home
• Keeping books and toys organised in kids’ bedrooms

Types of bookcases and bookshelves

Amart bookcases are available in a wide range of designs, shapes and sizes to suit any space, providing additional shelving to your home office desk. A bookshelf might contain:

1. Parallel shelves and/or offset shelves.
2. A mix of open bookshelves and shelves with doors.
3. Some fixed and some adjustable shelves.
4. A combination of shelves and drawers.
5. Be attached to an office desk or corner desk.

Traditional styles include the low wide Felix bookcase measuring 1060mm high x 800mm wide, to the handsome Swindon, a 5-tier timber bookshelf measuring 1900mm high x 900mm wide. These rectangular bookshelves have solid backs, but you can find a variety of styles in different shapes with or without backs, such as:

1. The 6-tier Silverwood timber bookshelf with open shelves in a ladder bookcase design
2. The rustic Boatwood bookcase with offset shelving and two drawers
3. The Miko 16 cube unit, a square-shaped white bookcase
4. The Edgar bookcase, a tall narrow bookcase measuring 1640mm high x 640mm wide

Shop instore at your nearest Amart Furniture store or browse our online exclusive bookcases to find the perfect bookcase to complement your decor while providing all-important storage.

How tall should a bookcase be?

Bookcases can vary considerably in both height and width, with some large bookcases reaching up to two metres in height.

When buying a bookcase the height should be considered in relation to:

• Accessibility - can you easily reach the top shelves?
• Safety - ensure a tall bookcase can’t overbalance.
• Aesthetics - keep bookcase heights in perspective to ceiling heights.

While freestanding ladder bookcases tend to have good stability due to deeper shelves at the base tapering to smaller shelves at the top, one should ensure that tall bookcases have a stable base and are secured if necessary. Placing heavier items at the base of the bookcase helps to create greater stability.

How do you style a bookcase?

Even a bookcase used as home office storage furniture can look appealing! Bookshelves in your home office can hold office storage files, manuals and stationery, but they can also display homewares items and decorative accessories to add interest, personality and a personal touch.

Stylish bookcases in bedrooms, home offices and living areas might include:

• Woven decorative baskets or coloured storage boxes to hold small items.
• Beautiful pot holders with real or artificial plants.
• Family photographs in chic and stylish frames.
• Ceramic vases with smooth contours
• Creative sculptures with contrasting textures
• Books!

Choose a funky black bookcase, a chic white bookcase or a classic timber bookcase to add stylish functionality to your living, bedroom or home office space today!