57 brilliant bookshelf ideas for every type of space
‘There is no furniture so charming as books, even if you never open them or read a single word,’ said the 19th-century writer Sydney Smith. A shelf full of books adds instant appeal to any room, whether in the form of bespoke joinery or standalone shelves. ‘I don't think there can be much of an argument against the idea that books really do make a room,’ says designer Rita Konig. ‘In a mix of colours, sizes and patterns, their spines add so much texture and depth to a space. Rooms need things that one does not have any control over – after all, most of us do not choose the colour or size of our book covers – that’s what makes them feel as if people live there.’
Of course, the shelves themselves – their size, extent and style – can make a huge difference to how the books look, and there are plenty of options to choose from, from classic built-ins to more contemporary options like Vitsoe shelving. Be sure to pay attention to the finer details: painting the interior of the shelves in a different colour to the exterior can create a pleasing contrast, while reeded details are always an elegant touch. Also consider squeezing shelves into unexpected places: the space over a door, an extra-deep doorway reveal, or even over a bed. And a half-height bookcase is always a good idea, especially if you have a lot of artwork to display on your walls.
We’ve gone through the House & Garden archive to find the most inspiring bookshelf ideas from our pages. From modern designs to mid-century classics and spy-novel numbers that conceal hidden doors, there are bookshelves of every type to inspire something as intriguing as the tomes that fill them. Once you’ve decided on the shelving, have a think about how best to organise your books. Are you someone who likes them colour-coded? Or by size? Take a look at our piece on how to arrange your bookshelf for more advice – and mild controversy.
Bookshelf ideas from the House & Garden archive
Christopher Horwood1/56If you are hoping to using Vitsoe shelving as a simple and classic shelving solution, look to Virginia White’s Hampstead mansion flat for inspiration. She filled an entire wall of her living room with the shelves to house her collection and provide a backdrop for the dining area. She opted for this more streamlined industrial style rather than built-in wooden joinery to keep the space feeling light and airy, which is particularly important in a flat with an open-plan living area.
Peter Molloy2/56Looking to add some softness, pattern and texture to the shelving in the sitting room of her Georgian cottage in Kingston, colour consultant Harriet Slaughter made simple Japanese-style curtains using hand-loomed ‘Shuttle Tea Stripe’ from The Cloth House. Such a lovely way to add an extra decorative element to your bookcases.
Dean Hearne3/56Books are at the heart of this Arts and Crafts London home belonging to Rebeka Russell, the publisher behind Manderley Press. This upstairs studio room has been fitted with a wall of bookshelves on either side of the doorway, designed by Ben Pentreath Studio to be in perfect sympathy with the original room.
Christopher Horwood4/56Built-in shelving can be timeless and traditional, sleek and contemporary or, in the case of this 1960s flat in west London, fabulously retro. In the living room, the joinery in ochre gloss houses books, objects and Samsung’s ‘The Frame’ TV. A cool mid-century take on the floating bookshelf.
Christopher Horwood5/56Bookshelves are a great way to give different areas within-in an open-plan space a more distinctive feel. We love how Tamsin Saunders of Home & Found has built a banquette into the bookshelves in the living space of her London house.
Tom Griffiths6/56You might not think to put bookcases in the kitchen itself, but this example from a 1960s townhouse in south London shows just how well it can work. Here, one side of the island has become a clever half-height bookcase that provides visual interest and acts as a subtle divider between the kitchen and dining area. This solution obviously lends itself to cookbook storage, but in an open-plan space, it can be used for any books from your collection.
Christopher Horwood7/56Bespoke joinery is an excellent way to create a perfectly tailored, multi-functional piece of furniture. In the study of writer Jane Moore’s Notting Hill home, bookcases have been built around the door, with the lower shelves and a pull-out shelf providing a fun take on a drinks cabinet. The built-in banquette ensures the space feels comfortable and inviting while providing extra storage below.
Mark Anthony Fox8/56Floating shelves can be tricky, but interior designer Christian Bense has made them look brilliant in his Battersea flat. The mix of books and decorative objects is very pleasing to the eye.
Dean Hearne9/56In artist Daisy Sims-Hilditch’s Notting Hill flat, Neptune bookcases painted in the brand's ‘Ink’ take up one corner of the sitting room, and are filled with Daisy's art books and pictures. We love the unusual placement, and how the dark blue contrasts with the pale pink walls.
Tom Griffiths10/56If you have books you don't need to access on a regular basis, hanging pictures from the shelves can make a fun decorative statement. In his Somerset cottage, garden designer Sean Anthony Pritchard has hung jolly prints all over his bookcases, and it creates a sense of lived-in cosiness that is very appealing.
Christopher Horwood11/56Designer Carlos Garcia likes to use these bespoke pedimented bookcases in his projects – this one comes from a north London house he decorated. Painting the outside and inside in different colours is a lovely way to draw the eye – here the colours are respectively ‘Chocolate’ and ‘Azurite’, both by Edward Bulmer.
Christopher Horwood12/56Bookshelves make the most of the second floor landing, of this house in Spitalfields designed by Rachel Allen. They have been painted in ‘Charleston Grey’ by Farrow & Ball.
Boz Gagovski13/56In the drawing room of this colourful Notting Hill house by Lucy Mayers, a paper work by Geoff Catlow hangs over the fireplace. The wall colour was matched by Dulux to a photograph. The rug is a vintage patchwork shearling, sourced from an antique shop in Bisbal, Spain.
Lucas Allen14/56Formerly a therapist's office, this reading nook on the first floor of a higgledy-piggledy house in Henley by Joanne Burgess feels cosy and warm. The walls are painted in ‘Ball Green’, with woodwork in a glossy ‘Bancha’, both by Farrow & Ball. Joanne embellished the bookshelves with a scalloped wooden trim: a motif which links them with the rest of the house.
Christopher Horwood15/56Bespoke joinery has transformed the once sparse landing of this Cornwall house by Sims Hilditch into a cosy reading nook. The blinds and window seat are both ‘Baker House Linen’ in ‘Pebble’ from GP&J Baker – a neutral material with a natural feel.
Milo Brown16/56In the sitting room of this joyful Chelsea project by Lonika Chande, the joinery was hand painted in a rich blue by Papers and Paints (7-077), and the internal cubby holes are in ‘Beresford Red’ by Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler. The joinery was made by RC Joinery.
17/56In the library at Wolterton Hall in Norfolk, two panels of faux book spines, on either side of a door, drop down to reveal a drinks area hidden behind – aperitif bottles are on the left and digestifs on the right. Once closed, they are indistinguishable from the other shelves and you would never know they are there. woltertonpark.co.uk
18/56In the painter Haidee Becker’s north London house, bookshelves have been built into the recess of the wall and along the top of the archway. In the fairly neutral space, the addition of hundreds of books adds colour and texture.
Mark Anthony Fox19/56Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, in a bespoke green, frame the doorway with a view across the hall to a bedroom beyond in Thomas Dane’s Gloucestershire house.
Maura McEvoy20/56In this cottage in Maine, bookshelves have been built into the joinery, blending perfectly with the bones of the house. The distressed paintwork also helps to create a seamless link between the two.
Owen Gale21/56One thing that stands out in Alix Reynis’ sitting room in her Paris house is the bookshelf that lines the back wall. Illuminated by hanging lights of her own design, the wooden shelving unit adds a layer of depth to the room, which has a sense of quiet glamour.
Chris Horwood22/56If you happen to have a reasonably wide hallway or landing, adding bookshelves can be a brilliant way to add interest (and storage). At her converted schoolhouse in Battersea, Atelier Ellis founder Cassandra Ellis has created a library with floor-to-ceiling shelves in the hallway.
Mark Anthony Fox23/56Bookshelves themselves can create a welcome accent of colour in a room with neutral walls. In the rented Stoke Newington home of photographer Ahmed Hassan and garden designer Atticus Branch, bookshelves painted in Little Greene's ‘Atomic Red’ pick up on the bright primary colours in the furniture and textiles, popping against the white walls.
24/56This display of cookbooks on simple homemade shelves at Farrow & Ball brand ambassador Patrick O’Donnell’s house is a brilliant way to liven up a bare wall in a kitchen. Patrick has drenched the walls and woodwork in a single colour, Farrow & Ball’s ‘Biscuit’ in the Dead Flat finish, which allows the colourful books themselves to become the focus.
Owen Gale25/56Double doors divide the sitting room from the study, which features built-in shelves that have been painted in Dulux’s ‘Ruby Fountain 2 Red Gloss’. The cane and metal chair was bought by the owners in Cape Town when they lived there and was woven by the blind makers at Cape Town Society for the Blind. The rug was another find from Morocco. Explore more of this colourful London house.
Paul Massey26/56This 18th-century barn has been converted into a stylish sitting-room-cum-guest-cottage, by its owner Emma Burns, managing director at Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler. Emma adapted the internal configuration to create a striking way of displaying her book collection. The built-in bookcase equipped with a ladder also acts as a secret door to a hidden bathroom.
Line T Klein27/56The bookcase in this colourful Copenhagen apartment appears to be floating. The walls, woodwork and ceiling in the TV and reading room are painted in Castle Made of Sand by File Under Pop. The low sideboard is by Tylko, and pillow by Durup. On the ceiling the pendant light is by Helle Mardahl. Wall art is by Frederik Næblerød, Cathrine Raben Davidsen and Richard Mortensen, bought in independent Copenhagen galleries and online art auctions.
Hugo Rittson Thomas28/56Who says you can’t fit a square peg in a round hole? This nifty bookshelf design in Beckside House fits the neoclassical style of the room perfectly, with the alcove at the top displaying three lovely vases.
Owen Gale29/56In this jewellery designer’s playful house, ‘Hunters Dunn’ in a gloss finish from Paint & Paper Library makes the bookcase and woodwork stand out against ‘Lichen’ by Farrow & Ball on the walls.
Simon Brown30/56A jib door opens from the library into the kitchen in this London flat designed by Hugh Henry. A clever and unexpected touch that instantly adds an element of intrigue and anticipation – and will never fail to delight visitors.
Michael Sinclair31/56A painting by Sidney Sime hangs on bookshelves above a Gothic Revival desk in Guy Tobin’s London house. ‘I put it here partly due to a lack of wall space, but also because it depicts a Shakespeare play, so having it over a library feels appropriate,’ Guy explains.
Line T. Klein32/56A bed with built-in bookshelves is always a book lover’s dream. The bed is designed by Vidar Malmsten and is called ‘Fata Morsgris’. Explore more of this Swedish home.
Paul Massey33/56Green covers both the walls and bookshelves in the eclectic, colourful London house of a novelist and lifelong collector. A vintage Venetian mirror from Tarquin Bilgen is flanked by paintings by Anne Rothenstein and a pink lamp by Cressida Bell. A flamingo from Graham & Green is beside an armchair in an Ian Mankin blue stripe, next to which is a statue of a boy from Bora Bora.
Maura McEvoy34/56Stained walls in four different shades of blue-green in varying states of wear never seem to date in this shingled cottage in Maine. They create the perfect backdrop for classic built-in bookcases.
Michael Sinclair35/56Interior designer Pallas Kalamotusis of Studio Krokalia designed this excellent bespoke joinery for her own London flat, which makes use of all the space around the doorway – a perfect solution for small spaces. The top of the shelves serves as the ideal place to showcase some of her ceramics collection.
Owen Gale36/56In his early Victorian house in Winchester, architect George Saumarez Smith designed the shelves to be the exact height of his books, predominantly on architecture. A Howard armchair sits in front of the chimneypiece, on top of a French rug that belonged to George’s grandparents.
Paul Massey37/56The bookcases in tech entrepreneur Rose Hulse’s house in the West Country were designed by Rose and built by Brian Purnell from Distinctive Country Furniture. Walls in ‘Mossy Stone’ by Dulux create a refined backdrop. The painting above the mantelpiece was bought in Hamburg, where Rose’s husband George has an office.
Alex James38/56There’s something so charming about an abundance of books. Eschewing the trend for a perfectly harmonious, colour-coded display, the owners of this Spitalfields house have made the most of various forms of unusual shelving, from the vintage Danish desk from The Conran Shop, to the stackable shelf on the right.
Lucas Allen39/56The walls, ceiling and woodwork of this snug reading nook in a house by Rose Uniacke are painted in a custom-mixed shade of blue with a textured finish. The dark colour allows the colour on the books to sing.
Simon Upton40/56In a Chelsea townhouse by David Mlinaric, the bookshelves are divided into symmetrical boxes, with a mirrored chimney breast in the middle.
41/56‘This used to be one big, open space’ says Beata Heuman of her living room and dining room, ‘and I added the bookshelf wall and sliding door. Strangely, I think it makes the house feel larger. The walls are light, but the bottle-green hue inside the bookshelves adds depth and mystery.’
Andreas von Einsiedel42/56In the library area of Farrow & Ball colour curator Joa Studholme’s house, the bookshelves and ceiling below the gallery were painted in ‘Railings’ by Farrow & Ball to create a dramatic contrast with the lighter look of the main living space. The rugs are from Bluebellgray.
Yuki Sugiura43/56In Matilda Goad’s London house, the sitting room contains reeded joinery designed by Matilda’s husband Tom and built by his company Blockhouse Build. It hides a radiator and is flanked by deep drawers on either side. The paint colour is ‘Beetlenut’ from Paint & Paper Library. Matilda added brass bow-shaped handles from Beata Heuman.
Natalie Dinham44/56Tara Craig designed this London house, finding a perfectly proportioned bookcase for the living room. The shape adds interest to the space and mirrors the lines of the cornicing.
Paul Massey45/56In the open plan living area of Bridie Hall’s north London home, the shelves are painted in Paint & Paper Library’s ‘Chinese Emperor’ and filled with books, trinkets and decorative objects.
Paul Massey46/56Beata Heuman worked on a Sussex cottage, giving it a modern country look. The carpeted dining room has a wall of bookshelves in a calming teal, broken up by a central pair of french windows that allow lots of natural light into the room.
Ngoc Minh Mgo47/56This cosy corner in the snug of designer Harriet Anstruther’s restored Sussex farmhouse features an eye-catching armchair in front of casually arranged books – the perfect reading spot.
Simon Brown48/56Taking time to execute his ideas, the owner of this London flat has created a spacious and airy home with interiors to match the stunning views. The large open-plan living area contains a library, which has bespoke bookcases that make the most of the high ceilings.
Michael Sinclair49/56In the drawing room of the London house of Lady Wakefield, the fireplace is flanked by traditional fitted bookcases that hold both a treasured collection of fiction and ceramics from Iran.
Simon Brown50/56In interior designer Vanessa Macdonald’s elegant Georgian home, a large bookcase with Georgian-style reeded uprights and an elegant architrave fills a wall and provides both book storage and cupboard space – details that seem as though they have always been there.
Michael Sinclair51/56An ethos of timeless sophistication characterises Arnaud Zannier’s collection of hotels, and his family home near Ghent. The elegant rural villa is styled with a wealth of organic materials, bringing depth and warmth. This library area adjoins the living room and has plenty of shelving to display books and family photographs.
Paul Massey52/56The library in the Tudor wing of this Neoclassical pavilion English country house has bookcases from Langford Grove, a demolished house also designed by John Johnson. The bust of Darcy John is by Sheila Arbuthnot.
Simon Brown53/56The sitting room of this converted artist’s studio decorated by Caroline Holdaway is lined with books. On either side of the chimney breast, bookshelves climb towards the apex of the double-height, sloping ceiling. Around the fire, two plump sofas and two stout armchairs offer an irresistible temptation to settle in for a quiet read.
Davide Lovatti54/56The library of Carskiey Estate was relocated to the first floor by owner Tom Helme but is fitted with bookcases original to the house made by historic cabinetmakers Whytock & Reid.
Simon Upton55/56A hallway or landing is a prime location for a floor-to-ceiling bookcase. ‘Never be afraid to scale up; rooms can be theatrical and comfortable at the same time,’ says Emma Burns, joint managing director at Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler. The lesson was gleaned from legendary designer Roger Banks-Pye and executed at The Dovecote, Emma’s home in the country.
Rachel Whiting56/56The bookshelves were already in place, but were repainted by Maria Speake of Retrouvius for the owners of this Barbican flat. Maria created a sliding door so that the sitting room can be shut off from the hall for extra warmth.
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