“There is no furniture so charming as books, even if you never open them or read a single word,” said the nineteenth-century writer Sydney Smith. A shelf full of books adds instant appeal to any room, whether in the form of bespoke joinery or stand-alone shelves. “I don’t think there can be much of an argument against the idea that books really do make a room,” says 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 Vitsoe shelving. Pay attention to the details: reeded details on the faces of the shelves can make the entire layout feel more interesting, and we love painting the insides of the bookshelves a different colour to the outside. Also consider squeezing shelves into unexpected places: the space over a door, an extra-deep doorway reveal, or over a bed. And have we mentioned how much we love books in the bathroom?
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 which conceal hidden doors, there are bookshelves of every type in this gallery to inspire something as intriguing as the tomes that fill them. Once you’ve decided on the bookshelf for you, 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.
