Bookcase Buyers Guide

We tend to think of bookshelves at purely utilitarian, however, they don’t need to be. Every workspace needs a way to organise their books, but function can, and should, coexist with form.

What kinds of bookcases are there?

When shopping for a bookcase, consider the amount of space you have to house your new furniture, how many books you have to find a home there, your budget, and the design of your office. There are a multitude of types, styles, and finishes available so you can find exactly what you’re looking for.

Shelf Bookcases– These are the most common storage solution in offices. Though they are typically vertical and freestanding, there are quite a few variations; they can be open or closed at the back, freestanding or built-in, have adjustable or permanent shelves, and can be made in a variety of materials.

Modular Bookcases– These are typically made up of cubes, making them endlessly reconfigurable to suit the needs of the moment. The cubes are flexible and can be stacked horizontally or vertically to use up tricky dead space, used as traditional-looking bookcases with straight shelves in neat rows, or put together to create a room divider. Often, the modular parts will slide or snap together to create a sturdy unit.

Corner Bookcases– These can help you utilise all the space available to you and in what can become an empty and unloved space that tends to draw the eye downwards.

Ladder Bookcases– As it says on the tin, these shelves resemble ladder rungs. Its sleek design comes in either a freestanding or leaning model. They are great if you only have a few books to house, where a traditional shelf bookcase would look empty and neglected. With their open design, this kind of shelving tends to be more decorative, even though they are sturdy enough to be fully booked (!).

Which styles are available?

Bookshelves come in a wide variety of styles, sizes, and colours– consider the existing aesthetic and function of your workspace, choose a material that follows suit:

Wood – Wooden bookshelves can make a space feel more grounded and are the traditional choice, sturdy and long-lasting.

MDF – MDF makes for light and more budget-friendly bookcases, ideal if you need flexibility and a lot of shelf space. These can be painted any colour to suit your preference, perhaps use a bright colour to break up any monotony in your space.

Glass – Glass shelving can modernise any office and help open up a space by creating less obstacles for natural light… although they do need to be dusted regularly!

Meta – Metal shelving combines stylish industrial charm with sturdiness. The metal is capable of absorbing heat while preventing scratches for a durable, long-lasting investment. The metal is fire-resistant and easy to disinfect.

It’s a bookcase, why should you put other things on there? and what?

Yes, it is a bookcase, for books, but with people having the option to go back into the office after working from home, office spaces should embrace more ‘home’ touches to create warmer and more welcoming places for their staff, a place where someone wants to work, not a cold grey box.

You could incorporate personal touches, like photo frames, or maybe a potted plant, or perhaps a vase of (fake or real) flowers to break up the visual repetitiveness of a bookshelf, adding depth and character to your office.