Hi there, cuties! Hard to believe, but we’re just one week out from Labor Day, which means that the fall season is imminent! There’s just something about fall that makes me thing “back-to-school” and bringing home stacks of new books (and you all know how much I love to read in my leisure time!). Naturally, where there are books, you need bookcases!
My Design Team and I get questions all the time about how to choose the best bookcase, and when the difference is between different kinds of bookcases—traditional bookcases, etageres, display cases, and built-ins. The end of summer feels like the perfect time for a guide to this essential furniture category!
“Happy bookcase shopping, happy reading, and of course, happy #Shelfie styling!”
Traditional Bookcases
Just like with a new subject at the start of the school year, let’s start with the basics: Traditional bookcases. Theses pieces are going to be classic and functional—they’re shelving units with a full enclosed back and multiple tiers of open shelving without a cabinet door. They may have drawers as well, depending on the size.
That said, traditional bookcases can generally be found in a wide variety of sizes and design styles. When shopping for a bookcase like this, your primary factors to consider should be the size of your space and how much storage you need. You’ll also want to consider adding a wall anchor for taller bookcases to ensure safety against tipping (especially for a child’s room).
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Display Cases
Our next bookcase type—display cases—is perfect for any space where you want to make a bit more of a bold visual statement and also if you’re planning to use the piece for more than book storage. Display cases are essentially what they sound like—they feature paned or glass-front doors with ample interior shelving and storage compartments within. They also often will feature an arched top.
The great thing about display cases is that they can easily be positioned in any number of rooms in your home—living room, entryway, office, dining room. They also offer a great way to show off styled vignettes on the upper shelves that can be seen through the doors, while still being contained and protected within, and leaving the lower storage areas free for less visually-curated storage.
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Etageres
I try not to play favorites but…I have to confess that I am a big fan of etageres! An etagere is a tiered shelving unit typically open on all sides. They’re lighter weight—so easier to mix and match around your home.
I love etageres (I have two of this style in my own NYC living room) because they offer infinite possibilities for both storage and styling. When you use them for books, it’s a good idea to also use some bookends if you’re going to store your books standing up, which instantly adds an additional visual element. And because they’re open all the way around, they feel lighter than traditional bookcases and display cases—they literally let more light flow through the space.
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Built-In Bookcases
Finally, even though they’re obviously much harder to “shop” for, I wanted to touch on built-in bookcases as well. It probably goes without saying that build-in bookcases are literally built in to the structure of a room. Often, you either have built-ins in your home, or you don’t, unless you’re planning to remodel or undertake a new build to install them yourself (which is amazing—if that’s what you’re up to, consider me very envious!).
That said, if you have built-ins, it’s worth carefully considering whether you need supplemental bookcases of another kind so that you can use much of your build-in space for styled vignettes, or if you want to focus on using the built-ins primarily for storing books. Whatever you choose, consider investing in some artful bookends, decorative sculptures, and some color-coordinated designer books to elevate the overall look and complement the design motif of the room.
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