The best bookcases

Make sure your favourite literature is pride of place in your home with these stylish bookcases

A lot of us will agree that there is something rather nostalgic about having a real book to hand; the feel and smell of the paper, limited edition covers and most of all, being able to display your favourites all in one place. In order to do so, you’ll need a bookcase that can hold your precious titles and display them in a way that complements your living room, bedroom, or (if you are lucky enough to have the space) hallway, which is why we’ve compiled a list of some of the best bookcases and shelving units...

1. Neptune Chichester Full Height Bookcase

A sturdy column bookcase with ample storage space

Specifications

Best for: Shabby-chic
Dimensions: H209xW111xD42.5cm
Colour: White
Number of shelves: 4

Reasons to buy

+
Draws included
+
Adjustable shelving

Reasons to avoid

-
White is susceptible to dirt 

This beautiful white column bookcase from John Lewis is a great way to display all of your books and keepsakes in any room of the house. Whether it is in the bedroom or even in the kitchen, this bookcase has ample storage, including two drawers at the bottom for you to store extra items. This bookcase would fit in particularly well in shabby-chic style homes, and rustic décors with its beautifully soft hand-painted white finish. White does get dirty easily, but if looked after properly, the Neptune Chichester bookcase is without a doubt a stunningly sophisticated addition to the home.  

2. John Lewis Hemingway Bookcase With Drawer

An oldy-worldy style bookcase for displaying all of your favourite literature

Specifications

Best for: Bookworms
Dimensions: H114xW90xD30cm
Colour: Brown
Number of shelves: 3

Reasons to buy

+
Solid oak frame
+
Three drawers

Reasons to avoid

-
Not tall 

Sturdy, solid and beautifully distressed, the Hemingway bookcase is the perfect place to display all of your favourite literature and keep your room neat and tidy. The three mini drawers are great for odds and ends storage so that your home is free from clutter. It’s not tall, which for some can be a drawback, but if you don’t have the room for a full height bookcase then this shelving unit is perfect. You can also place items on top of the unit to really make the most of your space. Customers love the distressed oak look and say it is of extremely high quality. This bookshelf also comes fully assembled so all you need to do is place it in the room of your choice for an instant transformation.  

3. Sanford Parquet Bookcase

A contemporary design which would make a statement in the home

Specifications

Best for: Contemporary feel
Dimensions: H170xW100xD35cm
Colour: Brown & Black
Number of shelves: 5

Reasons to buy

+
Large shelves
+
Minimalist design

Reasons to avoid

-
No back support 

If you’re looking for something a bit different, then the Sanford Parquet Bookcase is a minimalist design which would look fantastic in a contemporary home, especially if you like the industrial style. This bookcase is made from Mango Wood and features five large shelving units that have a distressed, rustic finish. You’ll find that each bookcase is weathered, making each unit completely unique, and although it doesn’t have a back, it’s great for displaying plants, photos and ornaments and the metal cross backing makes it a real statement piece for the home.  

4. Fantasy Fields Crackled Rose Bookshelf

A cute but practical shelving unit for the kid’s bedroom

Specifications

Best for: Children’s bedrooms
Dimensions: H162xW83.3xD31.2cm
Colour: Cream, green and pink
Number of shelves: 5

Reasons to buy

+
Hidden storage 
+
Not too tall

Reasons to avoid

-
A little girly  

This children’s bookcase is a great for book storage and toy storage. It has lots of shelf space as well as a hidden storage unit at the bottom which is masked by a beautiful picket fence design with flowers on. There are also matching furniture items in this collection.  

5. John Lewis Colosseum Bookcase

A modern, ladder-style bookcase which is a feature in itself

Specifications

Best for: Minimalism
Dimensions: H202xW70xD38cm
Colour: Brown
Number of shelves: 5

Reasons to buy

+
Small footprint
+
Different sized shelves

Reasons to avoid

-
More for decoration 

If you’re all about the Scandi style décor, then this minimalist ladder-style bookcase would look smart in a living room or kitchen. The shelves are quite spacious, so it’s not the best for books, but it is good for displaying ornaments and vases to keep it looking minimal. Customers have said it’s super easy to put together and they love the final look it gives their home.  

6. West Elm Industrial Modular Bookcase

A stylish short bookcase, which makes a great TV stand

Specifications

Best for: Short bookcase
Dimensions: H84xW173xD50.8cm
Colour: Brown & black
Number of shelves: 4

Reasons to buy

+
Doubles as a TV stand
+
Weathered, rustic look

Reasons to avoid

-
 Quite wide 

If you’re looking to play with width over height, then this West Elm bookcase is a strong contender. Not only is it beautifully crafted from Mango Wood, but its design means it is practical in more ways than one. This bookcase could double up as a coffee table or TV stand as it has a sturdy top base for you to work with in any way you wish. There aren’t any draws, so whatever you choose to put on this bookcase will be on display, but it does have cable holes carved if you do wish to use it as a multimedia unit.  

7. Kya Extending Shelves

Display your books and structure the room with this extending unit

Specifications

Best for: Making the most of your space
Dimensions: H163xW90xD40cm (extendable width 127cm)
Colour: Oak
Number of shelves: 10+

Reasons to buy

+
Completely adjustable 
+
Lots of shelves

Reasons to avoid

-
Quite large 

This Kya unit from Made.com is a great feature for studios or larger rooms as it can double up as a room divider. This bookcase is extendable depending on where you wish to put it, and all the shelves are completely adjustable so that you can use them for books, or larger items if preferred. This is a great way to take control of storage in your home, while adding a statement piece to the room. It is a little tricky to extend on your own so you’ll need another pair of hands to help you, but once done, this is a fantastic piece of modern architecture for contemporary homes.  

Looking for more storage inspiration? 

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