27 Beautiful Book Storage Ideas

Though e-books continue to grow in popularity, a great bookcase never goes out of style, doubling as a design element and a storage solution. Whether you peruse your collection on a daily basis or just like to keep your favorite volumes on display, get inspired by these beautiful bookshelves and clever book storage ideas.

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January 31, 2023

By: Lisa Johnson Mandell and Lauren Fansler

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Creative and Beautiful Book Storage Ideas

Bookshelves double as storage and a design element, and they are a timeless addition to any home. Check out the 27 creative bookshelf ideas we have rounded up for all your book storage needs.

See More Ideas: 20 Beautiful Built-Ins

Books Organized by Color

In this reading nook, the wallpaper is the subtle backdrop for a library with a rainbow of books, cheerful graphic pillows and artwork.

See More Ideas: 20 Rainbow Design Ideas to Brighten Your Day

From: Zoe Feldman Design

Ladder Bookcase

Don’t throw out that old wooden ladder that’s been gathering cobwebs in your garage for years, it can be re-used as an arresting book storage solution. Whether you leave it as-is like these folks did, put a sealcoat on it or paint it to match or contrast with the rest of your decor, it makes an intriguing design statement. If you decide to angle your ladder/bookcase against the wall, you might consider attaching fishing line or a wooden slat across the back above each step, so the books don’t fall through.

From: Landing Design

Hidden Door Bookcase and Secret Room

At first glance you see a regular bookcase, but with a light tap on the right side, you'll reveal a hidden door leading to another room of the home.

See More Ideas: 20 Homes With Secret and Hidden Spaces

From: Beverly-Hanks & Associates

Hallway Bookshelf

Why waste space with plain hallways when you can add attractive, custom-built bookcases like this one designed by Stacy Jacobi. Her design style has been described as “New England Coastal went to Hollywood,” and we think this bookcase demonstrates that perfectly. Jacobi had the bookcase handmade by Mark Blaire, who used simple unfinished pine with glass panes, then painted it with Benjamin Moore high-gloss White Dove paint.

Book Tower

Metal book racks are an ideal book storage solution for small spaces since the case itself doesn’t take up any room, and it’s easy to fold up or disassemble and move. Modern book towers like these usually consist of a flat, narrow aluminum spine, mounted on a stand, with shelves that extend out for book stacking.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Question Mark Bookcase + Reading Light

Designer Tembolat Gugkaev created this fascinating bookcase/reading light combo with the help of his wife Ashlee Webb and Ryan Webb. He calls it the What Cabinet, referencing its question-mark shape. Made mostly of MDF, the shelves are color backlit. Position it next to your sofa or favorite reading chair, and voila! It holds books and illuminates them all at the same time.

Fireplace Bookcase

Got a fireplace that you never use or is no longer operational? Why not clean it out, paint it, and stack your books within. Or, if it’s a large fireplace, you could build a wooden frame to fit the space, fit it with shelves, and it will appear as a built-in bookcase.

See More Ideas: 40+ Fabulous Fireplace Design Ideas for Any Budget or Style

Gallery Wall Bookshelves

You may have a great collection of art and photography books, but you can only stack so many at one time on your coffee table. Why not display those magnificently designed covers where everyone can see them: gallery style on narrow shelves? For drama, use books with all black and white covers against a bright, solid colored wall. For fun, use books with covers in a variety of colors and shapes.

See More Ideas: Personalize Your Space With a Gallery Wall

From: Linc Thelen Design

Wall-Mounted Spine Shelves

Whether they’re made of wood or metal, wall-mounted spine shelves allow stacks of your favorite books and magazines to become colorful design elements. They also conserve space, and, because the books are visible from several angles, these shelves encourage organization.

Zigzag Bedroom Bookshelves

This bedroom cleverly saves floor space and makes a dynamic backdrop for the bed with geometric, built-in bookshelves. Colorful book titles zigzag across the wall making a dramatic statement that doubles as storage.

See More Ideas: 63 Bedroom Decorating Ideas From HGTV Magazine

From: Inspired Interiors

Angled Bookcase

To make the room feel even more warm and welcoming, designer Barbara Vail layered the space with her client's vast book collection. With their spines arranged by color and size, the novels easily enliven the white walls.

From: Barbara Vail

Book-Filled Accent Wall

This sweet neutral sleeping platform features organic textiles and a unique storage wall filled with paperback books as decorative accents.

See More Ideas: 50 Smart Design Ideas for Small Spaces

From: Urbanology Designs

Kitchen Island Bookshelf

At one end of the island a small bookshelf houses cookbooks and recipe boxes. This island addition makes finding and storing cookbooks easy and convenient.

See More Ideas: 100 Beautiful Kitchen Island Inspiration Ideas

From: Claire Paquin

Tree-Inspired Kids' Room Bookshelf

This teen bedroom features a nature-inspired bookshelf, made to look like a tree trunk, with shelves for books and collectibles.

From: Little Crown Interiors

Ladder Book Storage

The white ladder shelving in this kids' room holds books and toys. This is a smart storage and decorative solution in this bedroom space. The ladder bookshelf is mounted into the wall, adding an extra layer of protection from overturning.

From: Zoe Feldman Design

Lucite Shelves for Children's Books

At one end of this fun playroom, designers created a reading area complete with a great collection of children's books on a modern, lucite book rack.

From: D2 Interieurs

Book Chandelier

This custom-made chandelier features hanging books that are all children's classics by Puffin Books. Talk about a statement piece!

From: Stephanie DeBrincat

Floating Book Storage

This eclectic guest bedroom features a new take on floating shelves. Above the headboard, perfectly positioned bookshelves act as a decorative element.

From: Kameran Schaffner

Simply Stacked

No bookshelf? No problem! A stack of books makes a colorful mini table, just right for the small space between two windows.

From: Alison Jennison

Custom Bookshelves

In the corner of this living room, a reading nook offers the homeowners a cozy space within arm's reach of their books.

From: Jessica McClendon

Bookshelf and Reading Nook Under the Stairs

This design idea ensures that no space is wasted, even the area under the stairs, which has been transformed into a cozy reading nook.

See More Ideas: 20 Cozy Reading Nooks

From: Bria Hammel Interiors

Open Cabinet Kitchen Book Storage

This kitchen's cabinetry has been customized to include a built-in bookshelf for storing cookbooks and knickknacks.

See More Ideas: 33 Kitchen Cabinet Organization Ideas

From: Casagrande Studio

Bookshelf as the Focal Point

This bedroom stores its books in a fun curlicue of a bookshelf (Bookworm by Kartell). Subtle bookends keep books in place even when they're topsy turvy.

From: Suzanne Childress

Bunk Bed Staircase Bookcase

Tamara Hubinsky’s mission for this design was to create a hideout for the 9-year-old boy that would still accommodate him as he matured. The bookshelf stairs were custom designed to provide storage and utilize precious bedroom space. The stairs also add structure to the loft bed, which is important for kids’ rooms that are subject to lots of movement and heavy use.

Library Chair

It’s an easy chair, it’s a bookcase — it’s two things in one! Believe it or not, there's 27 feet of book storage space in Alexander Love’s elegant design. That’s enough to hold 350-400 books, and there’s even a secret compartment under the seat that can be accessed from the front bookshelf. It’s made of 1/2-inch Baltic plywood, a nine-layer material that’s incredibly strong, according to Love. You can have the seat in the fabric of your choice because the Library Chair is made to order. Available for $2,950 on Etsy.

Bubba Bookcase

Dutch designer Dille Thomas calls this bookcase “Bubba,” explaining that it’s “a well-rounded multipurpose bookcase which can also double as a playful room divider.” He uses top-grade western red cedar slats flowing into an organic shape, held in place with two spray-painted MDF panels that come in either black or white. It’s designed and manufactured in Somerville, Massachusetts, and can be purchased for $2,850.

Bookcase Room Divider

Look closely at these bookcases and note that they’re built on industrial disc casters, designed to be beautiful and practical office/room dividers. They’re literally colorful, moveable walls. Hanson Hsu of Delta H Design Inc. designed them with both form and function in mind. The shorter, higher shelves hold smaller books, which are lighter. The middle three shelves hold standard-sized binders and/or medium-sized books, while the very tall lower shelves are for large-format art, architecture, and photography books, which can be heavy and cumbersome, therefore easier to handle down low. These bookshelves are constructed of walnut and have a frosted Plexiglas backing so the books don’t fall through.