Brilliant Book Storage Ideas

Any avid reader will relate to having an ever-growing pile of books on the bedroom floor with nowhere to put them. However, keeping your collection properly organised will mean that your favourite titles are always within reach.

Not only that, but our bookshelf ideas are a great way to inject a little personality throughout your home. Whether you’re in search of space-saving options or book storage ideas for a magazine-worthy interior, we’ve put together a guide to provide all the inspiration you need.

How to Store Books

The way you store your books is important to help keep them in tip-top condition.

Bookshelves are one of the most popular storage solutions and come in all shapes and sizes. Just because you don’t have acres of available shelf space doesn’t mean that you can’t adorn your home with innovative and unique book storage. We’ve gathered a few of our favourite bookshelf ideas to get you started:

1. Hallway Library Ideas

Hallways and landings are often forgotten when it comes to designing our home interiors. Usually treated as a transitional area, rather than as a room in their own right, they actually have plenty of potential for helping to create a home that is full of character.

If your living room is on the smaller side, why not consider creating a dedicated nook for book storage in the hallway? Opt for built-in shelving or a standalone bookcase either side of a doorway or window. This is a simple way to recreate the grandeur of a library while transforming an unloved corridor into an area with a purpose.

Top Tip: If your floor space allows, add an accent chair and a floor lamp to create a cosy reading retreat.

2. Children’s Book Storage Ideas

Reading is an important part of any child’s development. Playful book storage is a great way to ensure that it never feels like a chore – not to mention that it will help to keep bedroom floors tidy and free from clutter.

Our kids’ storage collection includes plenty of options with exciting textures and colourful characters. Help to bring bedtime stories to life with one of our delightful animal-themed rope baskets – they’re bound to set their imagination in motion.

If you want to get creative, there are plenty of DIY kids book storage ideas to help you create something super personal. From a space rocket table for the astrology lover, to a tree bookshelf that climbs up their wall – you can get as crafty as you like and pick the colour scheme to make it truly unique.

Top Tip: If you’re planning a full bedroom makeover, take a look at these bedroom ideas for kids.

3. Floating Shelves Ideas

If you’re in search of book storage ideas for small spaces, you can’t do much better than floating shelves.

Above sofas, in alcoves or around entrances – they can be fitted anywhere without taking up valuable floorspace. Install as many shelves as you like. This will depend on personal preference, how many books you have and the size of your wall.

We particularly love the look of floor-to-ceiling floating shelves in an alcove or recess. It’s a great way to create a bespoke bookcase for a fraction of the cost of custom-built shelving.

Top Tip: Learn the not-so-scary skill of putting up a floating shelf – it’s far easier than you might think.

4. Using a Bookshelf as a Room Divider

Speaking of small spaces, book storage can double as a fantastic, non-permanent room divider for studio flats.

Our Clever Cube shelving units are available in an array of designs and sizes and can form a practical and attractive room partition when placed perpendicular to a wall. You can position any combination of units together to create separate zones in your living space.

Alternatively, they can be used to divide a kitchen and living room space, or even to conceal a utility area.

Fill the cubes with your book collection, leaving alternate spaces empty, if desired, to allow light to shine through.

Clever cube shelving is also a great children’s book storage option. But it’s not just books – the addition of our fabric Clever Cube inserts will also provide a handy place for keeping accessories and toys tidied away.

5. Make Use of Vertical Space with Ladder Shelves

Living room furnished with bright orange sofa, floral wallpaper and ladder bookshelf

Brimming with a cool, contemporary feel, ladder shelving is also a fantastic solution for anyone wondering how to store books in a small space.

Taking full advantage of the vertical height in a room, ladder shelving offers plenty of storage while occupying minimal floor space.

For a trendy industrial-inspired look, opt for a metal finish. Alternatively, our wooden designs are as well-suited to traditional country cottage décor as they are to minimalist, modern homes.

6. Upcycle Unloved Storage

Before you go ahead and buy a new bookcase, take a look at your existing furniture to see if there are any opportunities for upcycling.

Not only is it a good way to save money and be sustainable, but it’s great fun and the perfect activity for a wet weekend.

Something as simple as a fresh coat of paint in a contrasting colour can add a new lease of life to a tired bookcase. Paint the interior of your bookcase in a vibrant shade or use masking tape to create a striking geometric pattern. The important thing here is to just let the creative juices flow.

Top Tip: Read our guide on how to upcycle furniture with paint for some invaluable advice.

7. Under-Bed Book Storage

If you want to know how to store books without a bookshelf, under-bed storage is a great option. Utilising space that would otherwise be wasted, under-bed storage is a good choice for small bedrooms or anyone living in student accommodation, where a bookshelf might not be an option.

Designed to slot neatly beneath a bed frame, many under-bed storage boxes are also equipped with lids to keep your favourite reads dust-free. We recommend arranging books with the spine facing upwards so that it’s just as easy to find what you’re looking for as it would be if you were scanning a traditional bookshelf.

Top Tip: Our university room décor guide is packed with plenty more ways to turn bland student halls into a home away from home.

How to Style a Bookshelf

Part of the joy of lining the walls of your home with books is the burst of colour that they provide. Not just a practical solution, but with a little effort, bookshelves can also be a truly unique design feature in your home.

With your book storage sorted, you can focus on how you style your new space. Here are a couple of our favourite bookshelf styling ideas to get you started:

Read the Rainbow

Transform your living room into a real-life Pinterest board and order your books by colour. Although it may not be a librarian’s top choice when it comes to cataloguing literature, it’s a really easy way to make a statement. The more books, the bigger the impact – as if you needed any excuses to tick more titles off your reading list.

This will work particularly well in minimalist or monochrome interiors, allowing your shelves to do the talking.

Living room painted grey with pale blue accent colours and wooden bookcase

Create a Cabinet of Curiosities

The cabinet of curiosities dates back to the 17th century, when intrepid explorers would fill a room with unusual objects and souvenirs accumulated on their travels. Create your very own by filling any empty space between your books with meaningful ornaments and unique trinkets.

A real talking point for guests, this will transform your bookcase into a document of your travels, important life events and interesting stories.

If you’re a fan of maximalist interior design, this will suit you particularly well. Complete the look with bold botanical wallpaper, statement lighting and luxurious textiles for a truly eclectic feel.

How to build a Homebase bookcase

To ensure quick and easy delivery, many of our bookcases arrive ready to be put together at home.

Our flatpack bookcases come with full assembly instructions, as well as all the screws and fittings you’ll need. All the pieces are clearly labelled, and it shouldn’t take more than an hour or two to bring your vision to life – even for our largest styles.

From tips on how to store books in a small space to transforming your shelving into a work of art through simple colour co-ordination, hopefully our book storage ideas have inspired you.

Explore our huge range of bookcases today to find the perfect one for your home. Share your own bookshelf ideas with us @Homebase_UK – any good book recommendations are always welcome too.