A bookcase is an essential piece of furniture for the living room. The perfect place to display your books, a bookcase can also hold other decorative items. Finally, it adds to the aesthetic appeal of a home.
Several materials are used to make bookshelves: wood, PVC, aluminum, and wrought iron. However, wood is generally the preferred choice. And rightly so, since this material is the only one that combines all the characteristics necessary for a bookshelf: it’s sturdy, durable, attractive, and eco-friendly. But how do you choose a wooden bookshelf?
Choosing a Wooden Bookshelf Based on Your Needs
Before choosing a bookshelf, you need to determine the dimensions required to display your books. Besides, not all books are stored the same way.
Wooden bookshelf: How much space is available?
The dimensions of the wooden bookcase are a key factor in your choice. Any future decision depends on the space available in the room where the bookcase will be placed. Height, width, depth, and the space between other pieces of furniture in the room: nothing should be left to chance. Next, the books and other items you plan to place on the shelves are important factors in making your choice.
Choosing a Library Based on the Books It Offers
Book lovers don’t just stack their books any old way. Everyone has their own system for organizing them: by genre, author, size, or all three at once, and so on. Generally, the shelves in a bookcase aren’t all the same size. That’s why it’s essential to measure your books before choosing a wooden bookcase. As a reminder:
- A paperback book is about 18 cm tall;
- A novel in A5 format rarely exceeds 24 cm;
- A comic strip is, on average, 30 cm long;
- Hardcover books come in various sizes, but they often take up a lot of space.
Sorting books by size isn’t just a matter of practicality and aesthetics. If the bookshelf isn’t made of solid wood, you need to be mindful of the total weight of the books and other items on each shelf. If the weight is too great, the shelf could warp. It’s best to place the heaviest books on the lower shelves.
Tips for Choosing a Wooden Bookshelf: Think About Future Books
Taking into account one’s current book collection remains essential. However, anticipating future acquisitions also helps to better identify one’s needs. For example, a comic book enthusiast knows that these books are generally large and heavy. Furthermore, some storylines span dozens of volumes. This enthusiast will therefore need to plan ahead and choose an extremely sturdy wooden bookcase.
Choosing a bookcase: with or without glass doors?
Taking stock of your book collection also helps you determine whether your wooden bookcase needs specific accessories or features. For example, lovers of rare books need to protect them from the ravages of time and dust. The ideal solution in this case is a bookcase with glass doors. Those who wish to hide less aesthetically pleasing books may consider drawers or sliding doors. However, this does come at an additional cost.
A Wooden Bookshelf Tailored to the Room
In which room should you place your wooden bookcase? That’s a big question, and one that needs to be answered before you choose your furniture. After all, the characteristics of a bookcase vary depending on where it’s placed.
A bookshelf in the living room
A living room bookcase holds the family’s entire collection of books. This piece of furniture is often quite large. In addition, a wooden bookcase should complement the style of the other furniture in the living room. If the goal is to make it the focal point of the room, then the rest of the furniture should be fairly neutral. Adding lighting and decorative elements can showcase the books. Finally, glass doors help protect the books and give the wooden bookcase a “display case” look.
A bookshelf in a bedroom
In a bedroom, a bookcase serves a more practical than aesthetic purpose. People who place one in their bedroom tend to be avid readers. Placed in an intimate space, it’s often cluttered but takes up a lot of room. An aesthetic and practical solution: install a square of shelves on a wall, or simply hang a shelf that runs around the room. This leaves room to keep the floor clear.
A bookshelf in the hallway
Placing a wooden bookcase in the hallway makes the most of the space. Plus, it’s the perfect way to decorate an area of the house that’s often considered wasted space. Be careful not to choose a bookcase that’s too deep, so it doesn’t take up too much room. However, the shelves can extend all the way to the ceiling to maximize storage.
A library in a room dedicated to books
A book lover’s dream: dedicating a room to reading. Why not set up a reading nook where the desk is already located? In that case, a custom-built wooden bookcase is the perfect choice. The bookcase can span the entire wall, from floor to ceiling, with a ladder or step stool to reach the highest shelves. A large bookcase provides the opportunity to organize your books more effectively—by theme, for example—and to display additional decorative items.
What type of wood should you choose for your bookcase?
Wood is one of the essential materials for building a bookshelf. Strong, durable, natural, renewable—there aren’t enough superlatives to describe this material. Several types of wood are used in bookshelf design. Which type of wood should you choose for storing your favorite books?
Choose solid wood for your bookshelf
All the qualities mentioned above apply only to solid wood. Regardless of the wood species, this type of wood is far superior in quality to PVC, melamine, or laminated wood. While it is true that solid wood is more expensive, it ensures the long-term durability of the furniture. Several types of wood are ideal for a bookcase:
- the oak;
- pine;
- the walnut tree;
- the wild cherry tree;
- ebony;
- the beech tree.
Choosing Ethical and Eco-Friendly Furniture
The color of solid wood is chosen based on the interior design style of the home. For example, a Scandinavian design calls for light-colored wood to achieve a minimalist look. European wood species (pine, maple, oak, beech, etc.) are particularly well-suited to this style. An industrial design pairs best with raw wood. Dark wood is better suited to a traditional interior. However, dark wood species most often come from exotic regions—which is ironic for those who choose a wooden bookshelf for ethical and ecological reasons.
Exotic wood does indeed contribute to the deforestation of tropical and equatorial forests. Entire ecosystems disappear every year. Furthermore, transporting this raw material contributes to greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. In short, choosing exotic wood is anything but environmentally friendly. That is why European wood, sourced from sustainably managed forests, should definitely be the preferred choice. Several certifications reflect this commitment to combining attractive, durable furniture with responsible and eco-friendly practices, notably the PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certifications.
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