Smart Shopper: Book Storage
Readers rejoice: these clever storage solutions will make a feature of your favourite tomes, writes Georgia Madden.
Reading is one of life’s greatest pleasures, but storing books can be problematic – particularly for voracious readers who are short on living space. “Books add warmth, texture and personality to a home, but they can certainly present a storage issue,” says Dana Goldberg, interior designer and director of Nido Studio. “If this is the case, you need to get creative.”
Existing shelves straining under the weight of your collection? Perhaps you have towering piles of books that are threatening to topple. Don’t despair – there’s a raft of neat solutions that meet those book-storage needs head-on. Take your pick from freestanding bookcases, flexible wall-storage systems that incorporate everything from open and closed shelves and desks, revolving bookshelves that boost the number of books you can store in a corner, and modular units that can be mixed and matched to suit your room.
“For contemporary spaces, slimmer shelves made with lightweight materials that have a finer profile and a more minimal look are trending,” says Fabio Fanuli, director at Fanuli. “For spaces where you’re looking to add warmth, timber is popular – particularly darker-toned timbers such as walnut, which are often mixed with lacquered materials for contrast. We’re also seeing asymmetrical designs that follow the lines of other elements in a room coming through in place of plain, linear shelving.”
For Jane Novembre, marketing director at Domo, flexibility is the big draw in today’s designs. “Recent times have seen a rise in smaller bookcases that double as side tables or credenzas. These offer great storage and can be placed within easy reach of your favourite chair so books are always close by,” she says. “Conversely, there has also been an increase in the number of larger, modular bookcases. They’re easy to reconfigure or move according to your needs, and can be used against a wall or as a room divider.”
To maximise your book-storage potential, a built-in bookshelf that’s customised to fit your room is hard to beat, says interior designer Sarah Comerford, founder and CEO of HOME by belle.
“Built-in joinery will fit your space perfectly, without leaving any empty gaps. It’s also a safe choice if you have young children.”
When specifying custom joinery, consider exactly what you need to store and whether you want the piece to stand out or to feel like part of the architecture, she says. “If you prefer a built-in to blend in, paint it the same colour as the walls or match the finish to the surrounding cabinetry. To make a feature of it, go for contrasting colours and textures, and consider touches of metallics.” In statement joinery, mixed-material styles are coming to the fore right now: “Matt-black and timber mixes are really popular, often with LED lighting to enhance display objects on shelves. Black joinery makes a bold statement and suits modern spaces,” says Sarah.
It’s also important to make sure your custom design can accommodate your collection. “The thicker the shelf, the more substantial the joinery looks. Plus, thicker shelves can take heavier books,” she says. “I like to incorporate 25-32-millimetre-thick shelves in bookcases I design. If space in the home is tight, including closed cabinets and drawers for household items is a good idea.”
There are other clever ways you can squeeze in extra book storage in a small home too. Start by looking around for any unused spaces, adds Dana: “Install shelving above doorways, along hallways and below and around built-in seating, making sure you use the full height and width of the wall. In bedrooms, book shelves can be put in below a bench seat or around the bed.”
Or seek out multi-functional pieces that incorporate storage, advises Christine Gough, interior design leader at Ikea Australia. “Footstools with hidden storage compartments are perfect for storing smaller books and a coffee table with shelves makes books easily accessible. Bedside tables are another great option as they offer both open and closed storage.” Dana agrees, adding; “Multitasking wall systems that incorporate shelving, display and a desk in one are another space-saving idea. Or consider tying specially designed leather book belts around books to create a quirky side table or display. This way the books become the furniture.” And, just like that, your beloved collection is back in the good books.