We believe home design should be stylish and distinctive. Whether looking for the timeless appeal of a stately glass bookcase or the tailored fit of a low-profile design, bookcases and shelving are essential elements that help elevate a space. Here at Lulu and Georgia, our thoughtfully curated collection has traditional and modern bookcases perfect for your home, beautifully blending form and function.
A bookshelf is perfect for layering your space with your signature style. From storage to exhibition, bookcases offer versatile functionality to keep a room on point and in order. They create a display for books and decor while also often providing an eye-catching element of their own. With such a large variety of bookcases, cabinets, and shelving available, it's helpful to understand how best to use them in your decor.
Not sure what design best fits your space when shopping bookcases and shelving? Don't worry; we have got you covered. Check out the tips below for ideas and inspiration as you choose the best pieces to buy for your space.
Choosing the Right Bookcase or Shelving for Your Space
Unlike a sofa or a coffee table that holds pride of place in the middle of the room, bookcases are one of the few pieces of furniture we buy just to push against the wall and cover with books, bits, and ends. It most likely will not, like a console table, be the first thing guests experience when they walk into your home, nor the place where your family gathers as with a dining table or fireplace, but if you’ve ever been in a living room with a perfectly curated bookshelf or perhaps spotted a thoughtfully tailored built-in in the back of a photo spread, you’ll know that a well-styled bookcase can make all the difference in a space.
To start, you want to make sure you’re fitting the right piece to the space. If you’re shopping for a bookcase or shelving it is most likely because you do not have built-in shelving in the room already. The good news is a well-chosen storage piece can fit the space just as seamlessly. If properly chosen, even modern bookcases like this artfully geometric Jezebel Bookcase can fold in with impact while feeling like an essential and natural extension of your design.
The trick is not to purchase a piece in isolation but rather to fit the piece to its surroundings from the onset. You’ll want to take into account the overall aesthetic of the room so that your storage elements complement it. You also want to consider how to tailor the dimensions and features of a bookshelf to your space. Here are a few sizes and styles to keep in mind as you shop.
Tall Bookcases
If you have the space, go up. A tall bookcase can make a wonderful statement piece, drawing your eyes up and fully capitalizing on a room with high ceilings. This can be essential if you’re going for a more narrow design but still want plenty of shelf space. An oversized piece can also create a brilliant focal point in a home office or living room. At over 8 feet tall, the Mallory Bookcase with Ladder may become the design feature people remember most in your home.
Low Bookcases
Perhaps you’re looking for just the opposite. A low bookcase can fit under art or other features while providing plenty of space to bring color and storage into your edit. A small bookcase can be the perfect fit for a child’s room (to make sure they can reach every title) or home office—while a more extended design with a low profile like this Nera Low Bookcase can fold into a hallway or even behind your sofa with the top doubling as surface space.
Bookcase Cabinets
If you’re looking for more complex storage solutions, you might opt for something with a cabinet or drawers. This can be ideal for linens and other less wieldy goods you want to stash alongside your more photo-worthy treasures. Something like this Dumont Bookcase by Amber Lewis x Four Hands has shelving above for your best editions and favorite decor with spacious cabinet storage below.
Curio Cabinets
A curio cabinet or glass bookcase is an ideal choice for curated displays. They also keep your books and decor from getting dusty, which means less cleaning when guests come over. Many designs may lean traditional—you might picture one sitting in your grandparents’ house holding dishes and family heirlooms—but we love how modern designers are using these pieces in their edits. As with bookshelves, you can find curio cabinets that are tall or low or come with extra storage in the form of drawers and cabinets. It’s up to you to find the fit.
How to Style a Bookcase or Display Shelving
No matter the design, bookshelves and shelving can be thought of as storage with style. More than any other piece of furniture you own, they let you put your signature touch on them. By finding a piece that fits seamlessly into your space, you’ve chosen the canvas; now it’s time to create your masterpiece.
Start by gathering pieces you want to include. This will, of course, include your favorite art books and bookends, but you will also want other pieces of decor or found items. The goal is to create a richly layered but edited (not busy) curation with a variety of shapes, heights, and textures—this creates visual interest. The curves of vases can help break up the more linear shapes of your neatly stacked books.
Remember to think beyond aesthetics though. You’re designing a place for you and the humans you live with, so put people at the center of your design. If you have young ones, put anything they might want to reach on the lower shelves, and anything you definitely do not want them to reach (like fragile vases) higher up. When designing an open bookshelf, every touch you add is part of the final product. Bookshelves can offer more functional storage, however, it is best to incorporate discreet solutions with baskets and bins on lower shelves to keep the overall effect looking edited and tidy–not cluttered and thrown together.
However you decide to style it, remember that a bookcase allows you the flexibility to showcase your design aesthetic. In a living room, bedroom, or home office, bookcases provide a spot for books, decor, greenery, and other little nuances of your taste. From a metal-frame shelf with industrial undertones to a more traditional display bookcase, this functional element can enrich your home's aesthetic with a practical touch.
Lulu and Georgia Bookcases + Shelving
When you shop for bookcases and shelving online at Lulu and Georgia, you'll find pieces that complement the style of your home but also elevate it. Whether you are looking for a statement-making modern bookshelf or the perfect fit and charm of a small bookcase, we have a selection curated by color, materials, and size. Check out our shop by room page for more ideas and inspiration on how to create stylish everyday living spaces.
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