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In an age of iPads and Kindles, some might consider having a large collection of books — or any books at all — an unnecessary source of clutter. However, if you're a true bibliophile, reading the previous sentence likely pained you a great deal (I know writing it did).
That being said, books do take up a lot of space if they aren't stored properly. Enter the mighty bookshelf. As with most pieces of furniture, bookshelves come in many different styles, but there are a few main things to consider when you're hunting for the perfect one to house your collection.
- Style: From the standard design with horizontal shelving and a closed-back frame to whimsical shapes and themes, your bookshelf can be as simple or as personalized as you want it to be.
- Size: Take a look at your book collection. How much space do you actually need? If you don't have many books, a three-shelf unit may do the trick. If your collection is on the larger side, or you plan on expanding your library, a 5-shelf unit with modular capabilities may be the way to go. When it comes to size, you'll want to know the height, width, and shelving depth so you can rest assured that your bookshelf will fit where you intend to put it. You'll also want to pay attention to the space between the shelves, and whether they can be adjusted.
- Material: The types of books or decorations you plan to store on your shelves can help you determine the material you want. The most common bookshelf materials are wood, particleboard, and metal. Solid wood is a good bet if you plan on storing heavier hardcover books, as is metal since it's less likely to bend over time. If you're looking for a more affordable option, particleboard is the way to go. It will give you the look of solid wood without the higher price tag. Beware, though, if you have a lot of heavy books — particleboard isn't quite as sturdy as wood or metal.
They say you should never judge a book by its cover, so we took a deeper dive into online bookshelf reviews to figure out which units not only look nice, but also stand up to their claims of durability and functionality.
Here are the best bookshelves:
Prices and links are current as of 8/4/2020. We added information on more bookshelves we're considering.