How to Buy Bookshelves

Tips on buying bookshelves

1. First figure out how much room you have in your apartment or home for bookshelves. Ideally, where would you like them to go? When you've decided on a space, measure the area and jot down the circumference to take with you when you go out shopping.
2. Decide on whether or not you want standing bookshelves, or bookshelves that are mounted to a wall. Keep in mind that mounted shelves will usually require a little more work, seeing as how you're conducting an installation, but in the end they'll leave you with more floor space. A standing bookshelf is usually quite easy to set up (that is if the standing bookshelf you buy comes assembled already), but will leave you with a little less floor space.
3. What kind of materials do you want your bookshelves to be made of? Metal, wood, glass? How light or heavy do you want the shelves to be? These are all big questions to consider when shopping. Take into consideration your other material possessions (couch, chairs, tables, etc)-make sure the bookshelves you buy can be stylistically coordinated with these other pieces of furniture.
4. Another thing to think of is your book collection. How many shelves do you think you'll need? Keep in mind that while you might not have a lot of books now, you should buy a bookshelf unit or enough shelves to allow you space to accrue new books.
5. Inspect the quality of the material and construction of bookshelves when you go out shopping. While it's always recommended to look for a good deal when shopping, don't be afraid to spend a little money on good, high quality bookshelves-you're going to want them to last a long time!
6. Find someone to assist you if there's assembly required on the bookshelves you buy. You'll especially need someone if you're buying shelves that mount to a wall, for this person will have to hold one end of the shelf up while you mount the other end.

Caution

Be extremely careful about placing thick, heavy books on a bookshelf you mount to a wall. An excessively heavy book (or a few excessively heavy books) could bring a mounted bookshelf crashing down to the floor!

Where to buy bookshelves

You'll find lots of places online to go shopping for bookshelves. Below are a few recommended spots.

• IKEA has long been a popular place to go shopping for bookshelves and cases. Enter their official site and check out the massive selection of storage goods they offer, most of which can be purchased online.

• Home Decorators offers beautiful open bookcases as well as bookcases with doors.

Get smart at Smart Furniture, where shelving systems can be custom designed to handle all of your books.