Your Bookcase Doesn’t Have to Be Boring

Switch things up.

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If you’re a person who happens to own a substantial quantity of books, chances are that you have strong opinions on how you store them. You might feel passionately in favor or against a color-coded arrangement or maybe you’ve found yourself growing increasingly curious about the merits of bookends. It’s possible, though, that you may not be considering the full potential of the shelves upon which your books sit. Your bookcase can be so much more than just a storage space.

Sure, we love a classic (like IKEA’s beloved Billy), but consider how the shape and material of a bookcase can lend some intrigue to a space. A piece of furniture used primarily for storage doesn’t have to be utilitarian, and whether you opt for a squiggly version made out of plywood or a sleek one crafted out of lucite, there are plenty of unique bookcases out there that can suit any range of design tastes.

If You’re All About Experimental Fiction

This Bauhaus-inspired option by Brooklyn-based brand Pezzi is just the thing to house your most peculiar works of fiction. Use these squiggly cubbies to show off a few of your favorite hardcovers.

If You Want Your Prized Collection of Art Books to Have the Shelf It Deserves

With brass accents, this etagere offers a bit of glamour that feels particularly suited to housing luxe art books. The negative space between shelves in this unit makes it particularly eye-catching.

If Your Bookcase Wouldn’t Be Complete Without the Entire Harry Potter Series

Inspired by Art Deco shapes, this rounded bookcase also gives off a subtle lunar vibe that makes it particularly magical. Pair two side-by-side to create a larger circular shelving unit or use one on its own to highlight its dramatic half-moon shape.

If You Feel Particularly Seen by the Beat Generation

Take a mid-century design, put a spin on it, and you’re left with this dramatically slanted option from CB2. For an impressive room statement, use this piece as a room divider.

If Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Really Get You Going

Inspired by tall grasses, this reedy bookcase creates irregular nooks for volumes to rest. The effect is altogether dramatic; the beauty is in the details.

If You Need a Place to Store Your Lit Mags and Small Press Fiction

If your collection of must-reads is ever-growing, consider this stackable plexiglass option. A transparent bookcase offers just a hint of color for a subtle twist.

If You Can’t Help But Casually Reference The Odyssey

Constructed out of marble damaged from earthquakes, this wall-affixed bookcase deserves to house books that are as poetic as its structure. Its modular structure contemporizes an ancient material.

If You Cherish Your Dr. Seuss Books From Childhood

Swap your straight shelf for one that’s perfectly bizarre. The seven bookends on this “bookworm” shelf will keep your collection upright, in spite of its experimental style.

If You Want to Give Your Collection of Classics Some Edge

When a glass bookcase comes in a rainbow of colors, its structure requires no overthinking. Consider this Italian-made piece a modern upgrade of a fail-proof, timeless design.

If Your Tastes Are Best Described as “Eccentric”

Wall-affixed shelves can be playful, too—just take a look at this dynamic piece. Alternating wires hold four wooden shelves upright while also lending them some drama.

If Your Cookbooks Are Begging for a Place of Their Own

This cane rattan bookshelf is practically begging to house a collection of much-loved tomes. Its arched top elevates its bohemian vibe, making it a perfect addition to a space that makes the most of natural materials.

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