Home and Office Bookcases Buying Guide

Bookcases are ideal in many ways for storage in an office environment - not only do they provide the perfect place to store important documents, manuals, reference guides, legal books, or whatever else your office needs, but they are also visually striking and add an air of refinement to your office environment. With proper arrangement and the proper choice of bookshelves, you can give your office a truly elegant air. There are two main considerations involved in buying a bookshelf for your office: durability and space. Both can be the difference between an elegant office solution and a clumsy mess on your hands. This bookshelf buying guide will describe some of the main considerations involved with both.
Durability is simple. You want to find something that will last your office for years to come, especially if you have heavy books or art objects that you want to put on the shelves. In general, wood bookcases are sturdily built, but be careful that you know exactly what the wood is - look for oak or other solid woods.

Metal bookshelves
also tend to be sturdy, but can be less than ideal in terms of design, but if you're going for a modern decor in your office, a metal bookshelf might be the best choice for both style and lasting power. Many metal bookcases have glass shelving, so be careful to look for reinforced, tempered glass options.

Size is the other key consideration. Bookshelves, more than most furniture, require good amounts of vertical clearance, so be careful to check vertical dimensions and make sure that your bookshelf can fit somewhere that doesn't block windows or hit the ceiling outright. Horizontal space is important too - properly sized, a bookshelf can fit into a space perfectly, but even small mistakes can lead to a bookshelf that doesn't properly fit anywhere.

In addition, the size of the shelves themselves is important. Height and depth both matter, affecting your ability to use the bookcase as storage. Many modern bookshelves have shelves with varying heights, allowing you to put overly large books and large trophies or artworks on one shelf and smaller books on others. This allows you to use the height of the bookcase to maximum efficiency. Once you know the size of the space you're trying to fill and the amount of shelving space you need, you can start considering style options.

Tower bookshelves are the most traditional option. Tall and simple, they can visually break up a room, draw attention to a space, and generally provide a great option for a good deal of storage in a comparatively small space. Many come with options like glass-fronted cases and intriguing, modern shelving designs - in general, tower bookshelves have the most variants and style options, allowing you to find the perfect one to suit your office space.

Corner bookshelves are similar to tower bookshelves, but designed to fit into small corner spaces. Most have a right-angle back and a curved or angled front, giving them a unique appearance that's sure to catch the eye. If your office space is smaller and you need a storage option that won't take up too much room, a corner bookshelf may be the best option.

Wall-mounted bookshelves are smaller in terms of storage space, of course, but can offer a great way to save office space. In addition, a small, modern wall-mounted bookshelf can be the perfect place to display a few trophies and key books to clients or coworkers. To recap, the key points of choosing a bookcase for your office space:

  • Durability. Ensure your shelving will last.
  • Size. Make sure that you have the right bookcase for the space available.
  • Style. Choose something that fits both your needs for space, style, and storage.