Don’t clutter up your bookshelf with book and random stuff — it can be a real eyesore! Here’s how to turn it into a living room centerpiece.
Storage space, especially for books and decor, is an essential part of the home — and it’s something that every homeowner requests for during renovations.
But what if they could be more than just functional or basic? Here are some bookshelf design ideas that up the style stakes of the home interior, to inspire you.
Dining Room
The rest of the apartment is washed in a neutral palette of dark brown and beige, to let the colours from the book covers stand out.
Dark Wood Bookshelf
The massive dark wood bookshelf anchors the space with its bulk, but the structure is lightened with its back-lit shelves.
Cookbook Shelf
Cookbooks usually have attractive, enticing covers, and this is put to good use by having a shelf in the open-concept kitchen.
Reading Corner
A cosy and well-lit reading corner is created right opposite the bookshelf by tucking a cream upholstered armchair and ottoman to the side of the living room.
Vintage Chest
An unconventional bookshelf silhouette for a 3-room HDB flat, designed by New Nyew.
Wide Frames
The items displayed on these shelves look like they’re part of an art installation, thanks to the wide frame.
Bookshelf as Partition
Carve out your home office or library from a room by using a large bookshelf as a divider.
Sofa with Bookshelf
Customise a sofa with a bookshelf built into the back of it.
Sofa Pigeonholes
We love these pigeonholes that wrap around the sofa.
Staircase Railing
Instead of installing a hand rail, a bookshelf was built on one side of this staircase.
High Ceiling Bookshelf
Taking advantage of the high ceilings, the designers created a mezzanine floor so as to access the books on the very top.
HDB Bomb Shelter
This bookshelf was built over the door of the bomb shelter door to conceal it.
Bookshelves as Walls
This Parisian flat was designed to include five bookcases, big and small, which separate three living spaces.
Under Sofa Storage
Bookshelves as part of the sofa – a brilliant, space-saving idea!
Wood Bookshelf
To set a warm tone throughout the space, wood was the main material used for built-ins, such as this bookshelf.
Geometric Bookshelf
No need for a feature wall when your bookshelf is in a creative, geometric arrangement.
Conceal Walls
A wall divides the dining area and bedroom, but it is concealed behind this large bookcase.
Ambient Lights
When designing your customised bookshelf, include ambient lighting for a cosy living room.
Gold Hardware
Gold handles give this bookshelf an Art Deco look. This bookcase also conceals the store room entrance.
Living Room
The homeowner is a teacher with many books and files. A large bookshelf was incorporated into her TV feature wall.
Stack Your Books
Put some books standing straight up and others stacked lying down to keep it interesting.
Arrange books by colour
An easy way to get that bookshelf looking great. For visual thinkers, organising your books by colour might be the easiest way to find what you’re looking for.
Mementos
Add mementos and other curios that will give personality to your bookcase. A uniquely designed bookend is extra practical, too!
Nature
Include organic elements thoughtfully like a bowl of rocks or a tank of seashells. These little details give your shelves a dash of vibrancy
Bookshelves as Partitions
Using the bookshelves to demarcate living room and kitchen from the staircase for a 2-stoye, 3-bedrooom condominium. By Studio Wills.
Tucked Away
A simple and neat way to display your books and trinkets for a 3-room HDB flat, Design by Space Matters.
Ceiling Beams
The study has a customised wooden shelf that runs from ceiling beams down to the floor.
High Ceiling Bookshelf
The look of the open shelving is unhindered by staircases or ladders – instead, a glass walkway provides access to the higher shelves.
Bookshelf with Ladder
Custom-built floor-to-ceiling shelves and a stepladder create a classic library look for the study.
Roller Ladder
A spray-painted roller ladder allows access to the upper compartments of the built-in floor-to-ceiling shelves.
Bed Headboard
Shelves similar to those in the living room comprise the headboard of the customised bed in the master bedroom.
Sliding Wood Panel
Use a sliding wooden panel to create a storage display dining unit which will match your other furniture. Interior design by Story of Us.
Feature Wall
The display shelves are filled with cookbooks and travel souvenirs to bring a decorative touch to the living and dining space.
Concealed LED Strips
Concealed lighting strips illuminate the bookshelves from the inside, highlighting the cutouts of the cable trays. (Renovation Cost: $128,000)
Lego Bookshelf
Huge ‘Lego Blocks’ were fixed to wooden bookshelves with 3M tape so the owners could “redesign” the shelves as they prefer.
Statement Colour
A bright orange bookshelf looks easy on the eye in a statement room of the same hue.
Ventilation
To improve air flow, the designer replaced the wall between the living room and kitchen with these open shelves.
Green Bookshelves
Green shelves spruce up the home office. (Renovation Cost: $300,000)
Living Room
The interior designers accommodated a study in the living hall with a series of shelves built around the table to make full use of the height of the wall.
Full Room Bookshelf
A specially created wall-to-wall ledge creates the illusion of floating shelves.
Sliding Bookshelf
The sliding bookshelf maximises the bay window by turning it into much-needed storage space.
Industrial Bookshelf
The homeowner custom-built her industrial-style desk and shelves.
Floor to Ceiling
Despite the amount of books on the shelves, this shelving unit doesn’t look bulky as the shelves go from floor the ceiling, maximising every inch of space!
High Ceiling
The designers utilised the high ceiling by crafting a hanging library. Wire mesh flooring prevents it from feeling claustrophobic.