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    "parsed_content": "HomeFurniture11 Creative Ways to Store Your BooksPublished September 2, 2026372NYT WirecutterBy Dorie ChevlenDorie Chevlen and her boyfriend managed to move both of their libraries into an 850-square-foot apartment without arguing once.A few months ago, my boyfriend and I reached a new relationship milestone: We moved in together. He\u2019s also a writer, and a shared love of literature is one of the first things we connected over. In the early days of our courtship, we\u2019d run fingers along the spines of each other\u2019s collections, discussing favorites and lending what we thought the other might like.If you love literature, you\u2019ll rightfully interpret this as foreshadowing for what comes next: two readers, two libraries, and one 850-square-foot apartment. Uh-oh.\u00a0My mother warned me, in a hushed and serious tone, that if I were to ask my boyfriend to downsize, he\u2019d \u201chave the right\u201d to dump me. But I also knew that culling my own books down to only the most vital titles was a task easier said than done. Who could say whether Woolf was more precious than Wilde? Who could evict our old friends Carrie, Rebecca, and Emma?\u00a0Stacked in boxes on the floor and shoved into our single closet, the books nevertheless demanded an answer. I was stumped. So I did what any reporter would do: I reported.After interviewing four designers and then talking to colleagues and friends, I realized something: With a bit of creativity, your books can become a design element in your home, bringing warmth, color, and texture, whether you live in a small apartment or a sprawling house.As for my own little apartment? In the end, my boyfriend and I didn\u2019t have to get rid of our books. Instead, we took the advice of interior designer Corey Damen Jenkins, who told me: \u201cA shelf that showcases the things you love tells a story about who you are, and that is always worth making room for.\u201d\u00a0Now, our little library feels exactly like that \u2014 like us. Here are 11 expert-endorsed strategies you can put to work to display your own collection creatively and personally, no matter its size.Get today\u2019s recommendationExpert advice. Very good deals. The absolute best (and worst) things we\u2019ve tested lately. Sent to your inbox daily.Sign UpFor information about our privacy practices, including how to opt out of marketing emails, see our Privacy Policy. For general questions, contact us anytime.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTMaximize vertical spaceWhen it comes to storing just about anything, experts agree: There\u2019s usually ample space if you just look up. Books on a wall can also function decoratively and bring visual interest, much like a wall sconce or a framed print would.Install floating shelvesFloating shelves allow you to make the most of your home\u2019s vertical space without sacrificing the functional space below. Thanks to their gravity-defying appearance, they also give your space an airier look than bookcases that are anchored to the floor. These shelves work well over a desk, a couch, or any other low furniture, so you won\u2019t risk bopping your head.\u00a0And floating shelves are relatively easy to DIY. Writer Mel Plaut fashioned their floating shelves using brackets from McMaster-Carr and wood planks from The Home Depot. Or you could invest in a prefab shelving system, like the modular system from Vitsoe, a favorite among Wirecutter staffers. Either way, installing them takes some planning and patience. Because floating shelves are weight-bearing, it\u2019s best to hang them where you can drill into a stud; otherwise you will need to use anchors to avoid tearing down drywall.Mel\u2019s floating shelves use wood planks from the hardware store and McMaster-Carr brackets to anchor the desk space \u2014 and to store books.\u00a0Mel Plaut\/NYT WirecutterYou could add bookends or heavy objects to contain your volumes. Or you could stack a few books horizontally at both ends of the shelf, said Courtney Coleman, co-founder of design firm Brockschmidt & Coleman. This adds visual interest and maximizes every last inch of space on the shelf.Instead of a whole multi-shelf system, you could also install one narrow shelf in a small zone of your home, such as the area above a doorway.An old shelf from my bathroom now has a new life storing books over the door to our living room.\u00a0Dorie Chevlen\/NYT WirecutterMy boyfriend and I hung a floating shelf over the door to our living room, and it adds character to the space while also stashing books we love but don\u2019t reach for often. Just be sure to measure the height of your tallest book, and then hang the shelf with enough ceiling clearance to accommodate it. Also, stack the books tightly, or use bookends to secure those titles; you wouldn\u2019t want to have one drop on your head.Use floor-to-ceiling casesIf you don\u2019t want to deal with the measuring and drilling that floating shelves involve, consider floor-to-ceiling bookcases, said Bill Brockschmidt, an interior designer and the other co-founder of Brockschmidt & Coleman. This way, a wall of books \u201cbecomes almost like wallpaper,\u201d blending into the space.\u00a0Custom built-ins are great, but regular bookcases can achieve a similar effect for a lot less. Look for ones with extenders, so they can get as high up to the ceiling as possible.\u00a0IKEA\u2019s Billy Bookcase, a Wirecutter favorite, is about 6.5 feet tall. And it\u2019s available with optional Billy extenders that add 11 inches, bringing it closer to the height of many standard ceilings. Writer Evan Dent uses the Billy with extenders to fit part of his and his wife\u2019s library in their entryway.This IKEA Billy bookcase almost reaches the ceiling, thanks to two Billy extenders. IKEA doesn\u2019t advise using two extenders, but Evan anchored them to the wall for extra security.\u00a0Evan Dent\/NYT WirecutterTop pickTop pick, An affordable, endlessly customizable bookcase IKEA Billy BookcaseIKEA Billy BookcaseAvailable in several finishes and configurations, this staff-favorite bookcase is easy to build, and it can squeeze into virtually any space.Buying options: $158 from IKEA, opens in a new tabTop pick, Gain a few inches of storage IKEA Billy Height Extension UnitIKEA Billy Height Extension UnitInstall this extension to gain even more vertical storage for your books.Buying options: $30 from IKEA, opens in a new tabIf your bookcase has adjustable shelves, like the Billy does, Brockschmidt recommends spacing each shelf so it\u2019s as close as possible to the top of the tallest books below it. This creates a cozier, denser look while maximizing storage. It\u2019s better to have a tighter fit than to squeeze several books horizontally atop the vertical titles, since that can damage spines.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTStack artfullyAnother way to store your books is to think of them as decor. That means expanding beyond the classic coffee-table spot and setting books on seldom-used chairs or even right on the floor, said Kelly Croteau, a library curator and book stylist who owns the rare-books store Maison Plage. Placing deliberate stacks of books in her clients\u2019 homes gives them \u201ca cool, lived-in, vintage-y collected look,\u201d she said.\u00a0The secret to making stacks look intentional \u2014 bohemian artiste versus cluttered chaos \u2014 is in the styling and positioning. \u201cYou want to be able to walk around your space,\u201d Croteau emphasized.Place lamps\u00a0atop the stacksOne way to style is to place a small lamp atop your book stack, so that it serves as a pedestal. You also gain more real estate on your table.\u00a0My colleague Joshua Lyon, who covers home decor for Wirecutter, uses red, black, and cream photo books to tie the colors of his bedspread and lamp together.A stack of books on Josh\u2019s nightstand raises the light source and frees up space for\u2026 another book.\u00a0Joshua Lyon\/NYT WirecutterElevate your favorite thingsA stack of books can literally and figuratively elevate objects that benefit from closer inspection \u2014\u00a0like Josh\u2019s jewelry box full of vintage pins and rings, shown below. Again, selecting books for their color and scale will make the stack feel like decor, rather than a mess.Josh picked spines that play on the colors of the display object (in this case champagne gold).\u00a0Joshua Lyon\/NYT WirecutterAnchor your tchotchkesA well-selected stack can also lend individuality to a neglected corner. A couple of books with personal meaning create a natural pedestal for small decorative objects that might otherwise get lost on the expanse of a coffee table or dresser. To create a cohesive base for smaller items, pick titles with similar dimensions and colors.The uniform black palette allows Josh\u2019s collectibles to take center stage.\u00a0Joshua Lyon\/NYT WirecutterGo tall and narrowA tower bookshelf can slip a stack of books into a narrow space, and it can showcase favorite objects and figurines.\u00a0Katie Okamoto\/NYT WirecutterFor truly high piles of books, some assistance is in order. A tower shelf \u2014 also called a spine bookshelf or a ladder or tower bookcase \u2014 appears to be one precarious stack, yet it\u2019s actually a single piece of furniture, with several slim shelves connected to a central spine. And it\u2019s easy to load and remove individual titles from this type of shelf.\u00a0With a tower shelf, Evan turns the tiniest living-room space into an impressive storage spot.\u00a0Evan Dent\/NYT WirecutterYou can also fit books into the narrowest spaces \u2014 like in a corner or next to a doorway, as Evan did with a Bauhaus 2 Your House shelf \u2014 while still maintaining a clean look. The designers I spoke with agreed that in order to create the most balanced aesthetic, you should place wider books on the bottom and slimmer volumes at the top.Top pickTop pick, A straightforward spine bookcase Sapiens Vertical Bookcase by Bruno RainaldiSapiens Vertical Bookcase by Bruno RainaldiThis narrow bookcase comes in several colors and heights but just one symmetrical orientation. It\u2019s easy to assemble and has a small footprint.Buying options: $279 from Bauhaus 2 Your House, opens in a new tabTop pickTop pick, A budget spine bookcase The Container Store Floating BookshelfThe Container Store Floating BookshelfThis is the cheapest spine bookcase we\u2019ve tested. But some shelves may arrive bent at the wrong angle, and correcting this takes some physical exertion.Buying options: $175 from The Container Store, opens in a new tabMay be out of stockTop pickTop pick, A safer spine bookshelf Design Within Reach Story BookcaseDesign Within Reach Story BookcaseMore expensive than similar models, this narrow bookcase comes with anchoring tools, so it\u2019s safer for homes with children and pets. And the shelves can be reconfigured to stack books in a row or asymmetrically stagger them.Buying options: $446 from Design Within Reach, opens in a new tabAdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTThink beyond the typical bookcaseSometimes discovering a storage spot is a matter of looking at existing items in a new light. For example, if dining-room breakfronts and media consoles are not being used for dishes or DVDs, they can be great homes for books.\u00a0Use rotating storageLibrary furniture is designed to maximize book storage, and the Bear Qiaqia Rotating Bookshelf works like an old-school library display. Writer Kimber Streams has three of them for storing books in their home. About 4 feet tall and 17 inches across, each shelf stores an impressive number of books, yet it has a very narrow footprint.Kimber\u2019s storage solution is like a lazy Susan for books.\u00a0Kimber Streams\/NYT WirecutterTop pickTop pick, A 360-degree library Bear Qiaqia Rotating BookshelfBear Qiaqia Rotating BookshelfYou can store a lot of books in this rotating pine-wood shelf (which comes in four heights). And they\u2019re easy to access. Buying options: $126 from Amazon, opens in a new tabPick a nightstand with storageIf you like to read in bed, consider an end table with a built-in nook, so you can keep your still-to-be-finished titles nearby. Like some of our other recommended nightstands, the Yamazaki Steel + Wood table provides decent storage; in this case, there\u2019s room for about eight average-size novels, if you arrange them lengthwise. (Yamazaki is a Japanese home brand that makes several of our favorite organizers for small spaces.) My boyfriend and I each have one on our side of the bed for books in progress. We also shove a few library loans underneath the table, which has spindly legs.My nightstand has three zones for book storage \u2014 the top, the cubby, and the floor.\u00a0Dorie Chevlen\/NYT WirecutterTop pickTop pick, Simple and slender Yamazaki Steel + Wood Storage TableYamazaki Steel + Wood Storage TableAvailable in two colors and two heights, this skinny-legged model is a sleek choice for maximizing floorspace and book storage.Buying options: $142 from Amazon, opens in a new tab$142 from Walmart, opens in a new tab$142 from Wayfair, opens in a new tabOr try seatingWe also love seating that can store books, including storage benches, which make piles of books disappear. And if you prefer to show off your collection, the IKEA Perjohan has an open shelf so you won\u2019t forget about beloved paperbacks. This bench is also wonderful if your home is overflowing with children\u2019s books; video editor Katie Quinn stows her children\u2019s picture books beneath the bench at the kitchen table. And Croteau said another chic way to get a few more books into the bedroom is to stack some atop a storage bench placed at the end of the bed.A bench with open storage, like this one next to Katie Quinn\u2019s kitchen table, allows kids to grab their favorite reads whenever the mood strikes.\u00a0Katie Quinn\/NYT WirecutterTop pickTop pick, Slim, with storage IKEA PerjohanIKEA PerjohanMade from unfinished solid pine, this lightweight bench slips into narrow spaces and can easily travel from room to room \u2014 whenever you need a seat.Buying options: $80 from IKEA, opens in a new tabAdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTLook in unexpected spacesSmall-home dwellers should \u201ctake advantage of every kind of nook and cranny where you can slot something in,\u201d Brockschmidt said. This approach is practical, and it also introduces colors and textures into otherwise-blank spaces, making your home feel more like your own.Fill in forgotten spotsA nonfunctioning fireplace is another ready-made storage space. Designers suggest topping the books with small decorative objects or candles, so the stacks look intentional.My friend\u2019s friend Brett keeps a deep stash of books in his unused fireplace.\u00a0Brett BarbourFor writer Colleen Hagerty, the side edges of a staircase presented a clever storage opportunity. Just make sure the books are tucked tightly between the spindles, so they don\u2019t protrude into the pathway and create a tripping hazard. And no matter where you\u2019re placing books, Brockschmidt recommends sorting them by category, so you can easily find the titles you\u2019re seeking. Perhaps the stairs are where you put your travel books or the library titles you know you need to return.Some see a stairway; Colleen saw bookends.\u00a0Colleen Hagerty\/NYT WirecutterConsider ledges and cabinet topsWhen my boyfriend and I were setting up our apartment, we had to get really creative, and we ended up stashing some of our collection above our kitchen cabinets. Ours are unusually high (I have to use a ladder to reach the upper shelves), so books are an acceptable distance from any cooking splatter.Many kitchen cabinets, including mine, don\u2019t quite reach the ceiling. So they offer sneaky storage opportunities for books.\u00a0Dorie Chevlen\/NYT WirecutterThat said, we don\u2019t recommend storing books for a long time in the kitchen, bathroom, or other areas with high temperature fluctuations and moisture, since proximity to these elements can damage paper over time. If you choose to go this route, just be sure not to store any especially beloved or collectible titles up there, and wipe them down often.Window sills can offer short-term book storage, but we don\u2019t recommend them for permanent storage, since UV light and temperature changes can damage books over time.\u00a0Carolyn HoehnerWindow sills are another natural spot for books, but sunlight and moisture are bad for books. Opt for windows that don\u2019t get a lot of light, and reserve the area for books that are on active duty, so you can switch them out on a regular basis.\u00a0This article was edited by Katie Okamoto and Joanne Chen.Meet your guideDorie ChevlenWhat I CoverI cover home decor, but I'm rarely stuck inside. I also write frequently about outdoor gear, personal technology, and health products for Wirecutter.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENT",
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