Inspiration: Floor-to-Ceiling Bookshelves
• 1 These days we see a lot of impeccably groomed bookshelves, with books arranged by height or even color, but something about these messy bookshelves is also quite appealing. The room has just the right mix of quirky elements, and the bookshelves look pleasantly used, like they're owned by avid readers. So... an argument for bucking the tidy bookshelf trend? From Livingetc.
• 2 Built-ins that extend over the tops of doors and windows always create a cozy feel. We like the way a few beloved objects are tucked in with the books, but books still predominate. From Scott Engler's home on Design*Sponge.
• 3 In a room with lots of girly, eclectic touches, a floor-to-ceiling bookcase adds a layer of seriousness without being stuffy. From The Estate of Things (via I Suwannee).
• 4 Isn't half the fun of a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf getting a ladder, preferably with wheels, and dangling from it while perusing your collection? This particular ladder is beautiful and unusual (probably more decorative than practical, but we love it anyway). Also from The Estate of Things (via I Suwannee).
• 5 For a controlled, uniform look, you can consider turning the spines of your books out... but wait! Look a little closer at this photo and you'll see that those aren't books at all! It's bookcase wallpaper, which looks amazing set against the surrounding black walls. We love it! Great for earthquake-phobics who can't quite make the floor-to-ceiling bookcase plunge. From Gemma Ahern's home (featured on Design*Sponge).
For more tall bookshelf inspiration from Apartment Therapy, see Sarah Coffey's post about bookshelf walls.
(Images: Livingetc; Design*Sponge; The Estate of Things (photos 3 and 4); Design*Sponge)
Comments (14)
Daily Email
Top Tours
- Maggie's Delightful Digs
- Lisa and Clay's Artsy and Calm Collaboration
- APAK's Creative Cottage
- Kelly Rae's Colorful Seattle Farmhouse
- Denis and Heather's Scandinavian Treasure
Top Posts
Today in Marketplace
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
I adore that ladder. I'm a book freak, and I want that ladder.
view mlleErica's profile
Nice rooms...
...except for the Xmas light decor and bookcase wallpaper.
view bepsf's profile
I am freaking out over that ladder! My dream is to have a library where such a ladder would be necessary. My favorite photo of the lot.
view bookgirl's profile
That red room is hideous.
view slowdown's profile
mmm sexy. The idea of a floor to ceiling bookcase... perhaps even wrapping around the room?? WITH a ladder?! *drool*
view dunklekatze's profile
I like the red room. I even like the Christmas lights.
view CallDoctorBison's profile
Is that what they call an apple-picking ladder? I love it. In fact I adore that whole room.
For years I wanted floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and now I have a wall of them, and I must say...it is love.
Bookshelf wallpaper, on the other hand, is silly and tacky.
view Cassis's profile
I am *so* embarrassed for the owner of that bookcase wallpaper. Somebody should really tell them. Makes walking around with a giant piece of meat dangling from between your teeth look classy. Love that floor lamp, though.
Otherwise, drool!
view Chester Shoeshine's profile
my dream is to have a room dedicated as a library, with floor to ceiling bookshelves..*sigh*....
view formosagirl's profile
I love #3, and I'd love F2C bookshelves, but what I'm hungering for are bookshelves with sliding glass doors... any reasonably priced resources? Brilliant hacks? I'm about to give up on the search, buy the equipment, make my own.
view Rucy's profile
I thought the last one was great ... until I realized it was wallpaper! Yikes!
view Jane's profile
Oh I just love them! Especially the slightly messy ones - just like mine. Books really do furnish a room and give it a great atmosphere.
Yes, they're an earthquake risk, but here is what you do about that: you get some stretchy plastic-covered wire and hook it across the shelf, about halfway up the height of the books. When you want to get a book down you just unhook the wire. I would suggest covering the wire with fabric because the wire itself is not very attractive. The wire I'm talking about is sold for light weight curtains here where I live and probably over there too.
The covering fabric: get two strips of fabric at least 1.5 times the width of the shelf, and at least 2.5 inches wide; with right sides together sew together allowing .5 inch for seams top and bottom; using a safety pin, turn right side out; press; sew a channel about .5 inch wide along the middle then gather onto the wire. (A picture/diagram would be worth 1000 words but I'm technologically challenged in that department.)
Make sure your shelves are firmly bolted to the framing of your wall; falling books might not kill you in a 'quake but a falling bookcase could.
view Battling Betty's profile
I love the shelves in the first one with the fairy lights. Also the sofa - wow! The lamps in the last photo are good. I thought it was a perfect arrangement with lamps and sofa next to the shelves - the perfect reading nook which is probably why I didn't notice that it was wall paper.
view Battling Betty's profile
The only other house I've ever seen with bookshelf wallpaper was done entirely in bed, bath, and beyond matchy-matchy faux-hunting lodge decor. It is beyond bad.
view twitteringbirdie's profile