Tips to Keep in Mind When Designing a Custom Bookshelf

Custom-made furniture works well in both large houses and small apartments. In smaller homes, where every square metre counts, it becomes especially valuable because it helps you make the most of the available space.

Choose the right location

When planning a custom bookcase at home, the space itself should determine the furniture, not the other way around. If you want to create a reading corner in the living room, you will need to find a suitable wall for the bookcase. If you have many books to store, consider a floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall bookcase.

You will not need much depth for it: around 30 cm is enough to hold books. As for the distance between shelves, it depends on the size of the books you want to place there. Larger books need 40 or 45 cm, while standard books usually require about 35 cm.

The appeal of customization

One of the features that sets built-in bookcases apart from other modular designs is that they are made specifically for each home, taking into account your tastes and needs. This gives them a distinctive character. Because they fit the available space like a glove, the result is not only more practical but also more attractive. You can decide the height of the bookcase and whether you want it to include doors, drawers, or both.

Choose simple structures

When choosing a custom bookcase, it is best to go for simple models with straight, clean lines that will stand the test of time and remain relevant. You may simply need a shelving unit with open shelves, with or without a back panel, adapted to the space available. Doors or other extra elements are not always necessary.

The focal point of the room

A custom bookcase can become the most important feature in the living room if you give it enough presence. You can create a large piece of furniture for the main wall, with a space for the television. You can also add a display section with glass doors, or a low storage area with doors.

One way to make sure the bookcase blends perfectly into the décor is to paint it the same colour as the wall.

Choose the material and finish

There are many options to consider when it comes to custom bookcases, including materials, textures, and finishes. Although made-to-measure furniture is not cheap, it is best to prioritise quality and avoid low-cost solutions that may not last.

Choose furniture with natural wood veneer in a colour that best suits the style of the décor. Laminates are another option, with wood, marble, or stone effects, among others. Lacquered finishes are also available, either matte or satin, and in a wide range of colours.

Make use of difficult corners

An empty niche, a wall recess, an unusually shaped room, the space around a window, or the area above a door can all be turned into useful storage. When square metres are scarce, you need to find creative solutions, and custom furniture is a major asset in this respect. In these cases, it is advisable to choose the same colour as the wall for the bookcase so that it blends in more naturally.

Divide open-plan areas

Custom bookcases can also serve another purpose: they can divide a room into two separate zones. A floor-to-ceiling shelving unit can work especially well for this, much like the model in the image. The Qubic 10 by Mobel6000 includes a storage area, a display section, and a space for a television. It is a shallow bookcase that combines wood and white finishes for an elegant, highly modern effect.

Another idea is to use low custom-made bookcases to separate two areas within the same room.

Ideas for styling a bookcase

You may prefer a simple shelf with no decoration at all, but if not, there are plenty of ways to give it more elegance and a more defined style.

In addition to painting the bookcase in a distinctive dark, deep colour rather than white or light grey, you can add decorative mouldings on the top edge or on the doors, if it has any. You can also equip the shelves with indirect lighting for a decorative effect. LED strips placed under the shelves will provide light while creating a very original look.

Start by defining the measurements

The first step in designing a bookcase of this kind is to take accurate measurements so it fits the available space exactly. The shelves should also be adjusted to the opening, because shelves that are too long will be less sturdy.

Need to store items you do not want on display? Then design a piece with doors or drawers. When deciding where each element should go, try to keep the furniture balanced and proportionate. Designs that respect symmetry usually create a stronger sense of visual order.