There’s a reason you’ve rented or bought your place. Perhaps, it’s an affordable condominium unit near the campus or your workplace. Or you fell in love with its clever design or the building’s stunning amenities. No matter the reason, it is now your home-and books can still be part of it. Use these hacks to store your books.
Go for a leaning bookcase
If your unit has no room for a tall, wide bookshelf, go for a slim leaning option. Leaning bookcases (or ladder shelves) allow you to use your unit’s vertical space to store books, especially if you place them on awkward corners. Stack books on top of each other instead of standing them up to secure them in place.
Create a hallway library
Hallways are either used for shoe storage or as a mere passageway. Install shelves to the walls of your hallway to turn it into a library. You can choose to have wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling shelves. But floating shelves can also be effective and might even look more intriguing. Either way, you get to show off your literary collection to your guests, and they’re the first thing you see whenever you enter your place.
Get a bookcase that doubles up as a console table
The best trick for small homes is to use pieces that can multi-task. So, if it’s impractical to transform your entire hallway into a library, get a bookcase that you can also use as a console table in the hallway. Display the books on top and below the table, and store keys, gloves, and other trinkets in the drawer.
Stack them by the bed
When you have no bedside table, stack a dozen hardbound or large-format books to create a makeshift bedside table. Just make sure to top the stack with a tray to protect the book covers. This trick also works well beside a sofa or chair in your living room.
Use bookshelves as room dividers
Condos and apartments often feature open floor plans to maximize floor space. Owners place screens, curtains, and other room dividers to delineate kitchen from the living room. So why don’t you use bookshelves as room dividers? They accomplish the same goal while displaying your favorite novels.
Install high-perimeter shelves
Got a high-ceiling unit? Utilize that untapped storage above kitchen cabinets or living room by installing high-perimeter bookshelves. But this storage hack isn’t the simplest endeavor. You’ll need lumber, power tools, ladder, and even a permit from your building. Once done, it can be the perfect place to store paperbacks, magazines, and other books you’ve read and won’t have to access again anytime soon.
You don’t need to part with a cherished novel just because you no longer have space for it in your place. Like your favorite authors, you have to be creative in keeping what makes your story-or home-interesting.
Incorporating a literary collection into a small home can be a rewarding challenge. With a little creativity and some clever hacks, you can create a cozy reading nook and display your favorite books without sacrificing space. Just keep in mind the cost to build built in bookcase options that suit your style and budget.
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