Why Good Bookcases Are Worth Spending Your Birthday Money On

So the best bookcases aren’t just for chucking your stuff on – there an actual investment (that’s what my dad calls it when he spends loads of money on something). A proper good tall bookcase will last AGES if you get one made from decent stuff like solid pine or one with metal bits.

When your looking at bookcases, check if the shelves are strong enough cos you don’t want them collapsing when you put all your Harry Potter hardbacks on them (mine are WELL heavy). The best ones have got adjustable shelves so you can move them around depending on what size stuff you want to put on them. My cousin put all her makeup on hers and needed to adjust the shelves for her massive perfume bottles!

Bookcase or Bookshelf: What’s The Difference???

So apparently bookcase and bookshelf aren’t actually the same thing?? I only found this out last week when I was arguing with my brother about it and he googled it (show off). A bookcase is bigger and more like a proper piece of furniture with sides and loads of shelves. A bookshelf is more simple and open.

If you’ve got tons of books like me (I’m a proper bookworm, my english teacher says I’m “voracious” whatever that means), then you probs want a bookcase cos it holds more. But if you just want something simple for your bedroom to display your trophies and that, a bookshelf might be better. My mate Jamie has just got a shelf for his gaming stuff and it looks well cool.

Narrow Bookcases: For When Your Room Is Tiny Like Mine

If your bedroom is as small as mine (seriously, it’s like a cupboard), then narrow bookcases are THE BEST THING EVER!! There only about 60cm wide or less but they go up really high so you can fit loads of stuff on them without taking up all your floor space.

The best thing about narrow bookcases is you can fit them in weird places like between your window and wardrobe or in that awkward gap by your door. My sister’s got one in her hallway for all her shoes (she’s got like a million pairs I swear) and it fits perfect. These skinny bookcases are proper good for small houses or flats where you haven’t got much room.

Corner Bookcases: For Them Annoying Corner Bits Nobody Uses

OMG corner bookcases are literally genius!! They fit right in the corner of your room where nothing else really goes and turn it into a proper useful bit of space! There either triangley shaped or like an L shape and they look well smart.

My nan’s got a corner bookcase in her living room and she puts all her little ornaments on it (she’s got HUNDREDS of them little china dogs, it’s well weird). Corner bookcases are brilliant cos they use up space that’s just collecting dust otherwise. If your room’s a funny shape or you’ve got loads of awkward corners, then you deffo need to get one of these!

Oak Veneer Bookcases: What Even Is Veneer???

So I had to ask my dad what “oak veneer” meant cos I kept seeing it when I was looking at bookcases online. Apparently it’s like a thin layer of real oak wood stuck onto normal wood so it LOOKS fancy but doesn’t cost as much as a solid oak one. Pretty clever that!

Oak veneer bookcases look proper posh with all them nice grain patterns in the wood. My friend’s parents have got one in their dining room and it looks well expensive (it probably was tbh, they’re loaded). The good thing about oak veneer is it doesn’t get damaged as easy as painted bookcases. My white one’s already got loads of marks on it where I’ve knocked into it with my schoolbag 🙈

Billy Bookcases: Why Is Everyone Obsessed With Them??

So there’s this bookcase called “Billy” that literally EVERYONE seems to have! My auntie’s got three in her house all lined up together and they look mint. Apparently there so popular cos you can add to them and make them bigger if you need more space, which is well handy.

These Billy bookcases come in loads of different colours like white and black and this oak veneer stuff I was talking about. They’ve got adjustable shelves so you can fit all your different sized stuff on them. My other half says there “timeless” which I think means they don’t go out of fashion? Anyway there pretty good value and they look nice in any room so I can see why people like them so much.

3 Shelf Bookcases: Not Too Big, Not Too Small!

3 shelf bookcases are like the goldilocks of bookcases – there just right! Not too massive that they take over your whole room but not so small that you can’t fit much on them. There perfect for if you’ve got a medium amount of stuff to store.

I’ve got a 3 shelf one next to my desk for all my school books and it’s the perfect height to reach everything without having to stand on my chair (which my other half HATES me doing cos I fell off once lol). Some of them have got drawers at the bottom which is handy for hiding all your junk when your parents tell you to tidy your room in 5 minutes cos your grandparents are coming over 😂

Storage Racks: For When You’ve Got Heavy Stuff

If you’ve got really heavy things like my brother’s massive speaker system, then you might need storage racks instead of a normal bookcase. There usually made of metal and look a bit more industrial and cool.

My brother’s got his DJ equipment on a metal storage rack and it looks well professional. These are good to use along with wooden bookcases – like you could have a nice bookcase for your books and nice things, and then a storage rack for all your heavy stuff. My science teacher’s got this setup in his classroom and it looks proper organised!

60cm Bookcases: The Standard Size Apparently!

So I found out that 60cm is like the normal width for bookcases. It’s a good size cos it fits most books without being too wide and taking up your whole wall. The good thing about getting a standard size is if you decide to get another one later, they’ll match up perfectly.

My friend’s got two 60cm bookcases either side of her TV and it looks well symmetrical and fancy. If your planning on getting more furniture in the future that needs to match, then getting a standard size is a good idea. My other half wished she’d done this cos now all our furniture is different sizes and she says it “drives her to distraction” (she’s a bit dramatic lol).

Small Bookcases: Cute But Still Dead Useful!

Don’t diss the little bookcases! There actually really useful for small spaces or for when you just need a bit of extra storage. You can put them in loads of places like next to your bed or in the bathroom for your toiletries and that.

I’ve got a tiny bookcase under my window where I keep all my favourite books and my speaker. The good thing about small bookcases is you can move them around really easy if you change your mind about where you want them. My little sister uses hers as a bedside table and it works perfect cos she can keep her books to read before bed right there!

Main Things To Remember When Getting Your Bookcase

• Think about what it’s made of – oak veneer looks posh but white ones show marks easier (trust me I know 😭)
• Measure your space proper careful! Nothing worse than getting it home and it doesn’t fit (I did this and my other half went MENTAL)
• Get one with adjustable shelves so you can fit different sized stuff on it
• Narrow bookcases and corner ones are brilliant for small rooms like mine
• 3 shelf bookcases are good if you haven’t got that much stuff
• 60cm is the standard width and means it’ll match with other furniture
• Little bookcases are well handy for small spaces or as bedside tables
• Make sure it’s sturdy enough for whatever your putting on it – my cousin’s cheap one collapsed and broke all her Funko Pops!
• Pick one that matches your room – mines white and pink to match my bedroom walls
• If your getting a really expensive one, make sure it’ll last for ages so it’s worth the money

So there you go! Hopefully now you know EVERYTHING about bookcases and can find the perfect one for all your stuff! My room is actually tidy now I’ve got somewhere to put everything (well, tidier anyway lol).