A lot of people fill their basket, then back out at checkout. It’s a fair instinct — furniture shopping online is a gamble, and a good chunk of what’s out there is cheap board glued together and wrapped in plastic. What you actually want to know is simple: will it fit, what does it cost, and will it survive real life with kids or a dog around.
So here’s the honest version, sizes and prices included. Get the tape measure out before you read on.
Why solid wood is worth the extra cost
If all you want is cheap, flat-pack will do it — just don’t expect the shelves to stay straight once they’re loaded with a few hardbacks. Solid oak doesn’t bow under weight, and it shrugs off the kind of knocks that would crack cheaper board. A stray kick from a kid tends to leave a dent that adds character rather than a crack that spreads.
It comes down to buying once. You’re paying more upfront for something built to last decades, not a couple of years.
Our current range
Everything here is built from real timber with a light lacquer finish to protect the grain. Here’s what’s actually on the workshop floor right now:
| Model | Size (W × D × H) | Style | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Bookcase | 80 × 32 × 90 cm | Low, open | £175.00 |
| Small Bookcase | 90 × 38 × 85 cm | Mid-height, open | £215.00 |
| Glazed Bookcase | 60 × 35 × 110 cm | Glass doors, compact | £305.00 |
| Large Bookcase | 80 × 38 × 180 cm | Tall, open | £380.00 |
Solid oak vs. cheaper alternatives:
| Material | Durability | Cost | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid Oak | Handles heavy books, ages with character rather than damage | Higher upfront | Wipe clean, occasional polish |
| MDF / Flat-pack | Shelves sag, doesn’t survive being moved | Cheap | Hard to fix once damaged |
Glass doors or open shelves?
Our glazed oak bookcase cabinet is the compact option — 110cm tall, 60cm wide, 35cm deep, at around £305.00. The doors mean you’re not dusting the books themselves every week, and the narrow footprint fits neatly into an alcove or beside a fireplace without eating into the room.
If you want something with doors specifically to keep dust and clutter contained, this is the model to go for.
The trade-off is that glass shows fingerprints, so if you’ve got toddlers with sticky hands, expect to be wiping the doors down fairly often.
The small bookcase
At 90cm wide, 38cm deep, and 85cm high for around £215.00, this one sits low enough to fit under a window sill. It works well in a flat or a small home office — enough surface on top for a lamp or a stack of files, without making a smaller room feel closed in, since the light oak tone doesn’t darken a space the way a heavier finish would. Once it’s loaded with books it’s genuinely heavy, so don’t try shifting it on your own.
Going bigger: the large bookcase
At 180cm tall, 80cm wide, and 38cm deep for around £380.00, this is the one for a serious book collection. Because of the height, it’s worth checking your ceiling clearance first, particularly in an older house with low beams. Keep the heaviest books on the bottom shelf to stop it feeling top-heavy — and if 80cm width is what you specifically need but not this height, we also do that footprint in the low bookcase.
The low bookcase
At 90cm high, 80cm wide, and 32cm deep for £175.00, this is the simplest, sturdiest option in the range. It’s low enough for kids to reach the top shelf themselves, which helps if you’re trying to get them into the habit of tidying up. It also works well tucked into a hallway, under a window, or beside a dining table holding cookbooks and spare plates.
Keeping wood tones consistent
You don’t need to match every piece of furniture in the house exactly, but keeping wood tones broadly similar stops a room looking mismatched. Our range uses the same light oak across bookcases, sideboards, and desks, so pairing pieces from different ranges won’t clash. For more on this, see our guide on mixing and matching wood tones.
Browse the full range in our living room bookcases collection.
Measure properly before you order
Don’t estimate. Use a proper metal tape measure rather than a soft sewing one, measure the width of the wall, and subtract a few centimetres for skirting boards — they often stop a unit sitting flush. It’s also worth thinking ahead to delivery day: a fully assembled, heavy wooden frame needs to get through your front door, up any stairs, and round any tight corners, so measure those too.
Styling it once it’s in place
Avoid cramming every shelf full to the edges. Mixing books laid flat with others stood upright breaks up the visual line and looks more considered. Storage baskets on the lower shelves are useful for hiding cables, chargers, or toys — and keeping the heavier items down low also helps the unit stay stable.
Looking after real timber
Wood responds to its environment. Positioned next to a radiator or in direct sun, it will dry out or fade over time, so it’s worth keeping some distance from both. Dust with a dry microfibre cloth, and if anything spills, wipe it up straight away rather than letting it sit on the grain.
For more detail, see our guide on cleaning and maintaining oak furniture.
Payment, delivery, and guarantee
Payment is handled through a secure checkout — PayPal or any major debit or credit card.
For delivery, you’ve got two options. Standard delivery takes up to five business days, with tracking so you can follow the van’s progress. Premium White Glove delivery goes further: we call to book a day, give you live tracking, carry the piece to your room of choice, unbox it, and take the packaging away with us.
Every pre-assembled piece comes with a five-year structural guarantee. If a joint fails or something goes wrong structurally, we repair or replace it — no arguments.
“This bookcase is solid as a rock. Delivered fully assembled, which saved me hours of swearing at flat-pack instructions. It is heavy, so make sure you have someone to help you lift it.” — Verified Customer
Common questions
How do I clean it? Dust regularly with a dry, soft microfibre cloth. If something spills, wipe it up immediately with a slightly damp cloth and dry it off — avoid harsh chemical sprays.
How long does standard delivery take? Up to five business days, with tracking provided so you can see where it is.
Where should I place it to avoid damage? Keep it away from radiators, fireplaces, and direct sunlight — sustained heat or light will warp or fade the wood over time.
What if it’s damaged during delivery? It’s covered under the five-year structural guarantee — any structural issue or transit damage gets repaired or replaced.
Does it need assembling? No. It arrives fully assembled from the workshop.
How sturdy is it for heavy textbooks? Solid oak won’t bend under the weight. Just put the heaviest books on the bottom shelves to keep the unit stable.
Why does the grain look different to the photo online? Every tree grows differently, so every piece has its own pattern of grain and knots — that’s the nature of real wood, not a fault.
Is there a narrow option for a tight alcove? Yes — the glazed oak bookcase cabinet is only 60cm wide, which suits most standard alcoves. Measure twice before ordering, as always.
How heavy are these to move? Heavy enough that you’ll want two people for the taller or medium units, particularly once loaded.
How do I match this with darker wood furniture I already have? Don’t try to match the tones exactly — it rarely works. Spread the different woods around the room instead so they sit together rather than clashing in one spot.
How do I make a small room feel bigger with a bookcase? A low or small bookcase under a window keeps wall space open and lets light move around the room more freely than a tall, solid unit would.
How do I fix a small scratch on the lacquer? A matching wood touch-up marker or a little clear beeswax rubbed gently along the scratch will blend it back into the grain.
