When it comes to displaying your cherished book collections or creating your ideal reading haven, you’ll need to find the best bookcase for the job. Not only are they great for book storage, but many bookcases can be used to display more than just your favourite reads as you can put photos, ornaments, reed diffusers and so much more on them to add to the cosy feel to your living space.
As any bookworm knows, there’s nothing quite like getting stuck into a good book. From romance and fantasy to thrillers and horror, plus autobiographies, self-help books, recipe books and everything in between. With so much choice when it comes to different genres and types of books, it’s no wonder that those who are into their reading seem to have an ever-growing collection of top reads, but what do you do with your favourite ones when you’re not having a re-read? That’s where a quality bookcase comes into play.
Best bookcases at a glance:
• Best bookcase for small spaces: John Lewis Abacus Three Shelf Bookcase – view on John Lewis
• Best bookcase for large spaces: La Redoute Gabin Pine Bookcase with Ladder – view on La Redoute
• Best bookcase for bookworms: Habitat Compton Two Drawer Bookcase – view on Habitat
The best bookcases will come with multiple levels of shelving so you can proudly show off your collection of books. You could store them in alphabetical order to make it easy to find titles and authors among your collection or you could go for a more aesthetic order of colour-coordinating spines, which is sure to catch the eye of anyone who visits your home.
When it comes to choosing the best bookcase for your home, you’ll want to think about your overall style and your existing décor. Do you want a modern and sleek-looking bookcase or would you rather opt for one that has a more antiqued feel? Without any further ado, here are our top picks for the best bookcases you can buy online and have delivered to your door. Don’t forget that bookcases also make great gifts for readers if you’re looking for an alternative present to another book to add to their growing reading pile.
Best bookcases
Best bookcase for small spaces
John Lewiswww.johnlewis.com
Description
With the dimensions for this bookcase measuring 116 x 77 x 33cm, the John Lewis Abacus Three Shelf Bookcase is ideal for those searching for a storage solution for their books that won't take up a ton of space. Made from solid oak and veneer, this sturdy book cake provides practical storage with two adjustable shelves and one fixed, making it a versatile addition to any living room, hallway or study.
Customer review: "After accumulating so many books, I needed to buy a practical bookcase that blended in with my other furniture. I was very pleased to find this one in John Lewis, my first port of call, as usual. I also paid for it to be assembled and was able to fit all my books in beautifully, thank you."
Pros
- Made using FSC-certified oak
- Two adjustable shelves
Cons
- No information available on how heavy this bookcase is
Best bookcase for large spaces
La Redoutewww.laredoute.co.uk
Description
The La Redoute Gabin Pine Bookcase is reminiscent of a traditional library setup as it comes with a ladder so you can reach the books sat on even the highest shelves. With 15 shelving sections and three double cupboards, this bookcase offers a very large storage capacity so there's plenty of room for your favourite reads along with other household trinkets and decorations. It's made from FSC-certified pine for a solid finish.
Customer review: "The overall result is beautiful, solid, large capacity for fairly heavy books."
Pros
- Lots of storage space
- Ladder to help you reach the higher shelves
Cons
- Difficult to assemble
Best bookcase for bookworms
Habitatwww.habitat.co.uk
Description
If you've got an ever-growing collection of books, the Habitat Compton Two Drawer Bookcase will have more than enough room to store them all with five extra deep shelves. It's also got two drawers as well where you can store other household items like instruction manuals and spare batteries. With smooth cut-out handles and a matte white finish, it has a clean look.
Customer review: "Really pleased with the bookcase really sturdy. We have used it just as a shelf unit to place different items as well as books. Would definitely recommend this item."
Pros
- Modern and clean look
- Plenty of book storage space as well as drawers
Cons
- Each shelf is not designed to hold more than 20kg of weight so you'll need to make sure your books are evenly distributed not to add too much strain to one shelf
Best bookcase for a vintage feel
Laura Ashley/John Lewiswww.johnlewis.com
Description
Add an antiqued feel to your living space with the Laura Ashley Garrat Bookcase. Crafted from solid birch with high-quality veneers, the rich stain brings out the tones and colours of the natural wood to give it a more vintage look. With three adjustable shelves and two drawers, it offers ample storage.
Customer review: "This arrived in 2 parts and was very easy to assemble! It has deep shelves with plenty of space to place any ornaments etc in front of the books should you wish. This feature also means that you can actually see the wood! The drawers are very useful too. All in all it's a sturdy, stylish piece of furniture which we are very pleased with!"
Pros
- Olde worlde feel
- Plenty of storage space for books and more
Cons
- May not be the best option for more modern homes
Best budget bookcase
Furinno/AmazonDescription
With over 85,000 reviews and an average star rating of 4.2, the Furinno Luder 5-Tier Bookcase is a popular choice with customers on Amazon. Simple. Functional. Great value. It ticks a lot of boxes for anyone looking for a practical bookcase on a budget. It's manufactured from engineered particle board and is easy to assemble.
Customer review: "I love the shelves because they don't take up too much space and are still stirdy enough to hold plenty of stuff!"
Pros
- Great value
- Highly rated
Cons
- Not as tall compared to others on our list
Best curved bookcase
Dunelmwww.dunelm.com
Description
Crafted with elegance and functionality in mind, the Albourne Tall Bookcase from Dunelm is a stunning addition to any living space. Featuring a contemporary curved design and oak effect finish, it offers four spacious shelves for displaying books and cherished home trinkets. With easy assembly, this stylish bookcase effortlessly enhances your home décor with its versatile charm and practicality.
Customer review: "Absolutely lovely. Easy to follow instructions, took just over an hour to assemble. Great quality, feels really strong and looks more expensive than it was. Really happy, wish I had room for more."
Pros
- Four large shelves
- Modern, curved design
Cons
- As the unit is open ended, you may need to use book ends to stop your books from falling over
Best unusual bookcase
Hykkon/Wayfairwww.wayfair.co.uk
Description
With its tiered geometric design, the Troy Geometric Bookcase from Wayfair offers an interesting way to display your favourite reads and is sure to be a talking point when anyone pops around your home for the first time. It features angled shelves of two different lengths, 35cm and 16cm, so it's got room for books, magazines, vinyl records and more.
Customer review: "Absolutely brilliant exactly what I wanted in a small space holds plenty of books looks absolutely gorgeous very very happy with Wayfair again keep up the good work. Thank you."
Pros
- Unusual design
- Great for small spaces
Cons
- Won't hold as many book as a more traditional bookcase
Best pine bookcase
Argoswww.argos.co.uk
Description
An elegant and grand-looking piece of furniture at a good price. The Argos Home Solid Pine Two Drawer Bookcase is made from pine wood so it's solid and sturdy while giving it a more natural finish, meaning it won't look out of place in a cosy, countryside home. It comes with four large shelving areas, two of which can be adjusted, and two large drawers with black finished handles.
Customer review: "Very pleased with this purchase, finished product looks exactly like the illustration. My husband did the assembly work, he stated that all the components were present in the package. He had a couple of minor adjustments to make, but nothing to detract from the ease of construction, and assembled the bookcase by himself. We felt that for the price paid, this is a great looking piece of solidly made furniture, and would definitely recommend."
Pros
- Solid and sturdy
- Comes with wall fixings
Cons
- Wall fixing is recommended to prevent overturning so this might not be a good option for those who live in rental homes with strict rules
FAQs
What is the difference between a bookcase and a bookshelf?
Typically, bookcases encompass multiple shelves and compartments so you can store more than just books if you wish, including decorative ornaments and photo frames for example. They may also include additional elements such as doors and drawers to offer even more storage options. Bookshelves are generally more of a standalone unit that can be mounted directly onto walls or incorporated into other furniture pieces.
Does a bookcase need to be against a wall?
A bookcase doesn’t necessarily need to be against a wall, but it does often provide more stability as the weight has something to lean against. You can also fix it in place for added peace of mind that it's not going to come crashing down, which you'll definitely want to do in homes with children, grandchildren or pets visiting. Placing them against a wall is typically more space efficient too as it isn’t taking up valuable living space.
If you’ve got a particularly long room, bookcases are ideal for dividing it up into areas, helping to create a more cosy reading nook. With that in mind, you should take into consideration the layout of your room before deciding where you want to put your bookcase.
Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Yours, specialising in home appliances, décor and furnishings, as well as all things dogs. After completing her Journalism & Media degree from Coventry University back in 2015, she started her career writing about must-visit holiday destinations, moving on to creating content around outdoor living and garden buildings, before joining the team at Bauer.