Despite the fact that gadgets are gradually replacing ordinary paper books, there are still quite a lot of them in modern houses and apartments. Reading enthusiasts prefer this option to electronic publications. To store various literature and magazines, it is necessary to allocate a special place. Of all the items, the most convenient is the corner bookcase, which can be placed in the living room, office or even hallway. It does not take up much space, is functional and can decorate any interior.
Advantages and disadvantages
A home library becomes a decoration of the room only when the books are neatly placed. The problem with most apartments is the lack of space, and to prevent all the literature from being scattered on different shelves and racks, it is better to purchase a special cabinet. For small areas, corner structures are considered especially convenient. They save space, but are also spacious and provide easy access to printed materials . Bookcases of this type have other advantages:
- fill corners that are usually not used, which makes the room more comfortable and frees up space;
- There are models with protrusions of different lengths, making it possible to choose an option for the corner near a window or door;
- even compact designs are quite roomy;
- furniture is often used to zone the space of a room;
- on convenient shelves of different sizes you can place any books from your home library;
- the presence of drawers, closed or glazed shelves allows you to keep valuables, expensive books and documents;
- printed materials remain intact, do not gather dust, do not wrinkle;
- A wide variety of models and color options allows you to fit the corner bookcase into any interior.
The disadvantages of such furniture include its high cost. In addition, it is sometimes difficult to match products in color and design to the rest of the set. Some people think that the space in the corner is too deep, making it quite difficult to remove books from there.
Classification
Previously, literature was stored on monotonous shelves and racks. There are now many models of corner bookcases available. They differ in size, shape, number of shelves, and the presence of doors or drawers. The most popular options are combined designs. They combine open shelves with closing compartments.
Pros and cons of library cabinets, their distinctive features
In addition, such cabinets can be either built into a furniture wall or modular in design. The latter option is very convenient for children's rooms and modern minimalist interiors. Modules can be arranged to your liking, creating an original design.
By facade type
In addition to models with open shelving, cabinets with different door variations are available. In such closed compartments, printed publications are better preserved, as they are not exposed to dust. Based on the presence of doors, corner furniture is divided into three groups:
- With open shelves. This version of the product is often placed in the nursery. In addition to books, you can store toys and souvenirs on the shelves.
- Cabinets with sliding or hinged doors. Most often they are placed in the living room. This furniture is functional, as many small items can be placed on closed shelves. Usually there are two-door or three-door models. It is rare to buy products for the home that are completely closed with doors - usually there are open shelves in the upper half.
- Cabinets with glass doors. Suitable for any interior, they allow you to visually enlarge the room and also save books. Such doors are convenient because through them you can see the library and souvenirs. Glass can be completely transparent, tinted or patterned. They are often inserted into an MDF frame, which increases the convenience and safety of the doors.
Corner bookcases with a workplace are also popular. Shelves of this design frame the table, which can be stationary, folding or retractable. Such models are often chosen for a children's room or office.
With open shelves
With sliding doors
With hinged blind doors
By size
Corner cabinets may differ from each other in the sizes of walls and shelves. Classic models are usually tall, almost to the ceiling. They can reach 2 m or more in width. However, now compact cabinets - narrow or low - are especially popular. The choice of design depends on the amount of free space in the room. Sometimes it is only enough to fit a narrow pencil case into the corner.
A narrow bookcase that reaches the ceiling will visually increase the height of the room, however, when purchasing such a model, it is important to pay attention to its stability.
The thickness of the shelves varies from 2.5 to 3.5 cm, and the height is 30–35 cm (for large books) or 20–25 cm (for standard literature). The depth of the shelves may also be different. Often it is designed for only one book, so it is usually made in size 20–30 cm. There are models that are more compact, but deeper: they can accommodate a lot of printed publications, since they can be placed in two or even three rows.
The best models of bookcases and libraries for the home, unusual designs
The height of the shelves may also vary. To accommodate books of standard dimensions, this parameter should vary from 20 to 25 cm. The required height for large printed publications is 35 cm. In modern models, the location of the shelves, as well as their height, can be changed.
Types of cabinets for home library
Usually the home library is quite large, but bookcases do not take up much space because they are made tall. The model can be selected for almost any room, be it a small children's library or a serious place for storing documents in the office. The presence of such a closet will make the atmosphere homey and cozy.
However, the place to install it must be chosen wisely. You should not set up a home library in the kitchen, attic or in rooms with high humidity. Poor storage conditions will negatively affect the appearance of books, especially if the cabinet is not glazed.
Every reading lover will be able to choose a bookcase that meets all his requirements. There are a huge variety of them, ranging from large models designed for a separate room, to wall shelves and small racks. Any cabinet can fit into the interior, and it will sparkle with new colors. Even old antique furniture found in the attic can be restored and brought back to life.
If there is not enough space in the room, you have to look for small cabinets or spacious shelves. There are many options for their placement. For example, bookshelves can be hung in the form of a chess set or another interesting composition can be created. This will not only save space, but also add originality to the interior, and you can place memorable decor and other souvenirs on top.
In a small living room you can also install a cabinet with drawers. It is convenient because in the lower cabinets you can store newspapers, magazines and other thin publications that are difficult to put on shelves.
Another solution for rooms of modest size is a corner closet. It is small in size, but holds a large collection of books.
And if you want to zone a room, dividing it into several spaces, this can be done using a shelving unit. Such a partition will not burden the room - it looks light and unnoticeable.
If space allows, purchasing a wardrobe would be an excellent solution. The design looks stylish and relevant, so it will fit into a modern interior. Books stored in such a cabinet are reliably protected from dust, dirt and other influences.
Some cabinets are quite difficult to disassemble and transport to a new location. For those who often move and travel, modular furniture is perfect. It is easy to transport; in addition, if there are not enough shelves, you can purchase individual modules and increase the capacity of the cabinet.
Combined designs consisting of two elements are popular. The main thing is that they are designed in the same style, otherwise an imbalance will arise.
For a large collection of books, it is advisable to allocate a separate room that can be equipped as a real library. If the cabinets are high, ladders are used to access the upper shelves. A wardrobe is perfect for a bedroom or living room, in which you can store not only literature, but also decor and other things.
Its distinctive feature is the presence of closed shelves, and some models have a designated area for the TV.
Combined pieces of furniture are also suitable for a children's room. You can order ready-made modules combined with a workplace. This is a very functional and convenient solution that will help you properly organize space in your child’s room.
Manufacturing materials
One of the most expensive products is a solid wood cabinet. It looks rich and emphasizes the taste of the owner. Ideal for large living rooms decorated in a classic or rustic style. For the manufacture of such furniture, oak, walnut, maple, birch, and cherry are most often used. Such cabinets are highly durable and therefore more durable, and they also look very beautiful thanks to the natural pattern and color of the wood.
However, for modern apartments they often choose furniture made from chipboard or MDF. Such materials are more affordable, weigh less and come in a wider variety of colors. Corner cabinets made of plastic or metal are very rarely used for homes; they are usually installed in offices and factories. Furniture made from the first material can be chosen for decorating children's rooms.
Popular options are those in which the frame itself, shelves and back wall are made of plywood, and the facade is made of wood. This manufacturing method allows you to make the cabinet cheaper.
Solid wood
Chipboard
MDF
Examples in the interior
Several photos will show examples in living interiors.
A white cabinet in a bright interior does not hide the volume of the room
Luxurious wardrobe made of precious wood
A small chipboard structure also looks good
Stylish modern solution with high glazed doors
The open shelving allows light to pass through and can even be placed opposite a window
Color solution
There are many options for decorating furniture. Usually it has shades of natural wood. The color variety of such cabinets is achieved using different tones of varnish. The original design of furniture made from chipboard and MDF is created through lamination or polymer coating.
The choice of color depends on the style of the interior. Black and white cabinets are popular now; they fit perfectly into a room decorated in minimalist, Scandinavian or high-tech styles. In furniture departments and catalogs you can find the following options:
- wenge is a dark color ideal for a classic interior;
- bleached oak, maple or birch are light shades that fit into any room;
- mahogany - looks very rich, more suitable for a classic living room or office;
- natural colors of pine, alder or pear - they are chosen for a room in country or eco styles.
Models of bookcases with glass doors, combination with the interior
The combination of several shades is extremely rare; usually corner bookcases have a single artistic design. When choosing a color, you need to make sure that it is in harmony with the rest of the interior, as well as with the walls and floor.
It is important to consider the size of the room - the smaller it is, the lighter the furniture should be.
Wenge
Bleached oak
Natural colors
Tips for selection and placement
In order for such a corner bookcase not only to fulfill its main functions of storing a home library, but also to decorate the room, you need to choose the right product and correctly install it in the room. When choosing, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:
- Consider the size of the room and the available space for the closet. Furniture should not clutter up the space, interfere with passage or block light.
- Estimate the number of books. If there are few of them, there is no point in purchasing a spacious cabinet so that some of the shelves remain empty.
- Pay attention to the quality of the material from which the furniture and fittings are made, check the strength of the fastening of shelves, doors, handles, supporting structures (if any).
- If there are a lot of books and they are expensive, it is better to choose a product made of natural wood with glass doors that reach the ceiling.
- For a small room, models with open or glazed shelves are recommended.
- The design of the cabinet also depends on the shape of the room. For a narrow, elongated one, it is better to choose a model in the shape of the letter “L”. For a square room, a pentagonal cabinet is good.
- The color and design should be combined with other furniture and match the style of the interior. It is better to purchase all items from one manufacturer.
Once the corner cabinet has been selected, you need to place it correctly in the room. It is not advisable to place it near sources of heat or moisture. In addition, sunlight should not fall on the books, so the best place for such furniture would be the corner opposite the window.
Choosing the right corner bookcase will allow you to place your entire home library with maximum convenience. Such furniture will protect printed publications from damage and at the same time will be an excellent decoration for a living room or office. This spacious and functional design is an ideal solution for decorating small apartments.
The bookcase should not clutter up the space, interfere with the passage or block the light
If there are not many books, preference should be given to smaller models, otherwise some of the shelves will remain empty
When choosing a cabinet, you should check the strength of fastening of shelves, doors, handles, supporting structures
If there are a lot of books and they are expensive, it is better to choose a product made of natural wood with glass doors that reach the ceiling.
Models with open shelves are suitable for a small room.
For a narrow, elongated room, it is better to choose an L-shaped cabinet model
The color and design of furniture must match the style of the interior
What sizes are important when choosing
When books are arranged in one row, the minimum shelf depth is twenty centimeters for standard format publications and thirty centimeters for large format books. Double-row placement of literature requires doubling these parameters.
Shelves must support the heavy weight of books, so the minimum shelf thickness is 3 centimeters. The length of the shelves can be any, but to prevent the shelves from sagging, the length limit is one meter. The height of the shelves depends on the maximum format of the stored publications. Thirty-five centimeters is the height for large-format albums, and the standard format is placed on shelves up to twenty-five centimeters high.
