Bookcases for a home library: how to harmoniously fit them into a modern interior

2019-08-23

Author: Belfan

From this article you will learn:

• How a bookcase for a home library works
• What types of bookcases are there for your home library?
• What color and style to choose a bookcase for your home library
• How to choose the right bookcase for your home library
• Where to put a bookcase for your home library

Today, devices and gadgets are used everywhere in our lives, but technology will never replace paper books. The scent of the cover and the sound of turning pages gives the reader great pleasure and cannot be compared with the text on a smartphone screen. Therefore, it is very important that the location of the library harmoniously complements the overall interior of a modern home. We will tell you further how not to make mistakes and choose the right bookcases for your home library.

How a bookcase for a home library works

The main purpose of a home library is to store printed publications. A common feature of this furniture is the presence of many medium-sized shelves. The models do not take up much space in the room, but are quite tall.

They usually consist of two parts. The first element is glazed, located on top, behind it are the most important and valuable books that require special storage conditions.

The other part does not have glazing, so cheaper magazines, newspapers and books are stored in it. Today there are many varieties, among which everyone will find a suitable model, but they are all united by the presence of shelves. They are made from wear-resistant and durable materials that can withstand heavy books. It’s good if each shelf can accommodate publications weighing more than 10 kg, and the design has many compartments. The very appearance of the sections varies greatly depending on whether they belong to a particular cabinet model.

Dimensions of book racks, what they depend on

Since literature has different volumes, the parameters of the rack may vary. If you have an extensive library, value the height of the shelves and their convenience. Prepare measurements and adjust them if necessary.

If you are just going to buy the first editions, consider the following recommendations and rules. The bulk of published publications have the following formats:

1. A3 (extra large).
2. A4 (large).
3. A5 (medium).
4. Small ones.
5. Ultra small.

The most popular are representatives of the second and third groups.

Purposes of buying a bookcase

A bookcase for a home library is a significant part of the home interior. Today it is intended not only for storing printed publications, but also for decorating a room and demonstrating your collection to visitors. In addition to books, you can also place interesting souvenirs, photographs, and figurines on the shelves. A classic wooden model will create a homely atmosphere in the room. The pleasant smell of the closet is great for calming, and among the varieties you can find a model for both adult readers and children's rooms.

It is not recommended to store dishes, household items, clothes and toys in a home library. A wardrobe is usually used for things. It is worth selecting this piece of furniture based on the needs of the owner, so that the search for the necessary book takes a minimum amount of time. You can place it in one of the following rooms:

• in your personal account;
• in the nursery;
• in the attic;
• in the living room;
• in the corridor;
• in the hall;
• in the bedroom.

But there are some rooms in which it is definitely not worth setting up a home library - the kitchen and other rooms where food is prepared, unoccupied attics, and basements. It is also dangerous to place furniture in places with high humidity, as this threatens the appearance of mold and mildew on books, as well as the consequences of a rodent invasion.

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Types of bookcases for a home library

Not every owner can afford to allocate a separate room for a large designer cabinet and place his entire home library in it. Therefore, owners of apartments with a small area have to look for a corner not only for shelving, but also for other furniture, such as a chest of drawers, a sideboard, and display cases. All elements need to be distributed in space so that they have full access, and the furniture is combined with each other and does not spoil the home interior.

The variety of models allows you to choose the most optimal option for any task and architectural design. Even an ordinary book shelf can look completely different in design developments. For example:

• A design in the form of a pencil case or partition is perfect for the living room, since it is located against the wall and helps to significantly save space.
• Bookshelves arranged in a checkerboard pattern will become an unusual and universal solution for your home library, because you can put not only printed materials on them, but also photographs “soaked” in nostalgia and favorite decorative elements.
• A small bookcase for a home library with drawers is a good solution for a bedroom or living room; The upper compartments are suitable for storing books and valuable magazines, the lower ones for other things and objects. There are two types of bookcases - single-door and double-door, everyone can choose a more familiar and suitable option for themselves.
• Some models have built-in sliding doors that will fit into the overall composition of a tall system for a home library; They are recommended for use in decorating rooms with a small area, where space needs to be distributed rationally. All your newspapers, magazines, books and other printed publications will fit here, and the search and process of getting a book will not cause discomfort.
• A sliding bookcase for a home library will ensure its safety: it will protect it from dust, ultraviolet rays, moisture and drying out, and the sliding design will save space and complement the interior.
• A corner bookcase for a home library is well suited for small spaces; it will accommodate a considerable book collection and even leave room for decoration.
• Modular furniture for a home library contains separate blocks, it is easy to disassemble and move to another place, and if desired, you can buy several more modules and increase the capacity of the object, and slightly transform its appearance. Modular furniture should be used when moving frequently, as its transportation does not cause problems.
• For lovers of reading and owners of a huge collection of books, an excellent option would be to allocate a separate room for the home library, which will be made in a classic style, with shelving placed around the perimeter. If the room is high enough and it is impossible to get a book from the top shelf on your own, well-known stepladders and ladders are used. Also in the office there is a desk and a comfortable chair, which will help guests and the owner immerse themselves in a cozy home world.
• Some creative owners use a display case, which in other cases would serve to store dishes and decor, as a stand for a rare and very valuable collection of books. This way, a home library can attract the attention of guests and create an impression of the owner as a competent, well-read person. If you do not want to display the entire collection, then choose closed display cases.
• Combined models today are a relevant, stylish and compact library solution. They combine two types of furniture, and the components are easily separated by a partition. Thus, a bookcase for a home library can be combined into a single unit with a wardrobe, and their identical design will not cause imbalance and contradictions in the interior. The furniture is very similar to the modular wall, but a pencil case will act as shelves for books.

The dress model has a closed design. It can accommodate not only books, but also things. It will fit perfectly into the design of the living room and bedroom. If you want to place the structure in the hall, it is recommended to select models with a space reserved specifically for the TV.

The free space is also used for other electronics, as well as for home decor items (framed photographs, watches, figurines). The components will be harmoniously combined with each other and will make the appearance of the bookcase for your home library even more stylish. Such a piece of furniture can become a key part of the interior of any living room.

The combined model is the right solution for a children's room. By ordering it, you can store not only literature, but also toys. You can place books on the shelves, and there are options with closed shelves, and open shelves are suitable for toys and other children's items.

Accessories and printed publications will look advantageous if you alternate them when placing them. The most suitable option for a child’s room would be to combine a closet and a computer desk. With the help of this model, it will be much easier to properly organize your child’s workplace.

Cabinets and other types of furniture for storing paper products

What to choose: shelf, bookcase, rack or cabinet? Each of the listed options has certain features that determine the aesthetics, practicality and ease of use of the furniture.

Which of the following options should I choose?

If the room is small and there are not many books, the best option is a small bookcase or several shelves mounted on the wall. If there are a lot of books and you constantly re-read them, it is better to use a rack in which the contents of the shelves will always be available. If there are a lot of books, and they are not so much read as they serve as decorative elements, it is better to use a cabinet with glass doors. Books are clearly visible through the glass and dust will not settle on them.

Dimensions and dimensions

When choosing a cabinet, we pay attention to three dimensional values ​​- length, height and depth.

The length of the cabinet depends on how long the wall along which the furniture is located is. The height is determined by the distance from the floor to the ceiling in the room - we select furniture so that there is a gap of at least 15 cm between the top part and the ceiling.

An equally important parameter is the depth of the cabinet. The maximum width of the books that you can place on the shelves depends on the depth. Manufacturers of standard furniture use standard sizes, while custom-made furniture is made taking into account the wishes of the customer.

Bookcase - variations of models and colors

There are various models of bookshelves available for sale; let’s look at the most common models that can be used when arranging living quarters and offices.

The built-in white shelving unit blends with the light walls, and is therefore guaranteed to fit into the interior of any room.

The design, made in warm colors, is designed to contrast with the colors of the walls and, thus, dilute the monotony of the interior design

Shelves made of tempered glass will serve as an excellent addition to the minimalistic decoration of modern interiors.

The bookcase is suitable for stand-alone placement without the need to hang it on the wall. Thanks to the light design, the structure is perceived as a continuation of the wall

A bookcase with drawers at the base is an excellent option for storing valuable and less valuable books separately.

A custom-made bookcase with curved shelves is an excellent choice for modern interiors decorated in a minimalist or high-tech style.

The non-standard diagonal arrangement of shelves is a universal option for use in any interior. Moreover, such a solution can be taken as an example when making furniture yourself, since assembling something like this is no more difficult than making a regular rack

A radius bookcase is an excellent solution for small rooms where you need to place a lot of books while taking up little space.

A wall-mounted shelving unit with an unusual rounded configuration is designer furniture that is not found often, but which you can make yourself if you wish.

Storage systems for books in various rooms

What kind of furniture should be used to store books and how do these requirements vary depending on the location?

Suitable Styles for Bookcase

When choosing this piece of furniture, the obligatory criterion is not only versatility, but also its style. The design must correspond to the overall composition of the room and not deviate from the interior concept.

• Classic wardrobes.

Offices, libraries and other rooms in a classic style require furniture in a similar style. According to tradition, products are made from natural wood of valuable species and then decorated with carvings. Near the bookcase for a home library in the classic direction, it is necessary to place places for reading books: work tables or coffee tables, comfortable couches, sofas, armchairs.

• Modern.

From French, the word “moderne” is translated into Russian as “modern”, but despite this, today modernity is not a very common style in decoration. The reason lies in the fact that “consumer goods” items are not allowed for interiors of this type - only exquisite handmade furniture.

It is preferable that bookcases designed in the Art Nouveau style are made from natural valuable wood. Such furniture will symbolize sophistication and elegance; smooth lines and the absence of clear forms are important for it.

• Provence, country.

To fully comply with the country style, a bookcase or shelves for a home library should be made of wood. The main difference between such furniture is its simple outlines. The naturalness of the cabinet will be emphasized by the absence of painting. Some facades are decorated with milling; they can be solid, with glass or lattice inserts. Simplicity and accessibility are the main features of the rustic style.

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For rooms in the French Provence style, it is best to buy bookcases for your home library, which will visually appear aged. Usually for such purposes they take symmetrical, low and narrow light cabinets with regular geometric shapes. It is recommended to pay special attention to open bookshelves and blank facades located below.

• Loft.

A slightly sloppy design is one of the key features found in loft-style cabinets. It can be expressed, for example, in randomly placed shelves. A good solution for a home library would be shelves arranged in a checkerboard pattern. It is recommended to take bulky structures of a dark color.

• Designer book storage systems.

Owners who do not like “consumer goods” give preference to design solutions. Products for the home library are created in the singular, therefore they are completely unique, extraordinary, and it is possible to order furniture based on your own taste and style of the room.

Designers are trying to use the most unusual and varied materials, shapes, colors and designs, so a home library will symbolize the unique personality of the owner of the living space.

Dimensions and dimensions of a bookcase for a home library

How can you arrange bookcases for your home library so that they match the overall composition, do not stand out from the interior, look as neat as possible, not massive, and at the same time fulfill all their tasks? The first thing the apartment owner must decide on is to determine the dimensions of all the items in the house, choose the room where the closet will be placed, and then calculate the dimensions of the new furniture. It is recommended that you first make a drawing and sketch of what a bookcase for your home library will look like in combination with other items.

A significant criterion when choosing a bookcase will be the depth of the shelves, regardless of whether it is built-in or wall-mounted. This parameter directly affects the number of rows of books in the structure.

Designers advise placing books along one row so that the process of searching and retrieving does not take a lot of time and does not cause discomfort to the reader. The average bookshelf depth is 20 cm, it can vary from 15 to 25 cm, the height ranges from 21 to 25 cm and is suitable for placing most printed publications that are 20 cm high.

But if there are unusual copies in your book library, then you need to take this into account and choose one of the shelf options that have a width of 30 to 35 cm and a height of up to 38 cm. You can first sketch out a drawing and check all the parameters. The most reliable and safe shelves are those that do not bend under the weight of books and have a thickness of at least 2.5 cm and a length of up to 1 m.

If mass-produced furniture does not meet your goals and copies of printed materials differ significantly in size from average books, a special storage system is required. It’s worth buying a designer cabinet or trying to design the object yourself by finding the necessary drawing on the Internet.

Music lovers often buy racks just to put vinyl records there. They are distinguished by atypical sizes and proportions, so recommendations for custom-made bookcases for a home library are also suitable for music lovers.

A wall cabinet is a standard option for storing books; it will be an excellent solution for rooms where there is not enough space for full-fledged structures. Bookshelves are small in size, so they won’t take up much space. They are attached to the wall, and most often owners place a wall cabinet above a desk or computer desk.

Distance between shelving in the kitchen

It is important to note that there are different templates according to which designers design a kitchen set. The distance from the floor to the wall cabinet is from 45 to 60 cm. A distance above 50 cm is recommended for people who have appliances (electric kettle, steamer) on the surface of the floor cabinet.

Installation height of wall-mounted kitchen drawers according to GOST

When placing, consider the following:

1. Bottom shelves in kitchen cabinets on the wall are easy to use when they are at eye level.
2. The location of the cabinet on the wall should be such that you can reach the top shelf without using a stand or stool.
3. Despite the fact that there is a GOST for furniture manufacturers, often in the Ikea chain of stores the assembly of this piece of furniture may be different.

Dimensions of kitchen furniture

For example, the height from the floor of the upper shelves in kitchen cabinets according to GOST is 1900 mm. The distance from the top shelf to the top of the cabinet is 20 cm. It follows from this that the lower part of the wall cabinet will be at a distance of 150 cm from the floor.

Color solutions for a bookcase

It is important that the color of the home bookcase is harmoniously combined with other objects located within the selected room. It must fully correspond to the interior. In this case, you should pay attention to the style of the room. If this is a classic, then you should take a closer look at home storage systems in wenge color. It is quite dark and looks luxurious.

Nowadays, shades of natural wood do not lose their relevance. They can be gray, brown, beige, reddish and yellowish. If you want to make the closet the central element that attracts the attention of guests, there is an option to combine different tones in one item. For example, the color of the bookcase façade and its contents (bookshelves, racks) may differ.

For home spaces that are strict in form, book storage cabinets that are black or white are a good solution. It is also possible to combine these two opposite colors at the same time. If you are choosing furniture for a nursery, try to look for models in brighter colors. A green, blue or yellow cabinet will fit perfectly into the decor. Models in soft blue, light peach and pale pink tones will look more gentle.

What are bookcases for a home library made of?

The materials used by the manufacturer to create a home cabinet can be different, but the highest quality is wood. The family's material security and high social status can be skillfully emphasized by placing a structure made of oak, soft pink beech, mahogany or ash in the room.

For example, an antique beech home bookcase will be very durable and will also create a mysterious, mysterious atmosphere. The advantage of cherry is that it is easy to carve, so it can take any shape depending on the designer's preferences. Cabinets with drawers and open wooden shelving will look good; they are also extremely durable and will serve the owner for many years.

The case is also made from more budget-friendly, but still high-quality MDF.

The door is based on frosted or transparent glass. Usually it is treated with a composition intended for this purpose, so it is quite impact-resistant. If you do break it, then do not worry about the safety of residents and guests - the fragments will not scatter throughout the room and will not hurt anyone. Sometimes manufacturers equip their home furniture with mirrors. Thus, a showcase with a mirror insert inside opens up a full view of the items that are there. Sliding structures with glass inserts are usually used in wardrobes.

Regardless of whether you choose a home bookcase with drawers, a wall cabinet, or one with doors, you need to take care of strong shelving systems that can withstand the weight of all the items you plan to put there.

How much do book storage systems cost?

Bookcases can be purchased inexpensively from the manufacturer or you can order the desired piece of furniture from suppliers. In any case, a lot depends on the delivery methods, the material and the brand.

The simplest bookcase from Ikea will cost only 2,000 rubles, while a combined bookcase with glass doors from the same manufacturer will cost about 40,000 rubles.

A modular library from the Veresk factory is sold at an affordable price of 25,000 rubles if the cabinet is an open type. An analogue with glass doors is already more expensive: more than 35,000 rubles.

The more famous the brand, the higher the price. The search for the right library can take a very long time, but there is no need to rush - the book depository will settle in your home for a long time

Let's admire interesting solutions for the book kingdom in the house?

Do not forget about caring for printed publications. If we don’t take care of them, then time will definitely not be kind to them. After all, it warms the soul so much when you can pass on to your descendants a solid library collected over several generations!

Interesting Bookcase Design Ideas

Nowadays, the range on the furniture market is quite wide, and everyone can find for themselves not only a reliable, but also a stylish, extraordinary option. It is impossible not to mention the home bookcase, which resembles a staircase in its appearance. The model is functional, original and will fit into almost any interior, becoming its central element. It will not only help in organizing a place to place and store books, but will also decorate any room.

Manufacturers almost always equip staircase-style cabinets with functional lighting. Firstly, it will redirect the visitor's attention to the most valuable and rare items on the shelves. Secondly, soft light will create a homely atmosphere in the room. If you want to add even more charm to your design, choose models with LED lights. With their help you can avoid heating the surface of books.

A home bookcase with corner shelves will also be a fashionable solution. Models come with both classic straight shapes and smooth, beautiful lines. Typically, shelving is located at the edges of the structure. Books with the brightest and most attractive bindings, magazines with interesting covers are often placed on them.

A good option would be shelves for books that are placed at different angles that are not direct to each other or to the floor surface. It looks chaotic, but at the same time creative. You can pay attention to models with alternating types of shelves, where after the open structure there is a closed one.

Bookcases in the shape of a honeycomb look interesting. To make them look like real ones, they are sometimes made in warm colors with a yellowish tint. Designers recommend taking a closer look at shelving with inclined walls. The shelves seemed to have shifted due to a gust of wind. Furniture that resembles a piano will look unusual. It will fit into a classic interior and help it sparkle with new colors.

Features and benefits of bookshelves

When storing books, shelving is often used, as they look harmonious in every interior and have more arrangement options. Such shelves are made without a back wall and doors so as not to block the light. They are convenient to use for zoning a room, since they are easily accessible from different sides.

If the structure is narrow, then you should pay attention to its stability. To do this, use an auxiliary wall mount. A rack made up of shelves is used as a partition between rooms.

Modular structures consist of elements of different heights and finishes, so they can be purchased in addition to increase them. Double models, in which the front row rolls back and the second one opens, or shelves made up of cubes of modules look original. There are models with wheels that can be moved and fixed with stoppers in a new place.

It is worth choosing shelves with height adjustment. It is necessary that closed products have holes for air ventilation, which will protect the books from damage. Shelves cannot be placed near heating devices; books must be protected from direct sunlight. For low ceilings in the room, tall but narrow shelving models are suitable.

Criteria for choosing a good bookcase for your home library

Choosing the best home bookcase option may seem simple, but in fact there are many nuances that you should think about before purchasing. You need to think through the design features, the material from which all parts of the product are made, the color scheme, style, and take into account the dimensions of the cabinet or rack, and the place where it will stand. These points will be discussed further.

Rely on the direction in which the room is decorated. Thus, a Provence style wardrobe will fit perfectly into a country style interior. If you want to plunge into a vintage atmosphere, take a closer look at artificially aged wallpaper with a floral pattern, wardrobes, and wicker chairs. You can choose an option for any interior, from classic to modern.

Home libraries come in a wide range, so look for the one that suits your home. Plan the placement of books in advance, decide which ones you will take out most often and which ones will sit on the shelf for a long time. For books that are almost never used, it is best to use locked bookcases in your home library. This will protect the books from dust and ultraviolet radiation. Open shelving is an excellent solution for printed products that should always be at your fingertips.

If you are sure that there is no high humidity and rodents in the attic, then you can equip your home library in this room or in the attic. There is always peace and quiet here, no one can distract you from reading an interesting book. Even if you have a large collection, you can equip a room of any size to store it. To do this, you can use unoccupied walls, empty space under the windowsill - think creatively to enjoy not only the new purchase, but also the process of creating a reading room.

Where to put a bookcase for your home library

The place where you place the cabinet depends on the type of literature that will be stored in it. These can be scientific publications, cookbooks with recipes, printed materials for children, or textbooks, dictionaries, and reference books. Each of these options has its own set of recommendations, which will be discussed below.

• Library in the office.

It is customary to place home bookcases and shelving in the office. They should be filled with serious literature - professional or scientific. This will help demonstrate the high status and education of the owner. If you want the object not to be the central element of the interior, but simply to fit harmoniously into the overall setting, think about placing books along the wall or inside a corner structure. Do not skimp when choosing; the material from which the cabinet is made must be of high quality and durable. Nowadays, solid wood products are the most popular.

• Living room or dining room: what books are acceptable in such rooms.

For these rooms, you should choose modern literature - romance novels or detective stories. The home library should not be “heavy” so as not to be thought of as a boring arrogant person, but do not go to extremes, because obscene books should not be placed on public display either. Fresh editions are very different from the classics, but they are still able to demonstrate the good taste of the owner.

Choose lighter, but not frivolous literature.

• Placement of children's books and textbooks.

In a children's room, such literature is most often displayed on small, usually hanging shelves. It is important at what height you place them. Do not allow the child to be unable to independently get a particular textbook and stand on a chair - this is dangerous. The best option would be to secure the shelf in such a way that the smallest family member can easily reach the book he needs, and as he grows, move the shelves to another level. The remaining holes in the wall can be covered up or even played up as an indicator of growing up. Your child will definitely like this game.

It is also possible to install a home bookcase from the floor in the nursery. Then the literature can be sorted in this way: place children's books at the very bottom, and place more serious printed publications on the top shelves. Here the saying “I have not yet grown up to such books”, used in literal and figurative meanings, will be more appropriate than ever.

• Corridor or space near the stairs.

Here they usually use open bookshelves with literature arranged in one row, as this can significantly save space. In order to place a library in premises of this type, they use literature with bright colorful bindings - they will add a little extravagance to the interior.

It is rare, but you can still find the option of placing books under each of the steps of the stairs. If you are considering such a course of action, you should take care of the correct design even at the construction stage.

How best to place a system for storing books in different rooms

Books bring people a whole range of emotions: from joy to sadness. This is a whole emotional palette. Such an important object in mental, spiritual and intellectual terms must fit perfectly in the room intended for it. Let's try to find the best place for publications dear to our hearts.

We place a bookcase in the library and study

If the house has such purposeful rooms as a study and a library, then the owners can be quietly envied. In this case, the books are where they should be. The atmosphere in such rooms is literally reading.

Built-in corner bookcases and libraries for the home look interesting. This is a full-fledged part of the wall, making up a single composition

A rational approach by designers will allow for maximum savings on space: the entrance to the office can be turned into a library that is in harmony with the interior of the room and correlates with the office

Corners easily become useful workspaces

How to place books in the living room and dining room

The living room is also a good place for reading. The book depository in this room does honor to the owners of the house and adds respectability to them. Designer bookcases are installed here, which both households and guests admire.

A model with an original frame decorates the interior, adding a unique twist to it.

The living room involves a combination of open and closed storage systems. In the lower compartments, closed with opaque doors, you can store magazines and other periodicals, and place a reading library on the shelves.

Open-type designs are also appropriate for the living room, this is especially true for modern styles

The dining room is quite capable of serving not only as a place for meals, but also as a library. Although this room usually contains furniture with beautiful dishes, why not make it even more functional?

It is very pleasant to dine in the company of Seneca, Dostoevsky, Kant and Cervantes

In the dining room it is better to place cabinets with doors to prevent any dirt from getting on the spines of books.

They also read in the bedroom and children's room.

Although bookcases are rarely placed in the bedroom, this does not mean that this should not be done. Having an interesting book at hand will always be appreciated by those who like to read before bedtime!

Sometimes they don’t even look for a special place to place book furniture. The window space doesn't look cluttered if you fill it with printed publications on open shelves

Bedrooms are decorated with books if the apartment does not have a lot of space and free rooms where a library, albeit small, could fit.

A modern bedroom will benefit from creative bookshelves.

Separate shelves with books add the necessary amount of balance and stability to the bedroom interior.

The children's room is no exception, because we instill a love of reading from an early age. If a child doesn’t see books in his room, how can he develop a love for the printed word?

Children's rooms have open and closed shelves

It will be convenient for school-age children to get textbooks and favorite stories from an open shelf

Books are not only placed in a separate cabinet. Above the bed are the most favorite publications and those that are waiting to be read soon.

Corridor and space near the stairs: a great place for a library

If the corridor is wide enough, it should definitely be used as a book storage. This is an added benefit to the functionality of this often inefficiently used circulation space.

The corridor should not be overly heavy, so choose shallow racks and shelves that do not occupy the entire wall space

The place under the stairs and around it literally begs to be noticed: this is a chic place to place any number of books without worrying about how to fit the wardrobe into the style of the room

Sometimes the expression "books under the stairs" means that they are literally under the stairs

A smart approach to saving usable space