We may live in the digital age and perhaps only a few people still have extensive home libraries, but the homeowner’s lament that there is never enough storage space for books and knickknacks still rings true. Demand for cheap bookcases and cheap bookshelves remains brisk. An especially popular choice today is the entertainment center, either a free-standing or built-in unit that provides a place for the television, DVD player, stereo system, and Playstation. And although the name refers to the electronic components that reside there, many entertainment centers also incorporate shelves that carry books and other items.
Wall units, often including oversize shelving, are a kind of hybrid between the pure entertainment and a tall bookcase. Traditional bookshelves, typically in 24- or 36-inch widths and ranging in height from about 3 to 7 feet, continue to sell well. Other popular pieces that include space for book storage are home computer desks with bookshelves above the work surface, bookshelf headboard units for both the master bedroom and children’s rooms and hutch tops for dressers and chests of drawers (often seen in children’s rooms).
But there’s no need to limit yourself to standard pieces (or standard dimensions), especially if you have a need for a lot of book storage space, or if you like the look of bookshelves or bookcases for aesthetic reasons. The fact is, books add a warm feeling to a home, and shelving and cheap bookcases can provide a design element as well as a utilitarian one. Bookcases give off a feeling of warmth and acceptance. When we do shelving, it’s not just for function. A wall of shelving can do a lot for a room.
Family rooms, bedrooms and dens are popular spots for cheap bookcases or shelving, but with a little imagination, shelving can be used in almost any room of the home. Although not as common as the entertainment center, kitchen “information centers,” which might include a writing surface, bulletin board and a hutch top for storage of cookbooks, are increasingly popular. They work especially well in large kitchens. They make a nice accent feature.
Other possible locations for shelving not often thought of are around doorways or windows, under window seats or in a hallway, where they add visual interest to an otherwise fairly unimaginative corridor. I have seen mini- bookshelves recessed in the studs in bathrooms.
Bookshelf Materials
Options in materials for cheap bookcases and cheap bookshelves also vary considerably. The most economical material is particleboard, either in sheets for shelving or in ready-made bookcase units, which come unfinished or can be painted. Some come covered in vinyl with a simulated wood-grain finish. Another popular material, especially for shelving, is pine, available in standard shelf dimensions from 6 to 12 inches deep and typically 3/4 or 1 inch thick. Pine is both strong and versatile. It can be painted or stained to match other furniture. Premade modular shelves, supported on the wall with matching wood corbels, and available in several finishes are also popular.
Plywood with hardwood veneer or solid wood pieces may be the choice for those who want a higher-grade finished bookcase that’s more like a piece of fine furniture. Cabinetmakers and woodworkers usually use a combination of veneered plywood and solid pieces. They also had some nuts-and-bolts advice about the construction of bookcases and shelving. One good rule of thumb is that standard 3/4-inch shelving should not run more than 30 inches without support, lest shelves begin to sag under the weight of books. Good woodworkers usually include solid wood trim or banding on his shelves that provides additional strength as well as enhances their appearance.
Thicker shelves can be used for spans greater than 30 inches.
It is important not to make shelving too deep if its purpose is for book storage only. The popularity of entertainment centers that require deeper shelves for electronic components makes it tempting to build equally deep shelves for books. A12-inch shelf will accommodate nearly any book. Tall bookcases (anything over 6 feet) should be attached to a wall to prevent leaning.
As you can see, there are many options when it comes to picking cheap bookshelves or cheap bookcases!