All book lovers dream of a home library designed with built-in bookshelves to house their book collection. But having a separate room just for book storage is often unattainable by the average person.
However, there are still plenty of home library ideas out there that can help you channel your inner interior designer and work within the square footage you have to create a space worthy of curling up with a good book.
An L-Shaped Home Library Packed With Books Leading into the Bedroom
First on the list of home library ideas is a classic floor-to-ceiling design. Bookshelves surround double doors leaning into a bedroom and continue across the connecting wall.
Every inch of the shelving is filled with a variety of books in all different sizes and colors, creating a stunning collection to have on display. You could also use frosted French doors in this space for additional elegance while maintaining privacy.
via Entrance Makleri
White Bookshelves With a Bottom Row of Cabinets and Other Decorative Items
Similar to the previous home library idea, these bookcases frame the bedroom door. However, these shelves include a set of cabinets at the bottom of each section for additional storage of other items.
Additionally, the books here are more spaced out, resulting in a more relaxed appearance, and they are joined by other items such as photographs, dinnerware, and candles. The overall thoughtful arrangement of objects creates a sophisticated atmosphere.
Styled by Greydeco and photographed by Janne Olander, for Stadshem
Grey Floor-to-Ceiling Bookcases With Vertical Paneling for Visual Interest
This room features grey and blue tones that create a peaceful environment which is strengthened by the decorative home library. As with our previous example, the shelves aren’t packed tight with books, allowing decor items to be placed throughout.
These gaps also leave the back panel of the shelving visible, which this design has used to its advantage. Vertical paneling covers the back of the shelves, creating a pop of visual interest in the open areas.
Styled by Bon Interior, photographed by Maria Sahlander, for sale via Bjurfors
A Section of White Square Shelves in the Dining Room
This home library uses sections of glass-fronted display cases to create a large area of even square shelves against the dining room wall. As with many of the other home library ideas, the shelves house more than just books, leaving space for accent pieces and knickknacks as well as a bottom section of cabinets to store items you may prefer to keep out of sight.
via Sjoman Frisk
A Dark, Forest Green Home Library With Additional Built-In Storage
One of the most vibrant and traditionally styled home library ideas on our list, this library creates a cozy reading spot complete with a chessboard side table. This bold green bookshelf pairs wonderfully with the green in the wallpaper as well as the rich brown tones of the other furniture.
The overall style of the furniture, including the antique chandelier, transports you back in time while you sit and enjoy books of all kinds.
Photographed by Therese Jahnson for Historiska Hem
A Home Library Covering a Full Wall of the Dining Room
In line with some of the home library ideas we’ve seen so far, these floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall bookshelves are an excellent addition to this dining room. All of the shelves are evenly spaced to create a sense of symmetry, though the books are thoughtfully arranged in a variety of groupings and positions so that no two areas are the same.
This keeps the eye moving across the space, something that is visually appealing. Additionally, a library ladder is kept off to the side to help reach the highest areas and ensure this home library stays fully functional.
A Large Home Library in the Living Room With a TV and Other Decor
This home library takes on the role of entertainment center in this sitting room, housing a TV alongside books and other decor. By installing the shelving directly onto the wall using bracket supports, there’s additional space to fill with books and miscellaneous items.
Filling the space completely creates the illusion of floating shelves as seen in the top row here. Furthermore, the shelves themselves are painted in the same shade of paint as the walls, allowing them to blend in and better showcase the books they hold.
Styled by Thomas Lingsell, photographed by Therese Jahnson for Historiska Hem
A Cozy Home Library Reading Nook Under a Skylight in an Attic Space
This small home library also serves as a cozy reading nook with a comfy chair and side tables. The skylight bathes the space in natural light, enhancing the cozy atmosphere and inviting you to curl up with a good book and read the day away.
Additionally, the books are lightly arranged by color, which creates a pleasing appearance for the eyes. As an added bonus, this simplistic design is easy to achieve without much heavy lifting and without needing an interior designer on sight to ensure it goes as planned. If desired, there’s also room to add a floor lamp to create a source of light for nighttime reading.
Styled by Clindholm Design, photographed by Jocke Ono for Historiska Hem
A Home Library in a Gallery-Wall Layout in the Living Room
This home library echoes the appearance of a gallery wall framing the TV, but with the added advantage of storing more items in addition to art and photographs. The mix of shelf shapes and sizes creates a variety of spaces to display a range of objects with ease.
The bookcase’s coloring works well with the cool neutral palette without overshadowing the items it holds, something that creates a subtle focal point.
photographed by Adam Helbaoui, sold via Innerstadsspecialisten
A Vibrant Home Library in a Bold Foyer With a Small Table and a Single Chair
This striking foyer beautifully highlights the personality and theme of the home as you enter, welcoming guests with a mix of colors, patterns, and textures. The inclusion of bookshelves along the back wall and framing the door enhances the ambiance of this little room without taking up unnecessary floor space.
Art books, fiction novels, and historical biographies blend across these bookshelves, telling the story of the interests and passions of the home’s residents.
Styled by Thomas Lingsell, photographed by Fredric Boukari for Historiska Hem
Half-Wall Shelves for a Small Home Library in a Sitting Room
Not all home libraries have to be grand and imposing. This understated collection behind the living room sofa allows you to showcase a smaller, more meaningful selection of books in your home.
The half-height also leaves space for displaying artwork and photos along the walls. Additionally, this size bookshelf is ideal for a kid’s room, ensuring that all of their books are safely within reach.
via Entrance Makleri
Large, Dramatic Bookcases Framing the Entry Way of the Home
These dark bookcases are painted in the same shade as other interior design elements in the room, such as the wainscoting, trim, and entertainment console, making the room feel cohesive.
This bold entryway is sure to wow guests as they enter the home, while also causing the living room to seem more relaxed and comfortable.
via Per Jansson
A Blend of Shelf Sizes With Built-In Cabinetry and Hanging Plants
This custom-built home library features a blend of shelf shapes and sizes, allowing endless decor possibilities. As with other home library ideas, this design can easily be customized to better suit your space and needs.
For instance, a reading nook with wicker chairs could be added to the corner, additional vining plants could be placed sporadically, or a rolling ladder could be installed directly on the bookshelves.
via Alvhem
Subtle Bracket Mounts to Give the Appearance of Wide Floating Shelves
This home library uses many of the same elements as some of the other home library ideas we’ve seen so far but adds unique touches to create something new.
The bracket-mounted shelving still produces the appearance of a floating shelf, but the contrast between the color of the shelving and the wall allows the shelving to stand out more, resulting in a slightly different visual effect.
Styled by Nouvel Interior, photographed by Alen Cordic for Bjurfors
Multipurpose Bookcases as a Room Divider and Display Area
This home library performs double duty as a book storage solution as well as a room divider. These bookshelves help create a clear separation of rooms in an open-plan space but do so purposefully. Additionally, both the books and the decorative items fit the color scheme for a cohesive look.
via Bjurfors
Floor-to-Ceiling Bookcases With a Library Ladder in a Room With a Vaulted Roof
A vaulted ceiling in the living room is the perfect excuse to grow your collection and create a stunning home library. The attached rolling ladder is every book lover’s dream, allowing you to reach every corner of the space with ease.
This is the classic style people around the world picture when thinking about home libraries.
Styled by Asa Copparstad, photographed by Therese Jahnson for Historiska Hem
Bookshelves Framing One End of a Window Seat for a Cozy Reading Nook
For the final example in our list of home library ideas, we have bookshelves framing a cozy reading spot positioned just under a window. This style of home library is sure to please all ages, serving as the perfect addition to a child’s bedroom or an adult’s office space. No matter where you create this in your house, a reading nook such as this is always a hit.
Styled by Anna van Keppel, photographed by Dana Ozollapa for Historiska Hem
