How to Set Up a Home Library: 8 Great Ideas

Cabinet with glass doors, open shelves or a modular structure that can occupy an empty wall – whatever you choose, books will delight you.

1. Wall-to-wall shelving

This shelf, as in Ksenia Turik's apartment, can be both a convenient storage system (it holds a lot, can be filled gradually and doesn't take up much space) and an impressive interior element. It looks like a large painting in a frame.

2. Part of a wooden structure

Architects from Ruetemple designed a construction that includes a bedroom area, a relaxation zone for projector viewing, a wardrobe and a sofa in front of the TV. All storage systems are built into the wooden volume, including the library. How could it be without it!

Design: Ruetemple architectural studio

3. Wooden and metal shelves

There is also space for a library in a loft – Sergey Bakharev from "One-Flat" constructed shelves that perfectly fit into the brutal setting.

4. Niche above the fireplace

Bookshelves can find an unexpected place. For example, as part of... a fireplace, as in the apartment on Riga Promenade, decorated by FB Interiors design bureau.

5. Bookcase around a door or window

Owners of small apartments should note this trick used by Nadya Zотова – a shelf portal around a door or window opening. Books are well off – and no square centimeter is lost!

6. Glass-fronted bookcase

A classic bookcase with glass doors – the best thing humanity has invented for storing books. All treasures of thought are on display, and no dust. These cabinets always create the atmosphere of an old, cozy, intellectual home. Example – the apartment decorated by Inna Zoltmann.

7. Library on the balcony

Designer Sergey Ogurtsov set up a library on the second-floor balcony – and there's plenty of space and a good view.

8. Modular shelves

Marina Filippova assembled everything that can make a bleak autumn evening cozy: a cozy chair, fireplace, books... This structure won't hold many books, but each one will be right at hand.

Design: Marina Filippova

On the cover: Nadya Zотова's design project.