How to Create a Mini-Library in an Apartment: 8 Examples

A home library is a dream that shouldn't be abandoned due to limited space. We explain how designers decorate storage spaces for books in their projects. These ideas are suitable for both spacious apartments and small studios.

Functional Use of Space

To accommodate a mini-library in a studio apartment, architects from Ruetemple Bureau designed an interesting structure. It serves as a bedroom zone, living room, and bookshelf all at once.

View the full project

Create a Shelf Portal

Designer Nadezhda Zотовa placed a bookshelf portal around the door opening. She also painted the entire structure in one color to make it look cohesive. By the way, you can use the same approach around a window.

View the full project

Arrange Shelves in a P-Shape

If you have many books, arrange shelves in a p-shape as in Olesya Shlyakhtina's project. The library is located in a home office.

Since there was enough space, they also created a reading and conversation area: several armchairs, coffee tables, and a workspace were added.

View the full project

Hide in the Hallway

If you have enough storage solutions in other rooms, one of the shelves can be dedicated to books. For example, designer Natasha Yanson came up with a way to place a library in a studio and moved it into the hallway.

View the full project

Organize Open Shelves

The owners of this apartment have a large collection of books—around two thousand copies. Studio S&T Architects came up with a way to store them all: a 40-meter-long storage system with open shelves and cabinets.

Since the clients don’t mind cleaning, they were happy to support this idea. Books became part of the interior, which immediately made the space much cozier.

View the full project

Hide Behind Curtains

If you're afraid of storing books on open shelves or want to mask them in the interior, follow Nadezhda Fedorovich's example. The designer hid shelves behind thick dark curtains so they can be quickly concealed when needed.

View the full project

Custom Built Shelves

Designer Alexandra Fedorova designed a uniquely shaped shelf (called a “bookshelf-origami”). Here, books and handmade dolls that collectors have are stored.

Interesting fact: The shelf is made so that when viewed from different sides, either only dolls or only books are visible. Visually, the shelves do not look cluttered.

View the full project

Use Vertical Space

Since the ceiling height in this apartment is about four meters, designer Vadim Maltsev suggested adding a second level. To accommodate a large library in the living room without cluttering the space, a professional designed wall-mounted shelves reaching the full height of the wall.

View the full project