Bookcase Plans - Plans for Book Cases

When looking at your bookcase needs, one way to get a bookcase that not only exactly fits your needs, but also fits your budget is to build your own bookcase. Finding a book on how to build a bookcase is not hard to do, and you can even find some at your local library. There are a variety of uses for bookcases making them one of the more desirable of home furnishings.

Select the Type You Want

Lets take a look at the different types of bookcases you might want to build.

Built-in Bookshelves - One of the more popular choices for building are of course built-in bookcases. These are units that are built into a wall or some other area like a fireplace. Especially popular for studies or dens, that can be used to feature items other than books. Almost any collectables ranging from antique cameras to model planes or cars are great on display on built-in bookshelves. Not only are they attractive, they also add personalization and warmth to your home as well.

Barrister bookshelves - For more than a hundred years, officials, lawyers and the like have accumulated large numbers of books in their libraries. Since these were quite expensive they invested in bookcases that would do a great job of protecting that investment for them. Barrister bookcases were designed to do a better job of that than just an ordinary bookshelf. These units are designed with doors for each shelf, usually with a glass pane. A typical barrister case will have the door hinges on the bottom, and it will swing down to allow access to the books.

Corner Bookcases - Just the ticket for hiding away in almost any room in the house, corner bookcases come in a variety of sizes and styles. A simple white shelf can be great in a kids room, or a fine wooden corner shelf standing several feet in height can serve as a display unit in the dining or living rooms.

Ladder Bookcases This is becoming a really popular style. These ladder bookcases often appear to be a ladder leaning against the wall. They are built by using the largest shelf on the bottom, and then increasingly smaller shelves as you go up. Usually there are three to five total shelves. Some are even tapered into a corner so they look like a pyramid.

Simplest for the home carpenter, the standard three shelf unit is a popular yet functional unit. Simple to build, this is a great starter unit. It will look good in the game room or one of the kids rooms. This simple style also allows you the flexibility to paint the shelves any color you want, other than the standard white, black or wood finish.

Plans can be found online for free at sites like Shopsmith, or you can buy books of plans from many book retailers. Another approach that is becoming quite popular is to download book plans after purchasing them online. Check out Amazon to download some plans.

In our first home we quickly ran out of space after having 3 children in 5 years. We decided to add on a playroom for the kids, we hired a carpenter to put built-in shelves in the playroom. The unit covered the entire 20 foot wall and had storage cabinets in the lower third and book shelves in the upper two-thirds, floor to ceiling. The carpenter designed a space in the middle where we put a roll-top desk. This room was greatly enhanced with the unique shelf unit and the room was used by all family members. It was also a great selling point when we grew out of that house.

We had never done anything like this before but that room became our favorite room in the house and I believe the personal style we put into designing the shelves was the reason. I recommend this process!

Not Just With Books!

It's very trendy these days to fill your book shelves with items other than books. You can add knicks-knacks, pictures in frames, keepsakes, collectibles, and just about anything you desire.

If you are planning on filling the shelves with only books, one idea to help make your collection attractive on the shelf is to alter the direction of the books. Place some books horizontal and some in the traditional vertical position. You can also add volume collections like encyclopedias or vintage collections. You can have the "classics" all together or a grouping of one of your favorite authors - all these ideas add personality and richness to your shelf appearance, and reasons to make you smile every time you walk past the book shelf!

Check Out Half Price Book stores

One of my favorite places to spend some extra time is the Half Price Book Store. There are locations all over the country and if you can't find this brand store, there are usually similar type stores near big cities and in little ones too!