Under the Ceiling
In a small one-room apartment or studio, there’s often simply no space for a separate bookcase, especially if the library is impressive. What to do then? For instance, raise it to the ceiling! Take inspiration from this project: here, they’ve designed two rows of shelves at the very top of the wall, so they don’t get in the way when someone stands up or sits down. And thanks to the interior being quite bright, with colorful decor and textiles, the vibrant covers don’t create visual noise, but instead emphasize the overall mood.
Behind the Bed’s Headboard
The owner of this bedroom came up with an unusual way to organize her library — by placing it behind the headboard. For this, they hung a long, narrow shelf along the entire wall, and did so not above the bed, but specifically behind it: this eliminates the chance of a heavy book accidentally falling on someone’s head. The second advantage of this solution is its decorative potential. It looks unusual and attracts attention, especially if the covers are colorful. It creates an unconventional accent wall.
On a Shelf in the Hallway
If most of the books are of medium or small size, and there are many, you can place a tall shelf in the hallway, roughly the size of the editions. Due to its shallow depth, it won’t obstruct passage and will allow efficient use of space in a narrow corridor — a common issue for standard and simply small apartments. The shelf sections can be used for more convenient library organization: for example, put classics in one compartment, detective stories in another, children’s fairy tales in a third, etc.
In the End of a Cabinet
The best furniture for a small apartment is multifunctional. For example, in this project, it was necessary to organize literature storage for two children in one room. To do this, in addition to standard shelves, they utilized the side wall of a cabinet, “attaching”
to it a shelf exactly the same size. The same approach can be used in a bedroom, living room, or hallway, adding functionality to any storage system.
In a Niche
Even a small, narrow recess is suitable for books, where a full-sized cabinet or shelf would not fit. Such a niche can be located in any room, although it’s most convenient if it’s close to where you read. Usually, this is the bedroom or living room, as in this example. The shelves can be made of wood or glass, and to prevent open storage from looking cluttered, intersperse books with decor or leave some space empty.
On Shelves in a Frame
A small number of books can be conveniently stored on hanging shelves. But on their own, they look ordinary, and reaching for a needed volume up high isn’t always convenient. Look at what the owners of this Khrushchev-era apartment did: they lowered the shelves to arm’s reach when sitting in a chair. Moreover, they framed them in the same contrasting black frame as the other wall decor. Thanks to this, book storage looks like a volumetric painting, an unusual art object.
In a Dresser Opposite the Bed
If there’s a little space between the bed and the opposite wall in the bedroom, you can place a long, shallow dresser or even assemble a storage system from several units along this wall. The main thing is to leave at least a minimal free passage. This way, you can arrange books, and on the dresser, you can place something else: a mirror, makeup accessories, other books, a lamp, or beautiful decor, as here. The apartment owner complemented it with an impressive wall gallery.
On the Wall
In small apartments, it’s always a good idea to utilize walls — they provide additional space for storage, and it can be substantial. For example, in this one-bedroom apartment for a young man, a mini-office was organized in the living room. The space is small, so a regular cabinet wouldn’t fit. Instead, they installed a tall shelving unit above the work desk — it offers ample space for books and knick-knacks.
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