Best Bookcase Reviews

Can you imagine a room without any form of storage?

We can, and it would be a pretty messy place!

When you’re looking for the best bookcase, you should think about storing more than books and about how you can restore order to a busy room with one inexpensive and long-lasting unit.

We’ll launch directly into our best bookcase reviews then we’ll give you a few pointers to simplify your buying decision.

5 Best Bookcase Reviews

We’ll get directly down to business with our reviews. After presenting 5 of the best choices on the market for your home and garden, we’ll walk you through how to focus on getting the most appropriate tool for your needs.

Best Bookcase Reviews 1

First up in our best bookcase reviews, we’ve got a striking modernist cube arrangement from Kings Brand Furniture. For a design-driven bookcase, this comes in at an extremely keen price point.

Best Bookcase Reviews 2

 

This versatile bookcase is different enough to make a great fit with modernist décor while it can also serve a turn in less minimalist backdrops. The open design might allow more dust in than a unit with glass doors, but in return you’ll get a clean, uncluttered aesthetic.

As with any bookcase, you’ll need to assemble it but you won’t need to be a DIY or woodworking experts so don’t let that put you off.

Finished in a warm, deep espresso, treat yourself to this bookcase and you should get many happy years of service from it.

Pros.

  • Assembly is minimal and you’ll be up and running in no more than a half hour
  • Open design lets you see what you need at a glance
  • Commanding enough for a stark, modernist room while also capable of slotting into a more traditional room
  • 43 x 11 x 62 inches giving you ample storage space in the living room
  • Pretty impressive price/performance ratio

Cons.

  • Open-fronted design attracts more dust in

Best Bookcase Reviews 3

Everyone’s got different needs when it comes to finding the best bookcase, and with money so tight these days, who doesn’t want a bargain?

Best Bookcase Reviews 4Next up in our best bookcase reviews is a pocket-friendly particleboard unit with 3 shelves from Ameriwood Basics that really can’t be beaten on price. But is it any good?

In a word, yes. Bookcases perform a very basic core function and there’s not much to differentiate them. When you think of it like that, why pay so much more for one when you can pick up something like the Ameriwood Basics? With power tools, for example, the more you pay, the more functionality and performance you can expect. With something designed to hold books and ornaments, you’ll just get the same but different.

Price aside – and few bookcases can compete on this angle – you’ll get a spacious and customizable set of shelving in a broad spread of colors in a laminated particleboard built to stay the distance. What’s not to like?

Pros.

  • Incredible value for money considering build quality
  • Classic, clean design makes this bookcase ideal for any room
  • Laminated in a variety of finishes so something for everyone
  • 3 large, open shelves, 2 of which are adjustable, making this bookcase a very flexible storage solution
  • Works well with a full range of furniture so mix and match if you need to kit your house out on a budget while still ensuring it looks great

Cons.

  • Some reported issues with quality control so make sure you check your parcel carefully on arrival

Best Bookcase Reviews 5

Sauder has a hard-won reputation for producing understated and functional furniture on a budget. Next up in our best bookcase reviews is this 2-shelfer finished in a rich cherry instantly giving a look of gravitas to this small but expansive unit.

If you’re looking to buy a cheap bookcase, it’s not likely to last for decades. This Sauder will at least give you a decent run for your money, though. The sustainable, engineered wood means you’ll do as much good for the environment as for your bank balance.

Finished in cherry, the simple and classic design will slot neatly into just about any room.Best Bookcase Reviews 6

 

If you’ve got a fair amount of clutter and you’re looking for an affordable yet attractive way to keep it organized, think seriously about investing in this 2-shelf bookcase.

Pros.

  • Stripped-down design in a luxe cherry finish for a touch of class
  • Engineered wood so you can also do your part for the environment while making your lounge look great
  • Single adjustable shelf so fine-tune to your needs
  • Plenty of extra storage space on the top so ideal even for a larger living room
  • Excellent value for money without compromising quality

Cons.

  • Relatively underwhelming build so be realistic about your expectations

Best Bookcase Reviews 7

We seldom review more than one product from any given manufacturer but Ameriwood has a stranglehold on budget furniture that punches above its weight.

Best Bookcase Reviews 8

 

Next up in our best bookcase reviews is a ladder-style arrangement that can be set side-by-side or rejigged into any configuration you prefer.

Made from laminated MDF and particleboard lashed over a metal frame, you’ll get a rugged, long-lasting unit without needing to spend a fortune.

Although a number of users have moaned about build quality, we have to disagree. For the money, you’re getting a pretty solid bookcase from a brand you can trust.

Pros.

  • Mobile and space-saving storage solution
  • 8 shelves in total giving you a generous amount of room
  • MDF and metal frame for maximum durability
  • Complement with TV rack or book rack to build out even more matching storage
  • Works well as a makeshift standing desk if you enjoy spending the occasional hour working on your feet

Cons.

  • A number of complaints about poorly-engineered components

Best Bookcase Reviews 9

As we round out our best bookcase reviews, we’ve got an industrial and aged set of shelves from HSH Furniture combining elegance with modernism in one enticing package.

Best Bookcase Reviews 10

 

You can pick from a 2-shelf, 3-shelf, 4-shelf, or 5-shelf combo so this bookcase works equally well in small apartments or sprawling houses.

The exposed design gives you ample space for a decent library of books along with plenty of pictures and ornaments.

If you’re looking for a classic of design that’s not a case of form over function, check out this stylish bookcase at your earliest convenience.

Pros.

  • Weathered, antique finish that works wonders as a statement piece whatever your decor
  • Rock-solid tubing gives this unit real strength
  • Available with 2, 3, 4, or 5 shelves giving you total flexibility
  • Storage space maximized with all your books and ornaments on view from all angles
  • You’ll be covered by a 1-year limited warranty with returns during the first month removing any sting from purchase

Cons.

  • A number of complaints about poorly-engineered components

OK ...

So…
With our best bookcase reviews put to bed, it’s time for a few simple pointers to streamline your buying decision and help you end up with the right storage for you the easy way.

What To Look For In The Best Bookcase

Type of Bookcase

While you can get bookcases in just about all shapes and sizes, here are 3 of the main configurations you’ll run into on the buying trail…

  • Shelf Bookcase: This classic type of bookcase either stands alone or comes in stackable form. You can find these with or without doors. If you plan to load all the shelves with really heavy hardbacks, you might want to think again or the shelves could end up sagging in the middle if you go OTT. For organizing clutter, a shelf bookcase is tough to beat
  • Ladder Bookcase: This slim and space-saving bookcases work brilliantly in tight spots where you might otherwise have to go without shelving. The shelves go from deep at the bottom through shallower at the top to create a look like a leaning ladder. For a mixture of design and utilitarianism, ladder bookcases work well with most decor
  • Open Bookcase: If you have a smaller room, this type of bookcase serves to create the illusion of more space. You’ll also be able to see your favorite book at a glance without needing to rummage behind closed doors

Materials

Wood is by far and away the most common material used for bookcases and you’ll find units in just about every type you can imagine catering for all tastes and budgets.

Open bookcases featuring glass make a great fit in small rooms while you can brighten up darker rooms with a lighter finish.

Metal adds strength and rigidity along with a healthy dose of utilitarianism.

Think about how you want your bookcase to look without neglecting durability.

Size

Most bookcases have the design pretty much on-point.

As a general guideline, avoid any bookcases where the top shelf is higher than 80 inches unless you’re particularly tall.

Bigger is not necessarily better. Think about your intended usage. It’s no sense going for a bookcase with the longest shelves you can find only for them to bow under a heavy load.

Also, make absolutely certain the bookcase you’re considering will fit comfortably in the room you have in mind.

Color

Much like material, the issue of color is to a large degree subjective.

Dark shelving imparts a certain gravitas while paler colors can pep up gloomy surroundings.

If you’re putting bookcases in your kids’ rooms, why not inject a dose of color to keep things fun? They’re only young once!

Shelves: Type

Bookcases come with fixed or adjustable shelves so think about which would work best for you.

Shelves can be open or closed and you should look for reinforcing if you intend to pop anything heavier on the bookcase.

Shelves: Depth

The average bookshelf is somewhere from 10 to 12 inches deep.

As with every element of your buying decision, take the time to think closely about what you’ll put on your bookcase. You can then choose accordingly depending on whether you need to house vinyl record, hardback books or lighter ornaments.

A Final Word

With any luck, you’ve now got the best bookcase firmly in your sights.

Kiss goodbye to a messy space full of paperwork and say hello to organization!

Come back soon for more handy guidance on all aspects of your home and garden.

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