Bookshelf Alternatives

Once the bookshelves are full and piled upon and overflowing, and you've no more shelves to use, what creative places do you use to store books?

I have 6 bookshelves stuffed to capacity. So I have spilled into my pantry (1/2 is books), my entertainment center, 2 bedside nightstands, and 3 vintage suitcases.

The joke is, if you open any drawer in my place, you'll find books. I've kept them out of the frig so far.

I added a little bookcase as an end-table for my sofa; that helped a bit!

Don't you think that staircases are too wide for everyday use? There's a dozen or more piling places for a start.

I've seen photos of homes where they installed a shallow bookcase all the way up the wall of a staircase - LOTS of shelves!

There's that one picture floating around on the internet where a modified drop ceiling is used as a bookshelf. I think that's great because you're usually not using the ceiling for anything else so may as well have it be useful.

(Picture reference here: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/look/look-store-your-books-in-the-rafters-039...

The floor. Really, any flat surface.

I converted my closet. It used to be just one shelf above a clothing bar. I built a floor to ceiling shelf in the middle of the closet, with 2 clothing bars on each side of it. Then above the bars I now have two shelves. Still, I'm running out of space.

Not a bookshelf alternative, but an alternative source for bookcases. With the sad demise of many small independent and second-hand bookshops, keep an eye out for ones that are closing and make an offer for some of their bookcases. I picked up three a while ago (all sadly/joyously filled now) for about $30 each.

Boxes under the bed. Your standard underbed box is exactly the right depth for paperback novels.

Also, my bedside table. I don't mean my bedside table is full of books, or has books piled on it: I mean my bedside table *is* four piles of books. :D

I have three baskets under my library table which I use to store my pamphlets and magazines. I have another three baskets in my library which I use to store bookseller catalogues.

Ah, moibiblio, you mention another dilemma. Magazines, catalogs, brochures, and zines are yet another category requiring creative storage.

I have 35 (gulp!) wood magazine holders stuffed. And I cull through them 3 times a year. And I have a large zine collection that fills 3 large paper boxes (IKEA) next to my dresser.

I knocked over a book pile in my living room today and started a huge reorganization project, as if a new configuration, surely, would help me cope with the quantity. Same amount, different look.

I looked under my bed as Melannen suggested and I do have room for one under bed box that will serve as a home to a few dozen paperbacks.