It's time for some bookcases

After spending almost an year wondering what bookcases to get to accommodate all the books around the house, the problem resolved itself and I have way too smaller number now... (has something to do with moving half a world away from home). However it already grows... so this time I am getting the shelves/cases before the apartment get filled with books :)

So - recommendations?

I tend to accumulate a lot of heavy books - collected comics(these reprints on glossy heavy paper make me nuts sometimes but that's another story...) and history books usually. Add to that the occasional fine press book (or 10) which are pretty heavy sometimes, regular hardcovers and a tone of small paperbacks (all those fantasy and mystery series...). So I guess I need something sturdy enough for the heavy books (low shelves, I know)...

I have "Billy" bookcases from IKEA, and so far I have had no problem with them. I have the 202 cm tall ones that are 80 cm wide. And as you note I stack my heavy books at the lower shelves in order to make it more sturdy.

I am renting and securing to the wall may not be really the option... and I am a bit worried for the high one falling down. But then... maybe one of the shorter ones?

thanks for the recommendation :)

They usually don't really need to be secured to the wall. As long as the floor is reasonably level, and you take care not to put the heavy stuff high up.

(I think that warning is mostly about avoiding liability claims).

I put a 2 shims under the front of each bookcase (on each front side) and that tips it slightly to the back to help minimize the "falling forward" that bookcases want to do on uneven (& even) floors.

Shims are wonderful!!

If you live in an area where earthquakes are likely, it can be very important to secure them. If you have small to medium sized children who will see a ladder when they look at shelves, it is even more important.

I am not sure I can say how level my floor is before I start putting furniture on it. At least it is some type of hardwood and not a carpet :)

After googling shims, I think that's probably a good idea :) Thanks :)

>6 Helenoel:
No children, no pets. :) The worst
I am in Phoenix - not too earthquaky... I think.

I've had various combinations of Billys over the years and I've never had any gravito-bookcasial problems.

How hard is to assemble the Billys? I am not exactly the most handy person when we talk about furniture assembling and similar activities - not exactly helpless but not exactly savvy either:)

PS: No IKEA back in Bulgaria (they are building the first one actually) so even if that sounds as a stupid question, please bear with me.

Annie, I don't think that they are difficult. and someone somewhere has probably made a video of assembling a Billy or any of the other many assemble it yourself bookcases. I've assembled many many many bookcases, desks, entertainment centers, tables, etc.

just be patient with yourself & you'll do fine.

Yeah, just don't panic and you'll probably be fine. It's mostly just screwing some bolts in, in the right order, with a tool they supply along with the furniture.

Their instruction leaflets can be a bit iffy though (not sure if that's true for the US as well, but certainly their Dutch translations).

>10 AnnieMod: Here ya go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbmT1qpRRq0

The instruction leaflets are mostly pictures, not much writing, so that they are as language-independent as possible. You will need to supply screwdrivers (both Philips and slot heads) and a hammer; everything else is included.

I have built quite a few of them, most recently in August of this year. :-)

I found them quite easy to build, though its probably good to have a friend to help you.

Very true, especially for the moving-into-position phase!

Yeah, and holding those long side boards in position while you're also doing the assembling can be a pain too.

Dear AnnieMod,

Just follow each step in the order they say,
Check each part to note the "front/back/left/right" alignment.
And NO Vodka during assembly.

I have broken each of the above suggestions and the worst that happened
was there was some unbolting and re-bolting. :-)

Oh yes and some "mild coarse language..."

Also, pay close attention to the arrangement of the little circles that indicate holes. It is the best guide to which piece is which.

Here's a story about a book shelving crisis and the e-book reconsidered.
http://www.themorningnews.org/archives/personal_essays/i_reader.php

I don't drink vodka anyway...:)

OK - will probably see how I will deal with one of those... Oh, the mild language is a given... in a few languages if I start getting really agitated (at which point I suspect I will simply leave all for a few hours) :)

varielle,

I do not oppose e-books - I am getting myself a kindle for Christmas. But it won't work for fine editions. Or my history books. Or comics. Or my favorite authors. Or the bag of books I got simply because I was in a bookstore and really liked them :) So I still need shelves. :)

Me either. People keep suggesting that I need a kindle or a nook for Xmas and I keep telling them I would return it. I think they want the space my books are using.

Kindle/Nook is really useful when you travel -- and I do travel quite a lot on business. So that's why I am getting one - at least to help a bit with the luggage. Besides that might help with my "let's try a new series" urges - I like reading series and I am always on the lookout for a new one. And I end up with 30 "Book 1 of" on my shelves. Or with my fascination with new authors. :)

Oh well - both things can work together - it's all about the reading after all :) But it might be worth mentioning that I had not even started looking at sofas for my apartment and I already plan the bookcases :)

Just an update here -- 2 Billies all assembled (just put the last shelf in place) and ready to be filled with books.The first one was kinda hard to assemble (did not have anyone to help and took me a while to figure out the easiest way for some of the things - the second one was really easy. :)

I am happy now

Yay! Will you share a picture when they are happily filled?

I have finally posted pictures of my filled Billies on my profile page!

Oooooh!

As soon as I grab a camera -- don't have one yet (my old one ended up in one of the "go at Mom's" boxes instead of my backpack. Oh well.

>27 Belladonna1975:

Nice :)

I’m looking for a small bookcase, 2 or 3 shelves. Preferably dark wood and ornamental because it’s for an entryway. Everything I’ve found looks like it’s meant for a business office or otherwise industrial/sterile looking. I’ve tried the thrift shops. Furniture stores seem to consider nice bookcases to be a thing from a bygone age and don’t stock anything. 😞Suggestions?

>31 varielle: have you tried your local Craigslist? Ours often contains wacky furniture items.

>31 varielle:, when we moved into this home in Feb. 2021, we needed to supplement the bookcases we had. Some we had custom built by a cabinet maker to match the style of most of the cases we had.

But we also looked at Facebook Marketplace for nearby sellers of cases. Several had barrister-style cases in several sizes. Many were about 4 feet tall and about 1 foot deep. One was smaller and shallower for a short hallway we have. The total hight is perhaps 30 inches.

The 1980s barrister replica cases are decently made and are generally not very expensive. But it is hit or miss in finding something near you at a good price.

James
_____

I can't believe I got a picture posted...So here's some bookshelfs of Western Americana. Mostly vintage 1800-1900. I'll try dropping a shelf photo for a little more detail. My bookcases are pretty random and few match. These 2 happen to...

>33 Keeline: Thank you. That’s exactly the right size.

>36 varielle:, that smaller case was a bonus opportunity to purchase when we went out for another one we found on Facebook Marketplace. They mentioned having another in the storage unit of their mobile home. The seller was clearing out items of an antique seller who had sold at antique malls. The place was about an hour's drive from our home. The regular-sized barrister replica was about $100. The smaller one was a very good deal at $25. Usually they are much more.

I find that once you show interest in one barrister case listing, Facebook Marketplace makes a point of showing you more — for years afterward. I don't know where eles I'd put them without making things overly crowded. But in Feb. 2021 we were looking to fill the new house that was double the size of our previous home.

James

>37 Keeline: And the originals come apart and stack so handily. I’ve bought them for $100 or less.

>38 2wonderY: , the cheapest vintage barrister we could find was about $500. It's a Lundstrom from about 120 years ago. It is a good home for our Tom Swift books (1910-19141).

James

>39 Keeline: I’m sure it’s geographical. Golden oak furniture just isn’t in great demand in my neck of the woods; though it was in the 1980-90s. Dealers will drive through with trailers to scoop up these treasures and sell them to their coastal clients.