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How wide should a bookshelf be?

How wide should a bookshelf be?

Standard bookshelf width is 31 inches and roughly 12 inches deep. However, it’s not uncommon for bookshelves to be built 36 inches wide. Keep in mind bookshelves come in many different shapes and sizes. Bookshelves can be tall and narrow or short and wide.

What’s the difference between a bookcase and a bookshelf?

A bookcase is a close-sided unit that literally encases books and is designed to sit on the floor, while a bookshelf does not have encased ends and is usually designed to hang on a wall. Bookcases tend to be more traditional than bookshelves and are often installed as permanent recessed fixtures in a home.

How wide is a library bookshelf?

The standard width is 31 inches. The depth will range from 12 to 13 inches. However, it’s not hard to find a two-shelf bookcase as tall as 36 inches. Two-shelf bookcases are the right size for small book collections, or to serve as bookcases dedicated to encyclopedias and large photographic books.

How wide can a bookshelf be without sagging?

Bookshelf width is typically no more than 12 inches. If the space is limited, the shelf can be reduced to 9 inches. Single bookcase units with two sides, top and bottom should be no wider than 36 inches without a center support.

What is barrister bookcase?

A barrister’s bookcase is a modular piece of furniture. The style was marketed as an “elastic bookcase” by Cincinnati based manufacturer Globe Wernicke in 1898. Each shelf is a unique stand-alone element having a glass door with an up-and-over mechanism.

How do I choose a bookshelf?

How to Choose a Bookcase

  1. Get the look of built-ins. Create a built-in look with bookcases by using multiple together to create a unit.
  2. Add storage and function. We know that function in a small space is important, but you don’t have to sacrifice style to get it!
  3. Think outside the box.

How deep should a bookcase be?

A freestanding bookcase should be at least 10 – 12 inches deep. Each shelf should allow 8 – 12 inches of height for optimum storage. When choosing or building your bookcase, consider how many and what size of books you’re looking to store.

How deep should a built in bookshelf be?

How Deep Should Built in Shelves Be? Take stock of what you’ll be storing on them: trim travel guides or oversize art books, bulky board games or lidded baskets, collectibles large or small. Most shelves are built a minimum of 11 to 12 inches deep, but this is your chance to customize: Go for it!

How do you fit a bookshelf in a small space?

It’s Surprisingly Hard to Squeeze a Bookcase into a Small Living Room, but These 8 Spaces Prove It Can Be Done

  1. Slab-style bookshelves over sofas.
  2. Floating bookshelves in nooks.
  3. Stack it up in a corner.
  4. Make use of your radiator.
  5. Create a floating horizontal unit.
  6. Work your doorway.
  7. Divide and conquer.
  8. Stacks over a sideboard.

Do plywood shelves sag?

A 30” wide adjustable shelf that is 10” deep, made of any of these three (plywood, poplar, pine) materials, will have an acceptable sag for a load of up to 35# per foot, or about 90# for the entire shelf.

What is the best wood to make a bookcase?

Pine, birch and oak are three common woods used for building homemade bookshelves.

  • Pine plywood is a lightweight softwood that is inexpensive. However, it is prone to knots and splitting.
  • Birch plywood is a hardwood.
  • Oak plywood is a heavy hardwood that lends a rustic and sturdy charm.

What companies made barrister bookcases?

The barrister style was marketed as an “elastic bookcase” by furniture manufacturer Globe Wernicke in 1898. Originally based in Cincinnati, the company also established factories in Canada, France, Germany and the UK.

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