How to Build an In-Home Library

Build the Library of Your Dreams

Every bookworm dreams of having their own personal library, the perfect place to escape to new worlds between the pages of a book. Building a library in your home isn’t as difficult as you may think!

1. Choose your spot

Choosing where you want your library to be in your house may be one of the most important parts of building the library. Typically, people like to choose rooms in their home that are not loud or usually have a lot of people running around it. A library can go anywhere in your home, from a bedroom to a home office to a spare room that’s just waiting to be utilized. Try to pick a room with some natural light! However, try not to use a basement for your library. Basements are heavy with humidity, which can lead to mold and bugs, and are prone to flooding. Both are not good for keeping your books in good condition!

2. Choose shelving

This depends on how many books you have and how many you plan on displaying. Make sure the spot that you have chosen has enough space for all your books! Floor-to-ceiling shelves are best for people who have a large collection of books. If you budget allows, you can put up built-in shelves. Smaller collections lend themselves to freestanding bookcases or floating shelves. You can even use a combination of different shelf types! Find what works best for you and get to work!

3. Support your floors

Any booklover knows how heavy books can get. Like anything, your floor has a weight limit. Make sure they can fully support the weight of your books and shelves before you start building your library. If the weight is too much, your floor can sag or give way. Make sure to consult a general contractor for help.

4. Set the mood

How do you want to feel when you’re in your library? Is there a certain ambiance you want to feel? Would you rather be calm and relaxed, or cheery? The colors you pick for the room will help to set the ambiance.

5. A place to sit

After you’ve chosen what color to paint your library, it’s time to start making decisions on furniture. Look at your space. You don’t read standing up, and even a small room can have a full set of furniture. Do you want chairs or a sofa? How about tables? Make sure that you have enough light in your room – either overhead or table lamps. After all, natural light is great, but it doesn’t help if you want to read at night!

6. Maximize shelf space

Utilize the height in your room if you’re worried that all your books won’t fit into one spot. Floor-to-ceiling shelving does wonders for those with a large collection and a smaller storage space. Additionally, consider getting furniture with built-in storage, such as a window seat or a table with storage shelves. That way, you’re killing two birds with one stone!

Make sure your shelves will last the long haul by buying proper shelves. A 36” long shelf should be at least 1” thick, thicker if the shelf is longer. This will prevent the shelves from sagging under the weight of your books.

7. Organize your library

There’s no wrong way to organize your books. And the best part of having your own library is that you can reorganize them as many times as you want! Consider organizing your books by author, title, or even by color! Find what works best for you.

8. How to clean your books

Like anything, books collect dust as they sit. Remove books before cleaning a shelf. To clean the shelves, use a soft cloth and some polish. Wipe down books with a microfiber cloth as you put them back on the shelf.