Designing a Home Library
Updated: Oct 5
A home library can take many forms. It might occupy an entire room, form part of a study or living space, or simply make better use of a wall that would otherwise have little purpose.
The starting point for us is usually the collection itself and the room it needs to sit within. The number and size of books, the height of the space, existing architectural details and whether other functions need to be incorporated all influence the design.
From there, the proportions of the cabinetry, materials, lighting and smaller details can be developed around the particular project.
Starting with the books
Books vary considerably in size, and that has a surprisingly large influence on the design of a library.
A collection made up predominantly of novels requires different shelving from one containing large art and reference books. Rather than spacing every shelf equally, we can vary the heights to suit the collection while maintaining sensible proportions across the elevation.
Shelf depth matters too. Making shelves unnecessarily deep takes space from the room and can leave smaller books sitting awkwardly against the back.
For larger collections, we also consider how the shelving will be used over time, allowing some capacity for books to be added rather than designing only around what is there today.
Working with the room
Libraries tend to occupy a substantial amount of wall space, so their relationship with the architecture is particularly important.
In period properties, existing cornices, skirting, fireplaces, doors and windows can provide useful reference points for the proportions of the cabinetry. A traditional library might incorporate these details quite closely, while a contemporary scheme may deliberately use simpler junctions.
Ceiling height also has an effect. Full-height shelving can make good use of a tall room, but the divisions and shelf spacing need to prevent a large elevation from becoming too uniform.
Sometimes leaving areas open is just as important as deciding where to put the shelves.
More than book storage
Libraries often need to accommodate more than books.
Closed cupboards at low level can provide storage for items that don't need to be on display. Drawers can be incorporated for smaller objects, while desks, televisions, drinks cabinets and other equipment can form part of the same piece of furniture.
At our Ellington project, for example, the library also incorporates a stone worktop and concealed sink alongside the pippy oak cabinetry.
Combining these different uses successfully usually depends on establishing a clear overall structure first, rather than treating each requirement as a separate addition.
Painted or timber
The choice between painted cabinetry and natural timber can change the character of a library considerably.
Painted furniture can relate closely to the architecture of a room, particularly where colours are drawn from existing walls, doors or mouldings. It also allows quite traditional cabinetry to sit relatively quietly within an interior.
Timber brings its own variation through grain and colour. Oak, walnut and more characterful veneers such as pippy oak can become a stronger part of the room.
Neither approach determines whether a library feels traditional or contemporary. Much of that comes from the proportions, construction and detailing.
Shelves and their proportions
A long shelf carrying a considerable weight of books needs to be designed differently from a short display shelf.
Material thickness, span and construction all affect how a shelf performs. Longer shelves may require additional support or reinforcement, particularly where the design calls for relatively slim sections.
Vertical divisions can provide support while also establishing a rhythm across a large wall of cabinetry.
These are practical decisions, but they have a significant effect on the appearance of the finished library.
Integrated lighting
Lighting can be particularly effective within a library, but it works best when considered before the cabinetry is made.
Cables, drivers and channels can then be incorporated into the furniture rather than added afterwards.
Depending on the project, lighting might be concealed within shelves, positioned above particular sections or used to illuminate objects as well as books.
The colour and intensity of the light matter too. The aim is generally to complement the room rather than make the shelving itself the brightest element within it.
Library ladders
A ladder can be useful where shelving extends beyond comfortable reach, particularly in rooms with high ceilings.
We've made libraries with both removable and rail-mounted ladders, usually in timber chosen to work with the surrounding cabinetry.
As well as the ladder itself, its position when not in use needs to be considered. It shouldn't obstruct doors, circulation or frequently used storage simply because it looks appropriate against the shelves.
Where a ladder is included, it needs to be considered as a working part of the library from the beginning.
Making the details work together
Handles, hinges, shelf edges, lighting and the junctions between cabinetry and the building all contribute to the finished result.
Individually, these can be quite small decisions. Collectively, they determine whether a large piece of fitted furniture feels coherent.
The same applies to hardware. Brass or bronze fittings can work particularly well with painted cabinetry and natural timber, but their finish and scale need to suit the rest of the room.
We tend to make these decisions as the design develops rather than selecting them independently at the end.
Different approaches to the same idea
Our library projects vary considerably.
The Bickenhall library in Marylebone uses traditional painted cabinetry, floor-to-ceiling shelving and an oak ladder. Rothwell in Primrose Hill takes a similarly traditional approach but has its own proportions and architectural setting.
Bromley combines painted cabinetry with a walnut library ladder, while Ellington uses pippy oak, floating shelves and integrated lighting for a much more contemporary result.
They perform broadly the same function, but there is no reason for them to look the same.
Designed for the collection and the house
A home library needs to store books properly, but that is only part of the job.
It also occupies a significant place within a room and, in many cases, becomes part of the architecture itself.
Getting the practical elements right first gives us much more freedom with everything else. The result can then respond to the collection, the building and the wider interior rather than following a predetermined library design.
You can see more examples of our libraries and fitted furniture within our bespoke furniture projects.
Discuss a project
If you're considering a bespoke kitchen, fitted furniture or joinery project, please get in touch. We'd be happy to discuss the space, what you have in mind and how we might approach it.
