Favourite five: Unusual bookcases

One of my friends once told me that there are commonly accepted ratios to be found in all aspects of home life. For example, you should never have more cats than people in a house. This all gets thrown out of the window when it comes to belongings, especially with the current anti-minimalist "cutesy clutter" fad thats been taking over. I certainly have more books than I really need and they're not only in the floor to ceiling bookshelves but also piled up in a haphazard manner wherever I can find floor space. So getting organised is something that I should probably make a priority. With that in mind, I've fished about for a few unusual bookshelves. I don't really have space for any of them except the ceiling shelves but they're interesting to use as blueprints for your own DIY as I think most of these wouldn't be too hard to put together!

Classic choice: Well, maybe not exactly classic but certainly the most realistic for those of us living in small spaces. The incomparable Apartment Therapy posted this a while ago and I've been saving the picture. It might make a small room look cramped if the ceiling were low but who cares? You'd be literally surrounded by books!

Cute choice: The "Stair-case" bookshelf by Danny Kuo is a godsend for those of us that are somewhat vertically challenged. This is certainly more attractive than the small cheap aluminium stepladder I keep to get to my top shelves!


Modern choice: This is, without a doubt, the best of the bunch. Italian designer Antonio Lupi has found a topic close to my heart (reading in the bath) and made it just a little bit easier and more stylish. Decisions, decisions, would I sacrifice the free-standing tub I've always craved in my dream house for this instead?
Quirky choice: British designer Ron Arad's "America" bookshelf would make a fantastic feature in an office. And that's a good thing too, because at €650,000, there would be very little money left over for other furniture.
Crafted choice: Hand-hollowed staircase bookshelves by Levitate Architects in London. The ideal space-saving solution for a small house or apartment although the steps might be a little tall. How original though, walking up these stairs would feel like passing through a literary cocoon!