8 Creative Ways to Store Books (Even if You're Short on Space)

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I’m most definitely a Book Person. I don’t just mean that I love reading—I love physical books. I could never have an e-reader because, for me, half the fun of reading is turning each page. And yes, I find the smell of old books to be lovely and nostalgic.

However, as I’ve written about before, I live in an apartment with minimal storage space. I try to keep my book acquisition to a minimum by patronizing my local library and borrowing from friends, but every once in a while, I find myself in a bookstore, and naturally, I have to buy something.

So, what’s there to do when you have too many books and not enough space? You have to get crafty! Our fellow Book People on Pinterest have quite a few creative ideas on how to store books when you can’t fit a bookcase in a more traditional way—here are some of our favorites.

A bench or cube organizer at the end of your bed is the perfect spot to store all the books in your “to-read” pile. The rustic yet minimal look of this bedroom is quite charming (and we spy an additional stack of books in the corner), but you could use this same idea with any decor style. If you want to take it even further, there are bookcase headboards you can buy, as well.

Most homes have little ledges here and there, whether it’s on the staircase, above cabinetry, or elsewhere. Many people display little knick knacks on these surfaces, but you can also use them as a makeshift bookshelf. Just be sure you choose books that will fit comfortably on the ledge so no one gets bonked in the head by falling novels.

We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again: The upper portion of your walls is probably being neglected. Many people leave this area empty, but it’s the perfect spot to install a long shelf (or two) and line up all your favorite books. We love how this room has several shelves installed along the ceiling and a bare wall underneath—it allows plenty of storage space without feeling cluttered.

If you have a bench in your entryway or living room, you can always store books under it (unless you have pets that will ruin your beloved novels, then definitely don’t put them down low.) We’re crushing on this makeshift bench and all of the big coffee-table books it houses. Very cool and eclectic.

Look at the corner of your living room—do you just have a plant or chair placed there? You can do more with that unused space and use it to house a couple of bookcases. IKEA has a simple corner bookcase that provides ample storage space. Bonus points if you find extra-tall bookcases that reach all the way to the ceiling.

Instead of setting up a purely decorative hallway table, why not create a hallway bookcase? We love the idea of having a half-height shelving unit running the whole length of the hallway, housing all of your favorite novels for guests to fawn over. Plus, this convenient height will allow you to simultaneously display other things, like plants, artwork, and candles. Win-win.

When all else fails, you can always use stacks of books as purposeful decor. This combination of books, plants, and windows makes for quite the picturesque scene, especially if you’re into the whole “backward book” trend. If your books are bigger and/or hardcover, you can even use them as a mini side table or plant stand. (Just make sure your plants don’t leak.)

The big takeaway of this article is that pretty much any empty space can be reimagined to house your precious collection of books. Even a small wall like this can house a few shelves that will allow you to store a couple dozen books. Then, the problem becomes trying not to buy any more...

Do you have a clever way to store your books? Let us know below!