What to do when your bookshelf overflows

SOS! Send help! My bookshelf is about to overflow! Said every bookworm ever as they despaired over where to store their “excess” books. I’ve done a little searching online, and today I present a few different options for when your space is running out. If you have any unique ideas or experiences, I’d love to hear all about them! →

SOS! Send help urgently! My bookshelf is about to overflow! This is a cry that can be heard from most bookworms at some point during their life…and it is one that will be uttered from my lips very shortly. I’ve been in a mad dash trying to figure out what I’m going to do with myself and, more importantly, my books, when that last bit of space runs out.

Where have I turned in my time of need? To Google, of course! I’d like to share with you some of the methods I’ve discovered online for creating space for book storage, even when said space is limited. All images in this post, as well as a handful more, have been compiled on my Pinterest (see board below). If you have any other ideas, I’d love to hear all about them!

ON THE WALL

Even if you have no floor space where you can put a bookcase, there’s probably a patch of bare wall where some kind of shelving could be mounted. From floating shelves to a variety of more quirky and creative designs, the opportunities are endless!

NEAR THE CEILING

If you take a look around the place, no doubt you’ll notice that there are very few things that reach all the way to the ceiling. Which means that there may be a place to put a nice long shelf! Of course, access may be an issue, but that’s a problem for later…

BEHIND THE DOOR

You’d be surprised by how much you can fit in the small space behind a door. I currently have my entire shoe collection hanging from a wall-mounted rack, but there are a variety of shelf types that could hide your book collection in plain sight!

UNDER THE STAIRS

Now, I don’t actually have indoor stairs where I live, but there are SO MANY things you can do with stair storage. I make no comment on how much it might cost to make such adjustments to your staircase, but these are BOOKS we’re talking about. It’s…worth it?

IN THE CORNER

Do you have a small piece of corner spare? Or a corner space between two doors where there is absolutely nothing at all? Corners are criminally underused, so if yours isn’t filled then I definitely recommend you check out some of the options shown below!

ALONG THE HALLWAY

Hallways have so much potential…especially if you don’t have any artwork etc. hanging from the walls. Floating and/or wall-mounted shelves could work so well to store books along a hallway. Even windows don’t need to stop you if you use shorter-length shelves!

STACK ‘EM UP

And look, if worst comes to worst, you can just stack your excess books up in pretty-looking piles around your house. Under tables, beside chairs, even in an empty fireplace provided it’s not being used. With stacks of tomes about the place, you can wear your bookworm badge with pride!

What would you do if your bookshelf overflowed? Do you have any weird and wonderful ideas? Which of the above is your favourite?