Library walls
Every book on show, from the skirting to the ceiling
A library wall turns a collection into the best-looking thing in the room. Here's how to size it so the shelves suit your books and stay straight.
The parts of a library wall
More than shelves
Start with the shelving, then add the pieces that make it a room you want to sit in.
Shelves to the ceiling
No dusty gap at the top, and space for the books you haven't bought yet.
A ladder rail
For walls over about 2,600 mm, so the top shelf isn't just for show.
Cupboards below
Deeper base cupboards at about 400 mm hide the files, the games and the clutter.
Lit shelves
Slim LED strips that light the spines, not your eyes.
Around a door
Shelving that wraps over a doorway or window frames it.
A desk in the middle
A worktop set into the shelving, with knee space and a socket within reach.
Home officesHow deep, how tall? Shelf sizes for real books
Measure a few of your tallest and deepest books. Most collections fit one of these.
| What you're shelving | Shelf depth | Clear height between shelves |
|---|---|---|
| Paperbacks | 200–250 mm | 220–250 mm |
| Novels and everyday hardbacks | 250–300 mm | 280–320 mm |
| Art, cookery and coffee-table books | 300–350 mm | 350–400 mm |
| Vinyl records (315 mm sleeves) | 330–350 mm | 340–350 mm |
| Magazine files and box files | 300 mm | 330 mm |
As a guide, a metre of shelf holds roughly 30–40 hardbacks. Leave about a fifth of the shelves free for new books and the odd plant.
How you'll use it
Somewhere to get lost for an afternoon.
A chair, a lamp and every book you own within reach. A library wall makes a corner of the living room, the landing or a spare bedroom into a place to read, think or work in peace.
The books you love sit at eye level. The ones you're keeping for someday go up top.
Built from these pieces
Each bay is made to your wall's width and height, then joined into one continuous run.
Library bay
800 × 2400 × 300 mm
Glazed bay
600 × 2400 × 350 mm
Deep drawer base
800 × 750 × 400 mm
Example sizes in millimetres. Every unit is made to your measurements.
Three details worth planning early
Reaching the top
Ladders and rails
On tall walls, a rail-mounted library ladder makes the top shelves usable. Allow about 600 mm of clear floor where it stands. We'll talk through ladder options and fixings at the design stage.
Light
Shelves that glow after dark
LED strips set into the shelf edges or uprights, switched by a sensor. We mark every LED and socket position on the drawings, and a qualified electrician fits and connects them.
Work
A desk niche
A worktop at about 740 mm high and 500–600 mm deep, with at least 800 mm of knee space. Shelves carry on overhead, so the desk reads as part of the wall.
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Cable holes and a tray under the desk
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A drawer for the everyday things
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Lighting under the shelf above
Before you plan your library wall
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Count your books in metresLine them up on the floor and measure. Then add a fifth.
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Find the tallest onesThey set the height of at least one shelf.
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Check what the wall is made ofBrick, block or stud partition. Loaded shelves need fixings to suit, and tall units are always fixed to the wall.
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Note radiators, sockets and switchesWe design around them or plan new positions with your electrician.
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Look upCoving, a picture rail or a sloping ceiling all change how the top of the wall is finished.
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Think about the lightSun on book spines fades them. A wall facing the window may need doors or glass on some bays.
Free design
Send us the wall you want to fill
A photo, a rough width and height, and roughly how many books. We'll send back a library design and a price range, free.
Free guide
Get the free planning guide
Measuring, styles, finishes and how to plan your budget, in one short guide. Then the odd email with ideas worth stealing.
Questions people ask
Anything else, send us a message and we'll talk it through.
Will long shelves sag under books?
Books are heavy, so we keep shelf spans short enough for the load, or use a thicker shelf with a support. That's planned into the drawings before anything is made.
Are the shelves adjustable?
Most can be. We usually fix a few shelves for strength and make the rest adjustable, so the wall can change with your collection.
Can a library wall go on a landing or up the stairs?
A landing, yes, as long as it leaves a clear way through. Shelving that steps up a staircase is a bigger design job, so send us photos and we'll tell you what's possible.
Which finishes suit a library?
Walnut and smoked oak feel classic. Light oak keeps a small room bright. Deep colours such as midnight navy or forest green make the books stand out. See the finishes.
Keep exploring
Alcove units Home offices Walnut finishes Glass and lighting Window seats