Many years ago, before the advent of the printing press, books were written by hand and were very much the preserve of the wealthy. These books would be displayed on open shelving, as a symbol of status and prosperity.
Interestingly, books were not displayed with their spines outward, as titles were not written on the spine, but were rather inscribed onto a narrow piece of leather or parchment running around the book, with which to close it. It wasn’t until the arrival of printing that books began to bear the title on the spine, and so began to be arranged as we recognise them today, with spines outward.
No longer only within the means of the affluent, books are now easily accessible and most homes will have a need for book storage of some kind or another. Glazed bookcases will offer some protection to your collection and can give a more formal appearance. Open shelving offers the opportunity to showcase your literary tastes.
It is fascinating to browse someone’s book collection, and may be quite telling of their interests and values. Floating shelves, such as the ones we sell here at BiGDUG, make an attractive design choice when arranged with a few carefully-chosen volumes. If, however, you have a weightier collection, you will need to consider something more substantial.
Once you have decided which style of storage you prefer, there are many choices of material to consider. Wooden bookshelves are traditional, whereas modern materials, such as glass, will give a more contemporary feel to your collection. Although they can now be bought very inexpensively, the value of books should not be overlooked and, as such, deserve to be given pride of place in every modern home.
