Styling a bookcase is a great opportunity to get creative and add personality to your space. Start by placing larger, heavier books at the bottom to anchor the bookcase, and mix things up by arranging some books vertically and others horizontally. Consider using bookends to break up larger collections, and leave some space between books to keep them accessible and avoid a crowded look. Varying the sizes, textures, and colours of book spines will add visual interest, while incorporating decorative items like plants or photos can bring extra depth and style to the overall display.

How to organise a bookcase is a personal choice and one that can be practical or stylistic. You can organise your bookcase by genre or subject matter, alphabetically or by size and colour. Experiment with whatever makes the most practical sense to you as that is likely to be the best option for your home.

For open spaces on living room shelves, it’s a great idea to use baskets, decorative boxes or artwork to fill the gaps. This helps define areas within the shelf and adds visual interest.

As full bookshelves can be extremely heavy, yes, it’s wise to anchor your bookshelf by placing the heaviest and largest books on the bottom shelves.

What are the best materials for durable bookshelves? Solid hardwood timbers such as American Oak or Australian Messmate are the best and most durable materials for bookshelves. These types of wood are resistant to scratching and hard-wearing.