A modern bookcase does far more than hold books. In most UK homes it is the piece that turns a blank wall, an awkward corner or an open-plan room into somewhere that feels finished. It holds plants, photographs, a record player, the router you would rather not see, and yes, a few paperbacks too.

This guide walks through the main types of modern bookcase we make at Decortie, when each one makes sense, and how to pick a size that suits a typical British living room, bedroom, hallway or home office. Every piece mentioned is made in our own factory from engineered wood with a smooth melamine finish, arrives flat-packed, and is delivered free to UK mainland addresses.

What makes a bookcase "modern" rather than traditional?

Traditional bookcases are boxes: a solid back, two sides, evenly spaced shelves and often a cornice on top. Modern bookcases tend to break that box apart. You will see open backs, staggered or asymmetric compartments, angled shelves, floating wall units and pieces designed to be seen from both sides.

The practical benefits follow from the look. An open-backed unit lets light through, so a tall bookcase feels lighter in a small room. Asymmetric compartments give you tall gaps for oversized books or a vase and shorter gaps for paperbacks. And because the designs rely on clean geometry rather than mouldings, they sit comfortably next to almost any sofa, TV unit or sideboard.

Colour matters as much as shape. White and light oak finishes keep a room airy; anthracite, walnut and mocha tones add weight and contrast. Many of our units come in two-tone combinations so the shelving itself becomes part of the decor.

Which type of modern bookcase suits your room?

Most people searching for a modern bookcase actually want one of four things: a tall floor-standing unit, a corner bookcase, a room divider, or a wall-mounted shelf unit. Here is how they compare.

Why choose a tall modern bookcase?

If floor space is tight, go up rather than out. A tall bookcase around 160 to 175cm high gives you five or six levels of storage while taking roughly the same footprint as a side table. It also draws the eye upwards, which makes lower ceilings feel taller.

The Karmato Modern Bookcase 168.5cm is a good example: a slim, staggered design that works as a single statement piece or in a pair either side of a chimney breast. The Multi Bookcase 167cm takes a similar height but uses mixed compartment sizes, so you get somewhere for tall art books and somewhere for small decorative pieces. For a slightly taller, more architectural look, the Soto Bookcase 173cm and the Onda Bookcase 166cm both use open, light-filled frames that suit a modern living room or home office.

How tall is too tall?

Measure your ceiling height and leave a comfortable gap above the unit. In a typical UK home with ceilings around 2.3 to 2.4 metres, anything up to about 180cm sits well without looking crammed in. Remember to allow for skirting boards, which can push a floor-standing unit slightly away from the wall; open-backed designs are more forgiving here.

Where does a corner bookcase work best?

Corners are the most under-used part of most rooms. A corner bookcase turns that dead space into display and storage without touching the main walls you need for a sofa, bed or TV unit.

The Nati Modern Corner Bookcase 161cm is our most popular corner unit: a tall, open frame that wraps around the corner so you can see items from both walls. The Piano Corner Bookcase 158.9cm has a lighter, more sculptural feel and is one of the most affordable ways to fill a corner. If you want something that can move between corner and freestanding use, the Molly Corner Multipurpose Bookcase No.4 179cm is the tallest of the group and doubles as a room separator.

What about wall-mounted corner shelving?

In bedrooms and hallways where the floor needs to stay clear, a wall-mounted corner unit does the same job at eye level. The Luksa Corner Wall Mounted Bookcase 60cm and the Ring Corner Wall Mounted Bookcase 60cm are compact, two-sided corner shelves that suit a reading nook, a child's bedroom or the space above a desk.

How do you use a bookcase as a room divider?

Open-plan living is common in newer UK flats and extensions, and the question we hear most is how to create zones without building walls. An open-backed bookcase is the answer: it gives you a visual boundary and storage on both sides while letting light and conversation pass through.

The Lift Separator Bookcase 151cm is built specifically for this. It has no back panel, so it looks finished from the sofa side and the dining side. The Tapi Bookcase Set of 2 at 159cm gives you two matching units you can place side by side for a wider screen, or split between two rooms. For a lower divider that keeps sightlines open, the Molly Corner Multipurpose Bookcase No.3 at 89cm works well behind a sofa or beside a desk.

Room divider placement tips

Leave at least a comfortable walkway on the side you pass most often. Put heavier items on the lower shelves and keep the upper compartments lighter and more open so the divider does not feel like a wall. Mixing a few closed storage boxes with open display pieces gives you somewhere to hide cables and paperwork.

When is a wall-mounted bookcase the better choice?

If you rent, have a small bedroom, or simply want a cleaner floor, a wall-mounted bookcase keeps everything off the ground and makes hoovering easy. It also lets you position shelving exactly where you need it, for example above a sideboard or desk.

The Halic Wall Mounted Bookcase 150cm is a wide, low-profile display unit that suits the wall above a sofa or a console table. The Tibet Wall Shelf Unit 119cm is a floating bookcase with a more compact footprint that works well in bedrooms and hallways. For something more graphic, the Beads Wall Mounted Bookcase arranges its compartments in a playful pattern and looks good even when half empty.

We covered the wider benefits of getting furniture off the floor in our earlier article on the advantages of wall-mounted furniture.

Do you need a bookcase with doors?

Open shelving looks great in photographs, but real homes accumulate paperwork, chargers, board games and toys. A bookcase with doors gives you the best of both: open compartments for the things you want to see and cupboards for the things you do not.

The Key Bookcase 5 Door Storage Cabinet is our main closed-storage option. Five doors hide the clutter while the open shelves keep the design light. It is a strong choice for a hallway, a family living room or a home office where you need to store files without the room looking like an office.

Low bookcases and modular units

Not every room needs height. Under a window, behind a sofa or along a landing, a low bookcase keeps storage below eye level. The Combayn Big Low Bookcase and its smaller sibling are modular, so you can line up two or three for a long run of storage that doubles as a display ledge. The Bolton Mini Bookcase suits a child's room or a small home office.

How do you style a modern bookcase so it does not look cluttered?

A few simple habits make a big difference:

• Fill roughly two thirds of the compartments and leave the rest empty. Empty space is part of the design.
• Mix orientations: stack some books horizontally and stand others upright to create natural gaps for objects.
• Group items in threes with different heights, for example a plant, a framed photo and a small ceramic piece.
• Repeat one or two colours across the shelves to tie everything together.
• Keep the heaviest and least attractive items low, ideally in closed storage or boxes.

If your style leans towards the calm, considered look that is popular in 2026, our piece on midimalism explains how to balance display and restraint.

Which modern bookcase should you buy?

As a quick rule of thumb: choose a tall unit such as the Karmato or Multi for a main living room wall, a corner bookcase like the Nati or Piano when wall space is scarce, the Lift Separator or Tapi set for open-plan zoning, a wall-mounted Halic or Tibet for bedrooms and hallways, and the Key cabinet when you need doors. You can browse the full range in our bookcases and shelves collection, or see how they pair with the rest of the living room collection.

If you would rather see the finishes in person, our Cheshire showroom in Risley (WA3 6QU) has free parking and is open Monday to Friday 8:30 to 16:30 and Saturday 9:30 to 15:30. Details are on the showroom page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best bookcase for a small living room?
A tall, narrow bookcase usually works best because it uses vertical space instead of floor space. Corner bookcases such as the Nati or Piano tuck into an unused corner, and wall-mounted units like the Halic or Tibet keep the floor completely clear.

Can a bookcase be used as a room divider?
Yes. Open-backed bookcases such as the Lift Separator, Molly No.3 and the Tapi set of two are designed to be viewed from both sides, so they can split a living and dining area or screen a desk without blocking light.

Should I choose a bookcase with doors or open shelves?
Open shelves are better for display and for a lighter, airier look. A bookcase with doors, such as the Key 5 door storage cabinet, hides clutter and suits hallways, home offices and family living rooms where tidiness matters more than display.

Are Decortie bookcases flat-pack?
Yes. All Decortie bookcases are made in our own factory from engineered wood with a melamine finish and arrive flat-packed with fittings and instructions, with free delivery to England and Wales (Scotland delivery is £40 per order).