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How to choose the right bookcase

Choosing a bookcase may seem simple, but the right choice can make a real difference to your living room storage and layout. Here are a few things to consider when creating a solution that brings order to your home. In this example, we’ve chosen a wall-covering combination with a strong dark-wood expression.
A living room features a brown BILLY bookcase with books, decorative items, and plants, creating a warm and inviting space.

Step 1. Start with purpose and proportions

What’s it for – and how does your home look? A single cabinet or a full library wall? Think it through and you dramatically improve the odds of getting a room-changing solution, while also avoiding regrets along the way.
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A living room with a brown OXBERG door featuring a walnut effect next to a wall with potted plants and a ruler.
A living room contains a brown BILLY bookcase made from brown walnut effect, filled with books and decorative items.

Step 2. Display or hideaway?

Or a mix of both, of course. Open and closed, doors and cabinets. Hide unsightly clutter and show attractive fronts instead – or keep keepsakes free from dust by choosing glass doors. A combination usually works best. Open shelves create a welcoming, lived-in feel. Closed sections reduce visual noise and keep everyday clutter out of sight. Balance what’s on display with what’s tucked away, and the bookcase looks organised rather than crowded.
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A living room features a brown BILLY bookcase with a brown walnut effect, neatly displaying books and decorative items.

Step 2. Display or hideaway?

Or a mix of both, of course. Open and closed, doors and cabinets. Hide unsightly clutter and show attractive fronts instead – or keep keepsakes free from dust by choosing glass doors. A combination usually works best. Open shelves create a welcoming, lived-in feel. Closed sections reduce visual noise and keep everyday clutter out of sight. Balance what’s on display with what’s tucked away, and the bookcase looks organised rather than crowded.

Step 3. Boxes and lighting

Inserts, magazine files and similar organisers help create order and make storage more versatile. Even so, their symmetry and coordination add a sense of calm rather than acting as distractions. The same goes for YTBERG cabinet lighting – from highlighting shelf contents to adding cosiness, depending on how you set it.
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A BILLY bookcase with YTBERG cabinet lighting illuminating the shelves.
A living room with a brown BILLY bookcase featuring books and decorative items against a wooden wall.

Step 4. Think outside the books

Add finishing touches in and around the storage unit. Use layers, mix materials and play with perspectives. Height extensions, especially in rooms with high ceilings, give the bookcase a more prominent presence and a built-in feel.
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A living room features a dark yellow SÖDERHAMN 4-seat sofa-bed with chaise longue, beside a coffee table and vibrant décor.
A living room features a brown BILLY bookcase with books, decorative items, and plants, creating a warm and inviting space.

Bonus unlocked: Styling from start to finish!

Start with larger pieces to set the foundation, add smaller decorative details, mix in storage to organise and hide clutter, then fill out with books and finish with artwork. Add a vase with fresh flowers – a small detail that brings the whole look together. This step-by-step guide shows how simple choices, made in the right order, can turn a bookcase into a space that feels balanced, personal and complete.
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Bonus unlocked: Styling from start to finish!

Start with larger pieces to set the foundation, add smaller decorative details, mix in storage to organise and hide clutter, then fill out with books and finish with artwork. Add a vase with fresh flowers – a small detail that brings the whole look together. This step-by-step guide shows how simple choices, made in the right order, can turn a bookcase into a space that feels balanced, personal and complete.