Mission Bookcases

Chloe Hughes Interior Design Expert

Chloe is a highly-regarded expert in all things vintage and antique. She’s excited to share her vast knowledge with readers and clients wishing to infuse their homes with a mixture of old-time warmth and modern comfort. In addition to her design work, Chloe regularly volunteers at her local community center, teaching DIY projects to adults and kids.

Updated 26/03/2021

For a sturdy and attractive addition to your home library, might we suggest mission bookcases? They are simple, but they are very well made. They will never let you down and will stand the test of time. They can hold, however, many books you want to put on them. They are made of plenty of different wood options to properly match your decorative scheme, whether in your living space or office space. Take a look at this collection for more.

Buying Guide

As a book lover, you don’t just lust after a cheap bookshelf. When you think about having your own private library and the best way to display your treasured books, you dream about something that is similar to that of the Admont Abbey Library in Austria. Barring that, maybe an impossibly swirly book nook that you can settle into. If that’s the case, then what you need are mission bookcases!

As there are myriads of them available on the market, you need to know how to find the best one for your space. Here’s a guide that will teach you to do just that:

What are the common features of mission bookcases?

Mission bookcases are large pieces of furniture that come with support walls, backing walls, and horizontal shelving. They’re often tall and rectangular although not all the time. They’re constructed using solid wood and they’re fitting for both traditional and modern spaces.

How to select the right size mission bookcase?

The right size will depend on a couple of factors like how much space there is in the room that you’ll be placing the furniture in. For an open space, the best choice is one that’s wide and measures a couple of feet across.

If there is not much room, then you can go up and not out. This means you need a tall mission bookcase, especially if you will be storing lots of books and decorative items on it. If that’s too much for your space, you can go smaller with a bookcase that only offers two to three shelves. Regardless of the size that you will be getting, make sure you get the measurements of the piece’s intended placement before you make a buying decision.

You may have kids around the house. If so, then consider whether you want them to access what’s displayed on the shelves or not. If you do, then a shorter option will be best for your household. If not, then a tall bookcase is a good idea as it can keep fragile and/or special items unreachable by children. Just make sure that you mount the bookcase to the wall as children tend to be curious climbers.

Do mission bookcases come with adjustable shelves?

Many mission bookcases have adjustable shelves to allow for customization. If you have large books and you’re considering placing them on your new bookcase, then make sure what you get comes with adjustable shelves. Removing the shelves is easy to do. You just have to take out the added supports which hold them up.

What are mission bookcases crafted from?

Contemporary furniture makers make use of a myriad of wood types for mission bookcases as hundreds of wood types are available to them even those that are extremely exotic and rare. However, you’ll find a lot of mission bookcases made of European wood. The denser the type of wood is, the harder it is to work with. If your mission bookcase is made of solid wood, expect the price to increase. But, it’s guaranteed to last a lifetime which is why it's a good investment.