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Shabby Chic Bookcases

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A lovely furniture piece to add to your office, living room, or nursery is a shabby chic bookcase. Bookshelves in the shabby chic style can elevate your room and give you a place to store your favorite stories. Chic bookcases with cubby holes can hold floral décor items in every other cubby. While tall bookcases can hold twice as many books for those who own a lot of books.

7 Recommendations and 169 Ideas

Updated 13/03/2023
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Best Overall
Distressed White Shabby Chic Bookshelves

Distressed White Shabby Chic Bookshelves

Kelly Clarkson Home

Perfect For: A French country living room in need of extra storage space

What We Like: It’s a great place to store books, plants, glassware and more

With an effortless blending of materials, these distressed shabby chic bookshelves possess five open shelves with wood spindle supports on the side and interior wire mesh. This bookshelf sits 55 inches tall on a manufactured wood base with four cane-style legs.  

$325.99 $560

Designer Advice:

The distressed white paint over brown wood allows these shabby chic bookshelves to work in a number of different home settings. This bookshelf would look nicely positioned in front of a gray or light brown wall with some vintage candle holders and photo frames placed among a plethora of hardback books. 

What Users Say:

I love it! Totally fits my decor! I have a small place yet still wanted to incorporate bookshelves in my decor. 

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Best Natural Wood Option
Wooden Shabby Chic Bookshelf

Wooden Shabby Chic Bookshelf

August Grove®

Perfect For: A home office or library space

What We Like: The crown moulding at the top of the unit adds a vintage flair

Showcasing carved wood dowel support beams along the edges between the shelves, this shabby chic bookshelf measures 60.5 inches tall. It’s crafted out of a combination of solid and manufactured wood. The four shelves are able to accommodate up to 100 pounds of weight which makes it ideal for a moderately sized book collection.  

$269.99 $314.99

Designer Advice:

Add this wood shabby chic bookshelf to your living room to bring in an element of unique naturalness and functionality. Position the shelves next to a light blue and cream plaid armchair with a large woven basket on the floor filled with cozy blankets inside to create a warm and inviting reading nook. 

What Users Say:

Very pretty, lightweight and easy to put together. I got this bookcase for my office and it’s just what I needed. 

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Feminine Shabby Chic Bookcase

Feminine Shabby Chic Bookcase

AmazonUs/DREAY

This whimsical chic bookshelf is adorned with Queen Anne legs, ribbon and bow scrollwork, and a scalloped design. Painted in three pastel colors, it comes with a fixed upper shelf and a shelf that can be adjusted or removed.

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Cubby style Shabby Chic Bookcase

Cubby style Shabby Chic Bookcase

Gracie Oaks

This chic bookshelf leaves your room feeling organized and reduced of clutter. It features eight cubby holes with labels, two large shelves on the bottom, and a distressed paneled back.

$269.99 $314.99

Designer Advice:

Bookcases with cubby holes are great for people who like to organize their books by genre or color. If you consider yourself a bit OCD, then a bookcase that offers labels is the ideal bookcase for you. Cubby hole chic bookcases have limited space which means some of your books may have to be moved into the next cubby hole.

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5
Tall Shabby Chic Bookshelf

Tall Shabby Chic Bookshelf

Kelly Clarkson Home

This chic bookcase is designed with an open style and has non-slip stoppers at the base to prevent scratching your floors. It features five shelves, four posts with finials, and ball feet.

$364.99 $624.5

Designer Advice:

Tall shabby chic bookcases make a more noticeable focal point in a room compared to a small or short one. When you use a tall and thin bookshelf that reaches your ceilings, it draws your eyes upwards and creates the illusion of taller ceilings. Because of their height, they hold more books and are great for people who read daily.

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6
Ladder style Small Shabby Chic Bookcase

Ladder style Small Shabby Chic Bookcase

Milltown Merchants

Dainty and built to blend seamlessly in with shabby home styles is this girly chic bookshelf. Made of oakwood, it comes in a variety of colors, with distressed white and turquoise being the best tones for shabby style.

Designer Advice:

Ladder shelves can be used for a variety of items, like books, plants, décor, towels, picture frames, and much more. They make a unique shabby chic bookshelf because of their distressed paint and slanted angles. However, they may require book stands to prevent your books from falling off the shelf.

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7
Dual purpose Chic Bookshelf

Dual purpose Chic Bookshelf

Laurel Foundry Modern Farmhouse®

Used as both a table and a bookcase is this small shabby chic bookcase. Its two-tone finish and distressed white paint add a vintage charm to a shabby chic style.

$344.99 $325.99

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Shabby Chic Bookcases

Buying Guide

For those who didn't believe it's possible to make a statement with a bookcase, they haven't seen shabby chic bookcases. The books we collect say a lot about our personalities. Therefore, why not put them on display on something that's dripping with personality? These bookcases evoke cottage style in combination with rustic and weathered beauty. However, you don't have to limit yourself to placing these pieces in those style rooms. We've put together this buying guide to help inspire you.

What is shabby chic design?

When designers use pastel colors that mix with antique furnishing, lace, florals, vintage, and country accents, this creates a shabby chic design. The beauty of these dreamy and soft styles is they're simple and affordable to create.

These bookcases are a beautiful addition to bedrooms, the corner of dining rooms, and in living rooms. Because they can feature more than books, they work well as a way of showcasing dishes, pottery, plants, artwork, and other decorative elements. Mixing and matching this style of the bookcase with other design options works successfully thanks to their painted surface and decorative elements. For example, a shabby chic bookcase is a beautiful addition to a modern style room as a way of preventing it from appearing too cluttered or overwhelming.

The addition of shabby chic bookcases helps pull a room together to create romantic styles. Some of these bookcases feature high arches, drawers on the bottom, and pedestal legs. Their features are reminiscent of the vintage quality you would find in antique store furniture. One element you'll see common in most pieces is wood carvings and other ornamental accents. Under most circumstances, these bookcases feature beige, white, cream, or pastel paint finishes.

These bookcases feature a solid construction most often of pine or hardwood. Those that have a pine construction will be softer and more prone to dings and scratches. However, their painted surfaces will help offer protection from those occurrences. These bookcases typically have a myriad of elements including drawers, doors, and accents. When in combination with each other and if the construction is hardwood, it creates a heavy piece of furniture.

You’ll find when shopping for these bookcases that the standard depth is twelve inches deep. However, the widths will vary considerably. The same is true regarding the height of the bookcase. Each of these factors will depend on the number of shelves you’re looking for as well as the specific style. Think about if you would also like the shelves to be adjustable.

You’ll also need to look at the amount of space you have available in the room. Do you want the bookcase to go behind another piece of furniture? Is it going to fill negative space along a wall? Would you like it to go in a corner? Answering these questions will help you determine the measurements and use of the bookcase.

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Best Ideas

Painted cottage chic shabby cape cod

Painted cottage chic shabby cape cod

Offering a distressed finish of the white paint this handmade bookcase is a perfect choice for any hallway, while its salvaged wood and glass structure adds plenty of visual appeal to your home and will provide you with a significant boost of space.

Book case that i love

Book Case that I Love

Shabby white small bookcase shelves chic

Shabby white small bookcase shelves chic

How to turn a plain, wooden bookcase into an interesting piece of art? That's simple! Shabby it with intriguing wallpaper and there you are – all set to conquer the world of furniture fashion. The vintage appeal of this bookcase is truly timeless.

French Shabby Chic Rosesvintagecream

French Shabby Chic Rosesvintagecream

The elegant bookcase in French shabby chick style. The bookcase back was prepared in the decoupage techique and covered with the romantic rose pattern. This style will be perfect for the French restaurant or the young lady's bedroom.

Shabby Chic Bookcase Shelves Cream Dresser Display Wall Unit Drawers Bookshelf

Shabby Chic Bookcase Shelves Cream Dresser Display Wall Unit Drawers Bookshelf

Tall bookcase consisting of 2 drawers and 3 open shelves in various sizes. Construction is made of wood. Suitable for storing books, display decorations and more. Application in all kinds of interiors as needed.

Painted cottage aqua chic romance aqua

Painted cottage aqua chic romance aqua

You could find such a shabby chic bookcase in an idyllic country estate, on the outskirts of Provence. The bookcase has been renovated, and the maritime color is emphasized by its unique carved columns and solid shelves as well as a drawer with crystal knobs.

Vintage shabby chic hand painted

Vintage shabby chic hand painted

This vintage hand painted bookcase will be a great proposition for all shabby chic lovers. It enchants with its intricate silhouette, full or adorned accents. Back, made from white wooden bars only emphasizes the warm, cottage appeal.

You are here home chateroux shabby chic small president bookcase

You are here: Home Chateroux Shabby Chic Small President Bookcase

Furniture range hand painted shabby chic distressed pine furniture 6

... Furniture Range > Hand Painted Shabby Chic Distressed Pine Furniture

White room decor painted bookcase

white room decor - Painted Bookcase

Shabby chic bookshelf

This sleek and very eye-catching shabby chic decor is the perfect solution for the office or home office. Lovely details, beautiful finishes of furniture, sculptures, beautiful lamp and large cabinet create a pleasant workplace.

Simply shabby chic bookcase

A lovely, farmhouse bookcase that is going to fit any room with a little space to spare. The piece includes wooden construction, a square base, an arched top, and 5 open shelves for your rectangle masterpieces.

Bookcase cream distressed shabby chic

Bookcase cream distressed shabby chic

Vanity take on a shabby chic bookcase, made out of oak wood with a weathered and distressed coat of white paint. The bookcase has three large shelves, which provide a lot of space for books and curio display.

Stand for play room

stand for play room

Kids Bookcases

Kids Bookcases

This is a very original bookcase that features a very interesting color and stylization. This construction includes plenty of space on shelves. What is more, the product has also got a spacious storage drawer.

Shabbychicgallery some shabby chic diy ideas for your home

ShabbyChicGallery: Some Shabby Chic DIY Ideas For Your Home!

Beautiful bookcase and picture above it

, beautiful bookcase and picture above it

Shabby chic bookcase uk

This piece is going to bring Mid-century accents straight into your living room. The display cabinet is crafted from Perillo solids and Alder veneer, with 3 adjustable shelves, plate-grooved glass inserts, and rheostat controlled interior lighting.

Antique bookcase with doors

Beautiful White Antique Bookcase with Glass Doors and Fretwork

Shabby chic shelving unit

Bring some country flavor into your home with this cute bookcase. Made of wood and painted in white, this bookcase features 4 open shelves, a lovely heart symbol on top, and a chicken wire back panel.

Shabby chic style bookcase with cabinet at the base in

Shabby Chic style bookcase with cabinet at the base in a distressed ...

Painted cottage handmade farmhouse

Painted cottage handmade farmhouse

Shabby's style was born in the 90s on the USA west coast and quickly became one of the most popular design trends. It is shown in two twin shabby chic bookcases of oak wood and recovered boards that form the back of the bookcase painted in a green shade.

Shabby chic bookcase 2

Never thought that a mix of finishes can look so good in a front room decor. This indoor area comprises three different bookcases of totally varied styles, but they still look good with each other. Must try that at my home.

Door bookshelf beach house door

Door bookshelf beach house door

This project is very original and unique. It includes a very nice bookshelf with the front made of old doors. All shelves are solid and the whole construction looks very nice with colorful flowers, books and decorations.

Shabby Chic Bookcases

Questions & Answers

Bookcases, both the shabby chic ones and other, come in several types. The most popular styles are standard, Étagere, ladder and leaning, Scaffold, corner, cube and built-in bookcases. Each style does not only look a bit different but also utilises the space in a different manner.

The height depends on the style and type of your bookcase, but most of them range from three to eight feet tall. Keep in mind that when considering which bookcase to buy, height is both about the aesthetic and practical aspect. While tall bookcases are generally more formal, smaller ones can be more practical, as you can use the top surface.

Consider the width of your bookcase in relation to the height. For example, if you want to purchase a tall bookcase, it might be a good idea to get yourself a couple narrow units, instead of a one wide unit – this gives you flexibility. In the case of a shorter bookcase, it’s better if it’s wide, as this makes it more noticeable and substantial.

Standard shelves are at least 12 inches deep. This provides enough storage space. However, some bookcases can be narrower – ladder or leaning types are a good example. That’s why it’s important to plan what your bookcase will hold pre-purchase.

Remember to make precise measurements of the space between shelves in correlation to the items you plan on keeping there – for example, the height of your books.

There are three options which may be good to consider – adjustable-height shelves, room dividing bookcases and wheels. While wheels and the option to adjust the height of the shelves are pretty straightforward, the option of using a bookcase as a room divider is both original and practical!

Bookcases are usually crafted from wood, particle board or metal. The choice mostly boils down to the aesthetics, but naturally, a metal bookcase will be the most durable. Still, it’s really rare for a bookcase to break under the weight.

Best Ideas