Bookcases

Bookcases at RB12

Our bookcase range covers freestanding shelving in low and tall formats, from single-width units to modular systems built from repeating bays. Most pieces here come from Nova Nook and Tamo Design, with individual designs from Saba Italia, Cattelan Italia and Caso Furniture. They sit within our wider Shelving & Bookcases department, alongside wall-mounted options for anyone who needs storage without floor footprint.

A bookcase does two jobs at once: it holds books, files and objects, and it builds a visible edge to a room. Because the shelves are open, what you put on them is as much a part of the design as the carcass itself, so it is worth thinking about the mix of books, boxes and ornaments before you fill it.

Choosing the Right Size

Start with the wall or alcove you have in mind rather than the room as a whole. A low bookcase reads as a piece of furniture you can put things on top of, useful behind a sofa or under a window, while a tall bookcase runs closer to the ceiling and holds far more without widening the footprint.

If you are filling a run of wall, a modular system such as the Bava 100 Modular Bookcase can be paired with its larger siblings to build a longer composition, so measure the full wall length before deciding how many bays you need. Leave enough clearance in front for doors or drawers below to open fully, and check the shelf depth will take the books you actually own, not just paperbacks.

Materials and Finishes

Oak appears in several forms across the range, including baltic storm oak and pearl oak finishes on the Nova Nook ANSO bookcases, giving two distinct tones from the same design. Cashmere and walnut finishes also feature, alongside black-lacquered options for a darker, more graphic result.

Open-shelf bookcases show their material on every visible edge, so the choice of finish has more visual impact here than on a closed cabinet. A warmer oak will sit well against existing wood furniture, while a black or dark walnut frame reads more as a piece of architecture within the room.

Low, Tall and Modular Formats

Low bookcases in this range, such as the ANGALIR low bookcase, work as a horizontal storage run that doubles as a display surface or a stand for a lamp or speakers. Tall bookcases, including the ANGALIR tall cashmere shelf and the LLOK tall bookcase, maximise storage on a narrow footprint and suit rooms where floor space is limited but wall height is available.

Modular bookcases, the Bava 100, 160 and 200, are designed to be specified as a set of bays rather than a single unit. This format is useful when you want a bespoke-looking wall of shelving without committing to a single fixed-width piece, and it allows the storage to be extended later if the room changes.

Notable Designs

The Nautilus Bookcase from Cattelan Italia and the Anam Bookcase from Saba Italia are the two single-brand designs outside the Nova Nook and Tamo Design ranges, each bringing a distinct structural approach to open shelving.

Within Tamo Design, the Ligo Bookcase and the Vazoo Bookcase sit as standalone pieces rather than part of the modular Bava system, giving a fixed-form alternative for a single wall.

Bookcases with the Rest of the Room

A bookcase rarely stands alone. In a living room it usually sits near sofas and armchairs, with a low unit doing double duty as a side surface. In a study or home office, pairing a tall bookcase with a desk keeps reference material within reach of the working surface.

If floor space is tight, our wall shelves are worth considering alongside or instead of a bookcase, and for enclosed storage in the same room, browse sideboards and the broader cabinets & storage range.

Care and Maintenance

Open shelving collects dust more readily than closed cabinets, so a regular wipe with a dry or slightly damp cloth on wood and lacquered surfaces will keep the finish looking even. Avoid placing bookcases in direct sunlight for long periods, as oak and walnut finishes can change tone unevenly if one section is exposed and another is shaded.

Overloading a single shelf, particularly on longer spans, can cause visible sag over time, so distribute heavier books and boxes across shelves rather than stacking them all on one level.

Shop Bookcases at RB12

RB12 stocks bookcases from Nova Nook, Tamo Design, Saba Italia, Cattelan Italia and Caso Furniture, covering low, tall and modular formats in oak, walnut and lacquered finishes. Browse the full range here or explore the wider Shelving & Bookcases category for wall-mounted alternatives.