Many people acquire books steadily throughout their lives but rarely throw any away -- it feels too much like discarding a part of oneself. Housing those books stylishly and thoughtfully, therefore -- making it possible to enjoy the books as well as the rooms they occupy -- becomes a necessity.

On the following pages, we show how bookcases designed with the uses, colors, and decorations of a room in mind can seem woven into the very fabric of a home. By adding shelves or embellishing existing ones in a living room, family room, bedroom, and home office, we've made each space more practical, elegant, and welcoming. Choose the approach that works for you.

Book-Keeping Basics
Most books are sturdy and resilient if handled with reasonable care. Never pull a book from a shelf by its spine. Don't pack books tightly onto shelves, either. Stacks shouldn't be too high, and books in them should be rotated frequently. Large books are best stored horizontally on shelves to reduce stress on their spines. Be careful with dust jackets, which add value to books; remove them when reading, and protect those of fragile or valuable books with clear plastic or acid-free glassine covers.

For easy access, most units are built no higher than 84 inches, with the top shelf at 72 to 78 inches. If you go higher, you may need a library ladder or stool. Shelf depth is typically 12 inches; 8 inches is fine for most paperbacks, unless they're shelved two deep. Space shelves 10 to 12 inches apart, with more room between lower shelves to avoid top-heaviness. It's important to take weight-bearing ability into account when building shelves. (This varies by shelf material, thickness, and supports used, so discuss options for your collection with your carpenter.)

Enhance the Ordinary
With a little doctoring, unfinished bookcases from a furniture store can take on a built-in look, and add architectural interest to a room. In this living room, three units were dressed up with crown molding and platform bases, then painted moleskin gray. Framed photos and bibelots form a library of objects that mingles with the books.