For anybody who has ever discovered themselves with mountains of books and nowhere to place them, the apparent reply is “get a bookshelf.” However what’s one to do once they don’t actually wish to decide to a large bookshelf as a result of they solely plan on residing of their rental dwelling for a 12 months or two earlier than shopping for, and aren’t certain what the storage scenario of their subsequent residence will likely be? Plus, that very same individual has a settee floating in a room that feels a little bit untethered (and a little bit unbalanced with the width of the fireside in entrance of it). Properly, there’s a brand new furnishings pattern popping up on the lounge scene that will simply be the answer to each of those issues (they’re my issues, in the event you haven’t gathered up to now).
Let me introduce you all to the concept of the modular couch bookcase. Reasonably than go the route of a low couch desk, the modular couch bookcase basically wraps round the couch or sectional to create each an space within the again for storage or displaying lovely issues, in addition to acts as a steady facet desk. Whereas it positively leans extra towards the fashionable facet of design since they work greatest with low-slung and blocky upholstery items, I can nonetheless see them pairing effectively with a standard sofa in some circumstances (preserve studying).
Earlier than we take a look at some examples, I wish to remind you of what my couch seems to be like (or, extra precisely, present you what my couch seems to be like from behind, as a result of I haven’t precisely proven it correctly right here but):
Right here’s my couch because it at present stands. There are, after all, issues this room wants that may assist floor the floating couch higher, comparable to a bigger space rug, shifting it over a bit to be higher aligned with the fireside in entrance of it, and including a bigger desk to the fitting of it to increase it additional. However principally, it may benefit from one thing behind it, each for aesthetics and performance.
Right here’s what I’m pondering:
This picture of a front room by Zoe Feldman immediately stopped me in my tracks as the answer for my house points. The shelving unit we see right here is customized, however the position it performs might be adopted by anybody prepared to perform a little math. Right here’s a quote from the designer about it to raised clarify its objective: “Typically it’s one piece doing three issues without delay. This tradition sofa-shelf divider crafted by @cabriolestudio defines the lounge and provides storage whereas letting the house breathe.”
I discover that always, by making an attempt to repair one challenge (like including extra storage), we create one other one (like having a room that feels as if it’s caving in on you as a result of each wall has one thing on it). That’s why I like this pattern. To not point out, it’s a unbelievable technique to divide a room in an open flooring plan. The bookcase acts as a room divider in a method that the plain again of a settee by no means may.
Bear in mind how we contemplated for a second if this up to date type may work with extra conventional design or furnishings? Properly, right here’s a traditional Parisian house sporting a nook couch bookcase, so the reply is sure, it may be utilized in an area that isn’t completely trendy.
The IKEA Holmerud facet desk is in all places proper now, with folks “hacking” it (which on this case actually simply means placing a number of of them collectively in methods apart from being merely a facet desk) to create lengthy and low couch tables and couch wraparounds. At simply $50 a pop, it’s one of the inexpensive methods to tug this off.
I’m going to enter couch bookcase FAQs afterward on this publish, however I did wish to carry up one level proper now: You don’t must go all the way in which throughout or round. It nonetheless seems to be good and fascinating in the event you’re simply including one thing like this to at least one nook, like within the above room.
One thing like this may be nice round a nook sectional or a U-shaped sectional, too. I most likely wouldn’t mild candles on the underside shelf, contemplating the entire thing is wooden proper above it, however effectively, to every their very own.
Now that we all know what we’re speaking about and have seen it in motion, it’s time to buy groceries. It’s essential to notice that the worth vary on the modular couch bookcase ranges extensively, from $50 IKEA choices to customized all-wood designs within the hundreds.
Which Couch Bookcases We’re Eyeing Proper Now
1. Holmerud Aspect Desk | 2. Stockholm 2025 Shelving Unit-Bench | 3. Eliza Temper Modular Nook Console Desk Left/Proper Configurable | 4. Nixon Gentle Tone Left Set Of two Nook Console | 5. Cello Shelf | 6. Lafora 72″ Bookcase, Brief | 7. Nest Shelving 2×3 | 8. Wallace Modular Nook Console 86″ | 9. Kaye Modular Finish Desk | 10. Customized Made Nook Couch Bookcase in Walnut | 11. Modular Report Participant Stand | 12. Renata Wooden Console
I took a number of liberties right here in the event you haven’t seen. I’ll go forward and name myself out on it. However I did it as a result of #1: Furnishings is SO FREAKING EXPENSIVE, and generally you simply have to get shut sufficient to a pattern or idea. Working example: The Stockholm bench at #2. It’s a bench. It’s not a modular bookcase. However I may see two of them butting towards one another on a nook sectional much like mine. Granted, at about $400 a bit, that’s nonetheless an $800 funding, which isn’t nothing by any stretch of the creativeness (additionally, when did even IKEA get so dear?!?). Emily used it in her brother’s river home!
For a much bigger spend, you may go the customized route supplied on Etsy (#10) or a hefty stable wooden selection from Halo Loom (I’m displaying it in a black-stained wooden, however there are a handful of different wooden choices which can be beautiful). The Renata Wooden Console from Anthropologie is, once more, not modular, however if in case you have the finances for 2, they’d be lovely behind a sectional. Don’t overlook to get inventive, both! I discovered these modular document participant stands on Etsy (#11) which can be $125 every. You possibly can put a number of collectively to get the look, for certain!
The important thing to nailing this look is getting the measurements proper, which is likely to be the trickiest half in order for you a full side-to-side wrap. You’ll must discover a piece that, when mixed in multiples, equals the near-exact width of your couch. A number of inches off ought to be okay, however what you wish to keep away from is large gaps, particularly while you add within the piece that may act as a facet desk.
Talking of tips on how to get it proper, time for some often requested questions (a.okay.a. the questions I think about somebody may need who’s on this type and needs to perform it of their dwelling):
Modular Couch Bookcase FAQs
- What sorts of sofas do these work with? As we’ve talked about up to now, a blockier up to date silhouette matches greatest (particularly when it’s low to the bottom with no actual seen legs). However as we noticed earlier, so long as the couch is the fitting measurement and doesn’t have a curved again, it could possibly nonetheless work nice.
- What ought to I learn about any peak guidelines? Provided that the peak of a settee from the ground to the highest of its again is often wherever from 30 inches on the low finish and 36 inches on the tall finish, you’ll wish to ensure that no matter bookcase you select is no less than a few inches shorter than your couch. Ideally, to keep away from knocking over something on high anytime you swing your arm round, go about 6 inches shorter.
- What can they be used for? Like every open storage, you should use it to place away principally something, simply be conscious of how cluttered it would begin wanting. Don’t overlook that you should use smaller baskets to stash away something that may find yourself wanting messy (assume: your youngsters’ stuff or blankets).
- What if my couch has legs? To maintain a clear look, go for a closed-back couch bookcase slightly than one thing open to keep away from too many traces in all places.
- What phrases do I take advantage of to seek for them? These aren’t tremendous widespread (but), however some phrases I’ve seen them listed as are as follows: Couch bookcase, modular couch desk, low bookcase, couch nook desk
- Does it must wrap all the way in which round? That’s an enormous no! It’s completely okay to not go all the way in which from one facet to the opposite on a settee or sectional. All of it is dependent upon what look you want. Typically, a room wants a little bit stress and asymmetry, in the event you ask me.
A Few Mock Ups of My Couch
As a result of I couldn’t assist myself, I did some tough mock-ups in Photoshop of how this may work in my dwelling. I appreciated some that I put collectively, others not a lot, and one other that has potential and might be probably the most purposeful for my household’s wants (together with a correct house for my daughter). Right here’s what I’ve to this point:
The Thuma Nest shelving system. That is most likely closest to my type, and 4 of them collectively are almost precisely the scale of my 99-inch couch. To not point out that they’re endlessly purposeful, so after we transfer, in the event that they don’t work anymore behind a settee, we are able to stack every particular person unit tall to create a completely completely different form. Good. I adore it, however I’m unsure we are able to swing the expense of it proper now, sadly.
I wouldn’t get something on this coloration, however I acquired a contact lazy and didn’t wish to go search out the lighter wooden tones of this bookcase from Halo Loom. It’s additionally the most costly, so it was extra of a “let’s simply see for enjoyable” experiment than something.
My Photoshop job right here isn’t doing this any choices, and truthfully, I’m unsure this may even work in the way in which that I mixed them, however the Etsy itemizing mentioned customized, so I’m guessing they may lengthen the scale of one of many arms to completely wrap my couch.
Designing a house with younger kids who completely have wants in addition to deserve acceptable areas of their very own means you don’t all the time get the totally aesthetic choice. My child desperately wants a touchdown spot downstairs that provides her a floor to paint and draw on, construct, smash Play-Doh, and so forth., and this is likely to be a great place for it (no paint could be allowed right here, although, with its proximity to precise material). There could also be one other wall I may use to accommodate a pint-sized play space for her, however I may additionally see a world the place a bookcase wraps round one facet of my couch, and a cute little wooden toddler desk and chairs stability the opposite facet. I’m not saying that is the desk and chairs, I simply pulled an inexpensive set off Wayfair, tbh.
So, that is the place I go away you for right this moment. Half furnishings pattern publish, half “right here’s one thing I’m contemplating doing in my own residence to resolve an issue.” I’d actually like to discover a technique to carry extra seen books into my residing house as a result of few issues really feel as comforting to me as pages and spines on show. Plus, between the glam-leaning qualities of my couch material decide and my shiny wooden armoire, I have to stability it with one thing a bit extra down-to-earth.
Keep tuned. Till subsequent time, pals…
