What are your thoughts on bookcases with doors? As someone who designs and builds furniture for a living, I always prefer to incorporate doors into my bookcase designs. I feel that they enhance the overall aesthetic and add a touch of refinement to the piece. I'd love to hear your opinion on this!
by Afurnituremaker
33 Comments
I love it!
It’s a nice place for things I don’t want to get dusty!
If you have a country house aesthetic great- otherwise no.
Love doors on bookcases to prevent dust! I like this style, but my favorite are barristers. They’re the ones with the horizontal doors with glass panes, and they are “hinged” along the top of each door; the door slides in toward the back of the case. https://a.1stdibscdn.com/antique-macey-oak-3-section-stacking-lawyers-barrister-bookcase-for-sale-picture-3/f_9341/f_13182021/_1546466450588_master.JPG?width=768 Not sure if this link will work…hope so.
Doors are great at a few things
1) Hiding clutter
2) Creating mystery (if your home has a number of unique pieces on display)
3) Demonstrating quality – the item needs to be protected from the peasant air
I have 3 book cases in my apartment filled with tribal masks. The glass doors are completely transparent, but the enclosure signals that these masks are important – more important than the masks that aren’t in the case.
-_/
At the same time, I have 0 doors on the bookshelves that hold my books in my library because I want the books easily accessible and they are meant to be touched and seen.
So it’s all about the intended use of the shelf.
So for the shelf with doors presented here, my assumption is the items inside will be valuable, but not needed to be admired until it’s time. Like important dinner china or fancy liquids to drink.
“Hey, it’s here and it’s important, but you don’t need to oogle it because it’ll come out when the time is right”
They are a great way to make your books look better, but I would say that the only time I’d recommend them is if you wanna hide books that are ugly/ you don’t want people to see. I love having my books out for people to see.
Like the doored part, but not sure about the curved shelves. The door side has an Mission/Craftsman vibe. And the curved open shelves, Art Deco/Art Moderne.
To me that doesn’t look like a book case. It looks too deep and the rounded shelves don’t dream books. I’d keep glassware or crokery in it.
Other bookcases with doors are great though, especially for hardbacks or older books where the dust is a problem.
It depends on the use. For things I want to easily access, or see no. Not a fan of the curved shelves—they look very dated
I’ve got a nice barrister bookcase that I put my leather bound books in, I love it. I’m going to need another soon, I’ve almost filled it.
Keeps dust off. Doors are great! Also love the look of a barrister bookcase. I would say it’s not that popular though. People prefer open shelving.
Very nice!
It feels very 90s country look, and if that’s your style, go for it.
It looks like it belongs in a Sears house
I like them
They keep the dust away
https://preview.redd.it/yww9lkvrcxld1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1707f8fdc785c1e32b3a20a6bd94218c446b8db0
Only if they have lights and good display glass
I like it. I personally might like it better if the open side is also squared off.
My dad has a bookcase that has doors with glass panels, he uses it for the really big and cool books that he’s super proud of, like his detailed maps and almanacs. I think these are neat and can be a great way to keep your things less dusty. Bonus point: if you have a curious kitty this can be helpful for keeping things they’d otherwise knock over and break
Yes definitely keeps dust away
Doors keep cats out. Win.
As a person with five cats whose favorite hobbies are climbing and knocking things down on purpose, I would prefer all shelving units had doors. Imagine being able to actually display tabletop picture frames and breakable knickknacks somewhere :’)
In all seriousness, I do prefer enclosed storage. I think it makes a house look neater, and it protects the items from collecting so much dust—perfect for a lazy, asthmatic person like me who hates dusting with a passion!
Glass doors = seeing the books, with a reduction of dusting required.
Solid doors = hiding the crap I don’t want people to see, and a reduction of dusting required.
Open shelves = cool shit on display, but too much dusting required.
Just looking at it, thought it might be a bar.
Mini-bar and some books
If it reduces the number of things to dust, I’m good with it! Especially books, dust really ages them quickly.
It’s beautiful 🤩
I Love them, I hate dusting with a passion. Also great for putting special china or ornaments in.
I like doors in many cases, but it just depends on where I’ll use it.
I beautiful way to brighten up the room and things won’t get dusty
Is this a rendering or is it what you actually built? Looks cool!
I LOVE any furniture that has doors to keep the dusting to a minimal. I’m currently looking for 2 pieces, a pantry and buffet like piece with doors for the living room. They are extremely hard to find!
This looks like a cabinet in a 90’s house that would be in the kitchen to the left of the window over the sink. It’s doesn’t look like a standalone piece of furniture.
Really like it, but I’d change out the feet for “bun” feet