Creative Home Storage: How to Make Free Bookshelves in Small Rooms

When I got married and moved into my first home, we had one small bookcase and about 10 shelves worth of books to fit on it. Rather than going out and buying another bookcase, we stumbled upon a few creative storage solutions that allowed us to use already existing spaces in our small home as bookshelves, without taking up more floor space. Best of all, it was completely free because it used supplies that anybody moving into a new home will have!

Free Bookshelves Step 1: Identify Flat Surfaces

The main principle here is to use flat surfaces you already have as bookshelves, often putting two staggered tiers of books on them. We went on a hunt of flat surfaces and found quite a few of them that we already had. Anything will work: tops of bookshelves, dressers, shelves in closets, end tables, and whatever else you can find.

For example, our tiny second bedroom had a built-in dresser next to the closet, with about a 3 foot by 3 foot surface area on top of it and walls on either side. This is the perfect flat surface for a free bookshelf, especially because it has built-in bookends.

Free Bookshelves Step 2: Identify Shelves

The second step will allow you to put two rows of books on each of your surfaces, not only one. This is accomplished by finding something to put your top row of books on, and then putting your bottom row either in front of it, or under it, if it allows.

If you have a plastic crate or sturdy open-top box, turn it sideways on the flat surface and put a row of books on top of it and a row of books in it. If you have a few smaller boxes, try to fill them with miscellaneous papers or junk that you don't need to get to often (so they are sturdy), and set them up against the back wall as your top shelf. Put the second row of books in front of them to hide the boxes.

Another option for making a back shelf is by using books. If there are some that you don't read very often but still want to keep, lay them out flat on the surface, and stack them at least 3-4 inches high, trying to get a flat surface to put your top shelf of books on.

Free Bookshelves Step 3: Put Your Books Away

You will have a great time going through all your books and trying to figure out which ones will fit best on which shelves. For example, we put all of our Bible resource books in the spare bedroom, which my husband who is in seminary uses as his office. Our fun reading books went on the dresser in our bedroom, and the books with pretty pictures guests would enjoy ended up on a small shelf under an end table.

The key to this method is that you find something that works for you and allows you to find and enjoy all of your books, even if your house is tiny and doesn't seem to have room for them. Plus, your friends who come over will be really impressed that you are so scholarly that you had to overflow from your real bookcase!