From personal experience, finding somewhere to store lots of books can be far more of a challenge than might be expected. Take a look at lifestyle magazines and you see rooms with dozens or even hundreds of books all arranged in an attractive, artistic fashion - just how much time and money do these people have?
Me, I have a pile of books (well, several piles) and need to put them somewhere out of the way but where I can find individual books when I need them. The obvious solution is to trot along to Argos or Ikea, find the cheapest bookcase that holds the biggest number of books, take it home and screw it together.
Now, this can work pretty well - provided you can find some way to suport your chipboard or MDF creation on each side to stop it developing a middle waist spread under the weight of books. I've also found that the shelves don't carry solid rows of books very well and will eventually sag. Then you end up with the books supporting the case, rather than the other way round.
The solution experience has taught me is to buy a bookcase or bookcases made from solid wood. Ideally they should be a proper carcass or cabinet that has already been fixed or glued together by the manufacturer because these are far stronger than the screw together variety. Wooden shelves have a greater strength than manufactured board and are much less likely to sag under the weight of books.
You can choose all kinds of wood, including oak, acacia or whatever takes your fancy. The only restriction is the budget you have available - and this is why I like Pine Bookcases. Pine is about the cheapest timber you can get, it offers all the strength needed for a bookcase and, because most pine in this country comes from managed forests in Europe rather than the other side of the world, its less damaging to the environment.
Manufacturers are far more inventive with the choice of styles available these days and even offer a choice of finishes including waxed, lacquered and painted. One such manufacturer is PD Global. Their website can be a bit tortuous to navigate but this is a link to their bookcases page. A search for the company on Google should also show some of the retailers where you can buy their bookcases.
Friday, 5 March 2010
Saturday, 6 February 2010
Oak & Pine Furniture
Whenever buying Pine & Oak Furniture it's always a good idea to mindful of the quality of your purchase.
Realistically look out for the words Solid Wood. The more detail the retailer shows on an item the better. So in the case of Bookcases the shelves, backs should all be solid wood if your paying top doller.
Naturally if your buying from cheaper sources then you have accept that some of MDF in the bookcase.
Realistically look out for the words Solid Wood. The more detail the retailer shows on an item the better. So in the case of Bookcases the shelves, backs should all be solid wood if your paying top doller.
Naturally if your buying from cheaper sources then you have accept that some of MDF in the bookcase.
Thursday, 7 January 2010
New Furniture Blogs
As I spend a lot of my time blogging about furniture I've recently gone and bought a few new domains:-
Dwell Furniture
Talking about the company, their quite a new bunch and have expanded rapidly.
G-Plan Furniture
Whilst Dwell is fairly new G Plan are much older! Same sort of site though.
Heals Furniture
At the time of writing it's not yet up but this company ancient established 1810!
Dwell Furniture
Talking about the company, their quite a new bunch and have expanded rapidly.
G-Plan Furniture
Whilst Dwell is fairly new G Plan are much older! Same sort of site though.
Heals Furniture
At the time of writing it's not yet up but this company ancient established 1810!
Thursday, 26 November 2009
The right time of year to buy a Bookcase
It seems to me that some types of furniture have 'seasons' - certain times of year when it is more appropriate or necessary to buy them than others. Perhaps the most obvious example is garden furniture which people tend to buy in the spring or summer when they plan on sitting outside in the light evenings and (hopefully) warm summer weather.
So what about bookcases? Well in my view, bookcases are the sort of thing for the autumn and the winter - especially just after Christmas. Why? well Christmas in particular is when people are likely to receive new books as presents, so surely it makes sense to have somewhere to house these new additions to your collection. The other argument is that because the winter does not lend itself to outdoor activity, then what better than to be able to glance along neat rows of books, pick out a favourite, nestle in a comfortable chair in front of the fire and sit out the raging weather outside.
Of course bookcases come in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles (Thank goodness - can you imagine massive bookcases in a tiny flat or, conversely, compact half-height bookcases in a huge library?). One of the best places to see a good variety of bookcases at reasonable prices is the bookcases section of Right Price Furniture's website.
So what about bookcases? Well in my view, bookcases are the sort of thing for the autumn and the winter - especially just after Christmas. Why? well Christmas in particular is when people are likely to receive new books as presents, so surely it makes sense to have somewhere to house these new additions to your collection. The other argument is that because the winter does not lend itself to outdoor activity, then what better than to be able to glance along neat rows of books, pick out a favourite, nestle in a comfortable chair in front of the fire and sit out the raging weather outside.
Of course bookcases come in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles (Thank goodness - can you imagine massive bookcases in a tiny flat or, conversely, compact half-height bookcases in a huge library?). One of the best places to see a good variety of bookcases at reasonable prices is the bookcases section of Right Price Furniture's website.
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
A Great 'Discovery' - Pine Furniture!
At the weekend I was looking at some pine furniture and it was like meeting an old friend I hadn’t seen for some time. I’d forgotten just how new pine furniture can be so fresh and natural – add a few pebbles and some sisal rope and it feels like the seaside, but add a thick rug and a blazing log fire and it feels like a cabin in the mountains.
For a great choice of pine furniture in traditional and contemporary styles I’d look for pine furniture on Right Price furniture’s website. They have dozens of ranges of genuine solid pine furniture and Right Price Furniture is now one of the biggest and most trusted online furniture retailers in the UK.
For a great choice of pine furniture in traditional and contemporary styles I’d look for pine furniture on Right Price furniture’s website. They have dozens of ranges of genuine solid pine furniture and Right Price Furniture is now one of the biggest and most trusted online furniture retailers in the UK.
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
Pine Bookcases for a Touch of Elegance
Throughout history, bookcases have garnered a reputation for being one of the most important pieces of furniture in any home. Having a classy pine bookcase in your home affords a measure of elegance and sophistication, and nothing can be better at producing an atmosphere of relaxation in a room than a bookcase.
When you choose a bookcase for your home, you will obviously have to be aware of the materials used to construct it. As the shelves usually have to bear a heavy burden, sturdy materials are essential to the long-life of the bookcase, so as well as wood, you very often find them with metal support for extra sturdiness. These are usually well hidden though so as not to detract from the wooden facade of the bookcase itself. As there are many types of bookcase available today, the one you choose will depend on many overriding factors, including the amount of space you have allocated for it, the kind of home you live in, and most importantly your own tastes and preferences.
Everybody knows that bookcases can vary in size dramatically; from tiny corner bookcases to huge, entire wall monsters more akin to a public library! Below we shall outline just a few of the different kinds available today.
Ladder bookcases are considered to be the classical bookcase. As well as being highly fashionable, they are also highly functional. Many people also choose this type of bookcase for its decorative appeal in a room.
Built-in bookcases are another option to consider, and these too are very popular. This alternative needs to be well thought out before having the bookcase constructed because you will obviously have many options open to you depending on the set out and architecture of your house. Pine bookcases are an extremely popular choice when it comes to built-in bookcases because of the versatility of the wood in question.
Barrister bookcases call to mind bygone days of huge mansions and colonialism and are a great piece of furniture to showcase old family heirlooms or valuable possessions worthy of showing off. They normally have a piece of glass pain in front of each shelf as a kind of protective barrier, but these are easily moved aside to get to the riches within. This bookcase-cum-display cabinet is ideal for books that have great sentimental or monetary value.
When practicality rules the day, corner bookcases have to be king. They are fantastic for all homes short of space and are ideal for most family homes. They can be found in any room and as long as there is a corner to put them in, they will never look out of place. Corner pine bookcases are especially ideal for children’s bedrooms as it gives them somewhere to put all their books but without taking up too much of their valuable space.
Finally, leaning bookshelves are the ultimate in bookshelf safety. As they lean into the wall, there is never a fear of the bookcase toppling over.
When you choose a bookcase for your home, you will obviously have to be aware of the materials used to construct it. As the shelves usually have to bear a heavy burden, sturdy materials are essential to the long-life of the bookcase, so as well as wood, you very often find them with metal support for extra sturdiness. These are usually well hidden though so as not to detract from the wooden facade of the bookcase itself. As there are many types of bookcase available today, the one you choose will depend on many overriding factors, including the amount of space you have allocated for it, the kind of home you live in, and most importantly your own tastes and preferences.
Everybody knows that bookcases can vary in size dramatically; from tiny corner bookcases to huge, entire wall monsters more akin to a public library! Below we shall outline just a few of the different kinds available today.
Ladder bookcases are considered to be the classical bookcase. As well as being highly fashionable, they are also highly functional. Many people also choose this type of bookcase for its decorative appeal in a room.
Built-in bookcases are another option to consider, and these too are very popular. This alternative needs to be well thought out before having the bookcase constructed because you will obviously have many options open to you depending on the set out and architecture of your house. Pine bookcases are an extremely popular choice when it comes to built-in bookcases because of the versatility of the wood in question.
Barrister bookcases call to mind bygone days of huge mansions and colonialism and are a great piece of furniture to showcase old family heirlooms or valuable possessions worthy of showing off. They normally have a piece of glass pain in front of each shelf as a kind of protective barrier, but these are easily moved aside to get to the riches within. This bookcase-cum-display cabinet is ideal for books that have great sentimental or monetary value.
When practicality rules the day, corner bookcases have to be king. They are fantastic for all homes short of space and are ideal for most family homes. They can be found in any room and as long as there is a corner to put them in, they will never look out of place. Corner pine bookcases are especially ideal for children’s bedrooms as it gives them somewhere to put all their books but without taking up too much of their valuable space.
Finally, leaning bookshelves are the ultimate in bookshelf safety. As they lean into the wall, there is never a fear of the bookcase toppling over.
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Prepare Yourself before You go Furniture Shopping
Visiting furniture stores can be a lot of fun. You get to sit in different chairs, try out different dining tables, and look at the many different options you have for your home. However, if you’re furniture shopping, you do need to be prepared. Some people don’t think ahead of time and end up needing to make a second trip to the furniture store once they realize they don’t have everything they need.
So what do you need to know when you head out to the furniture store? First, you need to have an idea of what you need to buy. Going to a furniture store and browsing is one thing, but if you’re seriously looking to buy furniture, you need to have an idea of what you want. Do you need a new sofa? Are you looking for dining room furniture? Bedroom furniture? It helps to know exactly what you’re looking for so that you don’t get off track while shopping. It can be easy to get distracted by all of the nice, new furniture in the store. This is one of the reasons why shopping online for furniture can be a good idea.
Another thing you absolutely must have when you’re furniture shopping is a set of measurements. If you are looking for a dining room table and have a good sized room, you may not necessarily need to know the size of the room. However, if you are looking for a new sofa and have a limited amount of space, you need to know how large of a sofa you can accommodate. The last thing you want is to return with your new furniture only to find that it won’t fit in the space you thought it would.
If you’re looking for a piece of furniture that matches your other furniture, you may need to know exactly what colour you need. Do you know what finish your oak furniture features? What about the exact colour of your sofa? If you don’t have any other way of matching the colour, you may want to take a picture of your current furniture with your cell phone. Don’t leave it to chance—just because a piece of furniture looks like it will match in the store doesn’t necessarily mean it will. Furniture can look slightly different under the lights of a furniture store, after all.
Another thing to keep in mind is delivery. In most cases, your vehicle is not going to be large enough to transport a large piece of furniture. You need to have an idea of what dates are best for delivery. In some cases, you may be able to get same-day delivery, but that is not always a guarantee. Also realize that you may have to pay extra for delivery, especially if you want same-day or next-day delivery.
If you head to the furniture store with these pieces of information, you’ll find the entire process goes much more smoothly. You’ll have everything you need to pick out your new furniture.
So what do you need to know when you head out to the furniture store? First, you need to have an idea of what you need to buy. Going to a furniture store and browsing is one thing, but if you’re seriously looking to buy furniture, you need to have an idea of what you want. Do you need a new sofa? Are you looking for dining room furniture? Bedroom furniture? It helps to know exactly what you’re looking for so that you don’t get off track while shopping. It can be easy to get distracted by all of the nice, new furniture in the store. This is one of the reasons why shopping online for furniture can be a good idea.
Another thing you absolutely must have when you’re furniture shopping is a set of measurements. If you are looking for a dining room table and have a good sized room, you may not necessarily need to know the size of the room. However, if you are looking for a new sofa and have a limited amount of space, you need to know how large of a sofa you can accommodate. The last thing you want is to return with your new furniture only to find that it won’t fit in the space you thought it would.
If you’re looking for a piece of furniture that matches your other furniture, you may need to know exactly what colour you need. Do you know what finish your oak furniture features? What about the exact colour of your sofa? If you don’t have any other way of matching the colour, you may want to take a picture of your current furniture with your cell phone. Don’t leave it to chance—just because a piece of furniture looks like it will match in the store doesn’t necessarily mean it will. Furniture can look slightly different under the lights of a furniture store, after all.
Another thing to keep in mind is delivery. In most cases, your vehicle is not going to be large enough to transport a large piece of furniture. You need to have an idea of what dates are best for delivery. In some cases, you may be able to get same-day delivery, but that is not always a guarantee. Also realize that you may have to pay extra for delivery, especially if you want same-day or next-day delivery.
If you head to the furniture store with these pieces of information, you’ll find the entire process goes much more smoothly. You’ll have everything you need to pick out your new furniture.
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