Planning shelf space for books and files

Measure the wall's width and the height up to any switch, window or air conditioner. Most bookcases here are around 180 cm tall and 30 to 35 cm deep, enough for most books and A4 binders, while the 85 cm high ones fit under a window or beside a desk as an extra surface.

Leaning bookcases rest against the wall at a slight angle, so they need a level floor and a solid wall behind them. Anchor tall bookcases to the wall if children are likely to climb them, and put the heaviest books on the lower shelves.

Veneer and acacia surfaces show real wood grain but dislike damp, so keep shelves a little away from an outside wall that gets wet in the monsoon. Several models are marked ready-assembled, so they can go straight into use once they arrive.