Buying a bookcase

Do you plan to display attractive books or other items? Choose open shelves, with or without glass doors to protect and prevent dust accumulation. Glass doors may be traditionally hinged (vertically, on the sides), horizontally hinged (across the top), or barrister-style (with pocket doors that open from the bottom and slide out of the way along the top of the shelf space). For a mix of "display" items and less attractive items, some bookcases offer both shelves and door compartments. And some manufacturers carry lines of components that allow you to customize your storage to meet your needs.

Exterior size is, of course, important in determining whether and how a bookcase will fit into your room. Do you have space constraints or features such as either high or low ceilings? A wall with windows between which you want your bookcase to go? Other furniture pieces that require special space considerations, such as an entertainment center/armoire with doors that need a certain space to open?

You can decide on bookcase configuration - whether a bookcase is taller than it is wide, whether it is accessible from one or both sides - by considering how many books you want to shelve in how large or small a space. If your space is limited and your books are abundant, you may wish to look for a bookcase that is close to your room height. Some bookcases even rotate to allow book storage on four sides of a square. Some are open on both sides and may be used as room dividers. Or, principles of feng shui or your own design preferences may suggest that you should use long, low bookcases rather than tall ones.

If you are interested in a bookcase with door compartments or glass doors, another consideration is how you want the doors to open and stow. There are three common types of doors on bookcases, as mentioned above:

Standard doors, which open no more than 180 degrees to the sides.
Top-hinged doors, which open from the bottom to a position at right angles to the bookcase and may be held in place with a locking bracket.
Pocket or barrister-style doors, which may open to the sides (less commonly) or from the bottom, and then slide into the body of the bookcase.

Some of the features you will find in some bookcases are as follows:

Adjustable shelves (often at least one shelf will be fixed, to provide structural support)
Interior lighting, with or without rheostat (dimmer)
Plate grooves for displaying plates, framed art, etc.
Drawers
Locking compartments

Now that you've taken the practical considerations into account, what's your style? Is it style contemporary, country, Oriental, traditional? Is there a particular style influence you love, such as Queen Anne or Shaker?

High-quality bookcases are usually constructed of wood but may have metal doors or frames. Composition matters: do you prefer solid wood, veneered wood, or metal? Solid wood is usually the most expensive option. Veneered wood may be less expensive yet more decorative, and may even add strength to a wooden piece. Horizontal slices in veneer reveal a pattern of rings, while vertical slices produce a wood grain effect. Both types of wood construction may require special care, and can be marred. But wood construction may feel more "solid" to you - appear more substantial - enhance the style you're creating. Metal, such as brushed stainless steel, may be coated with a protective lacquer, or it may require polishing with special products. (High-quality bookcases constructed entirely of metal are not common, but some bookcases have metal accents or an overall metal casing.)

Once you've decided on a material, you still need to decide on a finish. One way in which fine furniture stands out is by the time and care taken to apply the finish. Stain, paint, and specialty finishes are your most common choices.

Stain is a material rubbed into the wood to improve grain, figure and color and protect it from moisture, damage and changes in temperature.
Stains should feel smooth to the touch (except distressed finishes, which have randomly spaced marks).
Woods such as mahogany, walnut and oak should always have a grain filler applied to prevent pitting. The wood is generally filled after staining to prevent uneven patches.
Stains are available in a wide variety of tones, which will vary depending on the wood species to which they're applied. Manufacturers choose finish options carefully to enhance the appearance of the furniture item. For instance, stains applied to oak will often be chosen to accent the wood's strong grain patterns, while stains applied to cherry will emphasize the wood's warm natural coloring.
Furniture with a thin coat of varnish to seal the wood are not built or finished with the quality of a piece that has a hand polished, smooth surface.
Both varnish and lacquer can range from high gloss to matte finishes.
Paints with different properties are applied in layers to form a strong, protective surface.
Paints should feel smooth to the touch (except distressed finishes, which have randomly spaced marks).
Imperfections in the wood's grain are not as critical with painted items as paint is an applied substance, as opposed to stain which is rubbed into the surface of wood.
Paint will have a glossy, matte or satin finish when dry.
The backs and undersides of all pieces should be sanded and painted.
Specialty finishes may include various metallic finishes applied to metal pieces or over wood, painted designs such as chinoiserie, and enameling.

Another hallmark of fine furniture is its high-quality construction. Some types of strong wood joints:

mortise and tenon (one piece fits into a pocket on the other)
dovetail (the pieces fit together like interlocked fingers)
glued dowel joints
Additional stability may be added with:
glued and screwed joints
corner blocks: a triangular shaped piece of wood that is joined to both side rails and legs, usually by screws and dowel joints
steel braces or metal corner plates.
Hardware should be secure and strong, with no rough or sharp edges. Functional hardware should be made of solid brass, which is strong and durable and holds up well under stress. The bookcase should have a balanced feeling. If the bookcase has feet, they should be squared and sturdy.

Doors should swing open easily without squeaking or rubbing. Long doors should be attached with sturdy hinges. Drawers should fit perfectly but glide easily when pulled. Look for glides and stops, securely jointed corners, sanded and snag-free interiors, and dust panels between one drawer and the next. Long shelves should have center support.