For some people , booksare a kind of cosmetic speech pattern , a manner to circularise your dear of literacy in your home even though you might find some of the titles close tounreadable . For true book lover , own shelves of playscript is a necessity . Either way , books have to go somewhere . If they ’re not stacked vertically , hoarder - mode , they ’re placed on a bookcase or bookshelf — probably one you bought flat - jam-packed fromIKEA .
But what ’s the difference between the two ?
AsChairish account , the reply is in the words themselves . A bookcaseis a freestanding , self - supporting piece of article of furniture that incase book ( or whatever you ’d care to shelve ) inside . It has structure . If it were point anywhere , from a room to a parking lot , it would be readily identifiable as a bookcase .

A bookshelf , on the other hand , is just that — a shelf . It has no means of support . Bookshelves are normally rank on wall bracket or otherwise bolted to a secure paries where they can “ float . ” If you pick out a bookshelf off the wall and placed it elsewhere , it would look like a piece of timber .
It ’s a fairly wide-eyed distinction . If a piece of piece of furniture can sit down on the floor , it ’s a bookcase . If it needs to be harbour up or installed , it ’s a bookshelf .
If you ’re shopping , some retailers maydescribea bookcase as a “ shelving unit . ” It ’s pretty clinical , but it reach sense : the great unwashed stash away photograph , collectibles , and other personal items on bookcases . And while they ’re normally closed on three sides , some have an opened plan that make them resemble a bookshelf .
Which one is “ adept ” calculate mostly on your blank and style preferences . If you opt for a bookcase , you ’ll be taking up a large footmark on the floor . This might be better for renters who are n’t comfy drilling mess in the wall . ( If you have kid or favourite , however , it ’s always a good idea to establish one support shoulder strap to prevent it from tipping over . ) Opt for a bookshelf and you ’ll have more pattern exemption , with shelves capable to be placed above other article of furniture . You ’ll probably involve some bookend to keep your titles from tipping over . But ultimately , how you take to display that unread written matter ofInfinite Jestis entirely up to you .
[ h / tChairish ]