ADVICE

Reader’s question
"We are going to build a bookcase in the living room around the fireplace. I would like to ask what kind of wood should I choose; should the wood tone of the bookcase match the other furniture? Thank you in advance."

Our recommendation

Types of timber

Built-in bookcases are usually made with solid wood boards (lumber), although the cost is high.
Plywood and veneer MDF are a more economical solution and in many cases they are more stable and stronger than solid softwoods.
The choice of wood is mainly depended on the load-bearing capacity of books and items on the shelves of the bookcase.

Wood tones

The choice of the wood tone for the bookcase depends on many factors such as,
• decorating style of the space
• the type of bookcase, for example open-backed or closed-backed
• the size of the bookcase and the space
• the existence of other wood surfaces beside furniture, e.g. flooring or paneling

You should take into account that a built-in bookcase is completely different than a free standing shelving system next to the fireplace.
So you can choose either dark or lighter tone of the wood for the bookcase, according to the criteria mentioned above.

Wood is a warm, timeless material that can be combined with all the elements of the space in any decorating style.
Consequently, the wood tone of the bookcase can be different than the other furniture color, provided that the elements in the space make a balanced, harmonious whole.