Upgrade Your Bookshelf With A Hidden Hack That Doubles Your Storage Space

Bookworm, avid reader, literature connoisseur? It doesn't matter what title you give or are given; book lovers take their collections very seriously. With so many great ideas for storing and displaying your reads, including using egg cartons to double book space, it's a wonder there are still new tricks out there to help free up shelf space and make your home library even more accessible. Alas, the internet is always coming up with new ways to increase storage (a bookshelf with hidden drawers, anyone?), and this clever hack will really enhance your reading nook organization and make more space for those TBRs you are probably already thinking of buying. All you need for this trick are some floating shelves that can be added to your existing bookcase and viola! You have a double-tiered book-lovers dream ready to hold all your beloved pages.

This project is ideal for units with deep shelving so that you can fit a second floating shelf (4 inches by 16.5 inches) on each of your bookcase shelves. The trick is to place one of these add-ons, like the Amazon Floating Shelves ($34.97), to the back of your shelves so you get a tiered setup. Smaller or shorter books (think paperbacks or more compact hardbacks) can go on the back, top tier, and then you can stack more books in front to both disguise the floating shelf and make your case seem full and aesthetically organized.

If your bookshelf can't accommodate the floating shelves, you have alternative options to get the same effect. You can place wooden blocks like these Amazon cubes ($20.99 for a pack of 27) at the back of your bookcase shelves, then stack books on top for the general idea of this hack. As long as you have something that lets you elevate one row of books at the back of your shelf, the result will look tidy and intentional, rather than novels and literature haphazardly shoved together, which could come off as cluttered and chaotic. However, if the floating shelves do work for you, to really amp up the finished product, why not organize your books by color so the rainbow pattern snakes across your shelves?

Once you've filled in the back tier, you can work on decorating your bookshelf. Interspersing small plants, knickknacks, and accessories between your front rows to add a little dimension is a great way to break up such a large number of books. Just ensure your pieces cover the floating shelf so it doesn't look too obvious, as the point is to add a hidden level to your unit. 

If your bookshelf pieces are removable, you can also adjust these to create more space between each shelf. This, in turn, will allow more room for your floating shelves. This idea could offer the solution if your books sit too high or can't fit. For bookshelves that are open on the ends and at the back, you can either paint the added shelves to match the rest of the unit to help conceal this extra piece or, if you have enough space on either end, bookend the shelf with plants, small statues, or other decor. If you have a closed shelving unit like the IKEA BILLY bookshelf, you don't need to worry about this.

You don't need to go overboard with hiding these additions, as they will be covered by the first row of books, which is what most people will see. Easy and budget-friendly, your bookshelf will benefit from the extra room. This simple hack is a great way to optimize storage and keep your books neatly displayed for your guests to peruse or for your own aesthetic enjoyment.