INTERIORS

The writing on the wall

Holly Thomas

Friday July 21 2017, 12.01am, The Times

A picture with the humble bookshelf has been given the hashtag #shelfie
NINSI_XX/INSTAGRAM

Holly Thomas

Friday July 21 2017, 12.01am, The Times

Books are back — it’s official. And the trend is feeding through to interiors. This week The Times reported that retailers have recorded an increase in the sales of bookcases. John Lewis reports that sales are up by more than 10 per cent on last year, while at Heal’s sales of bookcases and shelving units are up by 47 per cent.

When e-readers became fashionable, bookshops were abandoned at an alarming rate, with people buying cheap digital versions of books, but as readers tire of staring at backlit screens, those days appear to be behind us. Mintel, the market research group, says that sales of books will rise by 6 per cent this year to £1.7 billion, and by 25 per cent over the next five years.

Bricks & Mortar first called the trend back in 2014.

It’s important to have the most stylish bookcase you can find to complement your prized classics — especially if you are joining in with the trend of posting pictures of your book collection on social media. By posting under the hashtag #shelfie, lovers of literature can reveal something about who they are.

Bookshelves are multi-taskers too. Not only do they house your favourite reads, they can also be used to zone rooms — to split a living room and dining room, for example. If you want to update how you display your favourite novels and objets d’art (a stylish bookshelf or bookcase works equally well for decorative accessories), then look no farther to find the right piece, whether you intend to save, spend or splurge.

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