When is a bookcase not a bookcase?

When you don't just fill it with books of course - Of course you may disagree with this, 'a bookcase is always a bookcase regardless of what is in it. After all, a rocking chair against a wall is still called a rocking chair...’ Yes, this may sound of miniscule importance, but this is what I was faced with after I had made the simple decision that it was time for me to re-house my books.

I thought I had done enough. I had measured the area that it would 'slot' into and worked out roughly how many shelves I would need. Fin.

Time to call the sister (like a bloodhound when it comes to 'good deals') and put her on the search. What did I expect upon arriving home? A simple email with links to bookcases for me to peruse and choose. What I didn't expect was questions questions questions.

• Do I want a pine bookcase or should I go for an oak bookcase instead?
• Do I want a cupboard at the bottom to store things (like books perhaps?)
• Do I want a headstock or just a flat top?
• Do I want divided shelves?
• Do I want a traditional or modern style?
• Do I want flat pack or pre-assembled?

I soon realised I was an amateur and more research was going to be needed.

I thought I would begin with choosing the wood. Normally I can be partial to a bit of pine, but, for a bookcase, oak seemed to scream out at me. I wanted something that would add character to my living room yet fit in with the overall design theme I had previously chosen. An oak mantelpiece and an oak table currently reside, so an oak bookcase would fit in nicely. I'm also not bad with a screwdriver so a flat pack is seen as a challenge, not a nightmare.

The style? I have hundreds of books so the decision as to whether I need drawers or a cupboard was easy. It was a no. Give me shelves and give me many (I can always get a separate unit for my dining room later...). It was the same for the headstock - without one I have an extra shelf. Easy.

Then it was just a matter of getting online and choosing the one for me. This was surprisingly easy, as long as you know what you want, which finally I did: A tall, oak, flat topped, many shelved book case that fits my gap.

Ordered, paid for, should arrive in a couple of days, now where is that screwdriver again….