“A lavish examination of the creative ways people . . .make books a part of their living spaces.”—Fine Books & Collections

A home filled with books can be a place of inspiration in more ways than one. Bookcases, bookshelves, entire rooms: far from being simple storage spaces, home libraries reveal the personalities and lifestyles of their owners. They are always very personal and unpredictable, whether they have been specially created in a separate room or fitted into nooks and crannies all over the house.

Artists, interior decorators, graphic designers, fashion designers, writers, collectors, journalists, and business people: all have different ways of engaging with books as a design challenge. Here we see how they have built the libraries of their dreams, and we explore the many ways of striking a balance between style and practicality, modern trends and classic styling, strict organization and carefree clutter.