With fewer people buying paper books what’s to become of bookcases? In a bid to move with the times their manufacturers are now designing them to be used for the display of ornaments and other such objects.
Next month IKEA will introduce a new, deeper version of its ubiquitous “BILLY” bookcase. The flat-pack furniture giant is already promoting glass doors for its bookshelves. The firm reckons customers will increasingly use them for ornaments, tchotchkes and the odd coffee-table tome – anything, that is, except books that are actually read.