Children’s books are one of the sweetest parts of the early years, so as soon as you announce your pregnancy, don’t be surprised if you’re inundated with kid lit! Don’t get us wrong, the more books the better. But to cut down on clutter, creating a space to display these special stories is important. That’s where these nursery bookshelves come in! Not only do nursery bookcases offer a much-needed nursery storage solution, but they can also be an integral part of your nursery decor! From floating shelves to thematic nursery bookcases, here are some of our favorite nursery bookshelves...

Dollhouse Nursery Bookshelves

Photo & To Purchase: Crate & Barrel

The dollhouse nursery bookcase is a hot trend right now and you might be lucky enough to scoop up a used one off Facebook Marketplace for under $100 to repaint and spruce up for your kids. A more modern take is this lucite version which is giving us all the heart eyes. Either way, a dollhouse bookcase is a great transitional piece for a nursery because it can be used for book and trinket storage in the early years, and later, for playtime with their dolls.

Stylish Nursery Bookrack

Photo & To Purchase: West Elm

A not-too-cutesy, grown-up looking bookcase is a gorgeous choice for the nursery, and it has longevity. We love this style with the bars across the front to hold books in place and make clean-up a breeze for busy parents.

Easy-Access Nursery Book Caddy

Photo & To Purchase: Crate & Barrel

Get Baby in on the book-browsing action—and keep your organizational stress at an absolute minimum—with a low nursery book storage solution that lets you dump Baby’s books after storytime or playtime and encourages them to participate in both selecting and cleaning up their own books.

Tree Nursery Bookcase

Photo & To Purchase: Fawn and Forest 

It’s pretty much impossible to not “ooh” and “aah” when you behold this absolutely darling nursery bookcase from Fawn and Forest. Perfect for a nature-themed nursery, the majestic tree shape gives parents endless ways to creatively store your books in its branches.

Leaning Nursery Bookshelves

Photo & To Purchase: Pottery Barn Kids

Paranoid parents rejoice! An answer exists for those of us who worry about wild toddlers and topple risk. While all furniture in a baby’s room should be bolted or otherwise secured in place, the design of this nursery bookcase itself prevents such an incident. It also looks pretty darn cute.

Elephant Baby Room Bookshelf

Photo & To Purchase: Crate & Barrel 

Swoon-worthy animal-shaped book casing is a pretty sweet nursery for a baby room (especially if you’re sprucing up a safari-themed nursery!). This elephant baby room bookcase looks absolutely precious and holds a ton.

Floating Nursery Bookshelves

Photo & To Purchase: Etsy/PinguWood 

Floating bookshelves like these can be a beautiful way to showcase books (or art) in any room of the house, but they’re especially adorable in a baby’s room. There are so many options for hanging bookshelves for the nursery from acrylic to metal to wood; you can even get crafty and make your own from scratch with a little help from Pinterest or YouTube. This hand-crafted set from Etsy is picture-perfect for the baby nursery. 

Stack-Up Nursery Bookshelf Cubes

Photo: Project Nursery

This versatile stacking solution is super cute for the nursery; its block-like look gives it a baby-friendly feeling, and storing books and toys within reach but without much structure is one less thing you’ll have to think about when Baby arrives.

Rainbow Nursery Bookshelves

Photo: StudioDIY

Take floating nursery bookshelves to another colorful level with rainbow bookshelves. Use all the colors in the spectrum, as seen here—or stick to a few that work with your color scheme. No matter what, the result is bold and brilliant (shop rainbow ledge shelves here and see more rainbow nursery inspiration here!)

Nursery Bookcase & Dresser Combo

Photo & To Purchase: Pottery Barn Kids 

Being a parent is all about multi-tasking...so why not knock out form and function with your baby nursery bookshelves. Store allllll the things with style and ease in a highly functional, sturdy cabinet system featuring doors, drawers, and more. Over time the ratio of books to clothes or toys can shift fluidly as Baby grows into a little kid, a big kid, and then a teen. This is one of those investment pieces for the nursery that is absolutely worth it, for all the ways it will continue to accommodate your child as he or she grows.

Create a Nursery Book Cart

Photo: homedit

Our favorite sweet, versatile IKEA utility carts are great for nursery storage in general; we’ve seen them used as diaper stations, room-to-room toy carting, and later, as art carts for big kids. Consider stacking Baby’s books in style with one of these affordable, multi-use carts.  

Think Beyond the Nursery Bookshelves…

Nursery bookshelves are just one part of your overall nursery decor—but we’ve got you covered with inspiration for every element of your little one’s new sleep space…

Another nursery essential: A safe place for your little one to sleep! For the littlest babies, consider SNOO Smart Sleeper, designed with safety—and more sleep—in mind. SNOO has been shown to add 1 to 2 hours of sleep a night for babies...and their tired parents!

About Jenny Studenroth Gerson

Jenny Studenroth Gerson is an Atlanta-based lifestyle journalist and novelist (Let Me Let You Go, 2020). Her work can be seen in publications including HuffPost, Cosmo, and WSJ, among many others. Jenny has researched thousands of baby names, combed through hundreds of nursery designs, and curated dozens of baby shower guides, making her absolutely the mom—and writer—you want to talk to when planning for Baby. When not meeting deadlines, she is chasing toddlers or chugging coffee—or both! Find her on Instagram @ourlifeinrosegold for mom hacks and more.

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Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.