Bookcase depth: how deep should shelves be?
Bookcase depth depends on your books. Most paperbacks and hardbacks suit a 220 mm shelf; art books need about 300 mm, and records about 360 mm.
14 October 20266 min read
Shelving built to fit your life.
Your home is unique. Your shelving should be too. Mestra is made to measure, made to order. Specifically for you.
Not sure what fits? Request a fit review
Buying from Mestra
- 20 layouts from £606.68 Shop pre-configured layouts
- Pay in 3 with
Orders up to £2,000. 18+, subject to status. - Made in Norfolk 2 to 10 weeks from order.
- 60-day Home Trial Live with it before you decide.
A modular system.
Made-to-measure birch plywood shelving, built in Norfolk. Adjust the layout as your needs change. Click “+” for more information.Tap “+” for more information.
Google reviews
“Really sturdy and natural material, nice and clean design, very easy to change and customise - easy to assemble too. Josh from Mestra was very helpful…”
“Really happy with my custom shelving! I spent forever searching for something that would fit just right but had no joy, until I found Mestra.”
Made, checked, and finished in Norfolk.
Follow the plywood components through cutting, checking, and finishing in the Mestra workshop.
See the material in your own room.
Order a sample pack. We’ll deduct what you paid from your first shelving order.
Choose a sample pack
Long-term ownership
60-day Home Trial
Live with your system for up to 60 days. If it is not right, we will arrange collection under our Home Trial terms.
Read the Home Trial
Ten-year warranty
Defects in materials and workmanship are covered for ten years from delivery, alongside your statutory rights.
Read the warranty
Free fit & layout review
Send a photo, rough measurements, and what you need to store. We will suggest a suitable starting layout, including bay widths, shelf or cabinet arrangement, and an indicative price.
Show us your space
Three ways to buy.
Get the planning guideAdd a pre-configured layout
Choose a layout and its number of bays, then add it to your basket. We make it to order in 2 to 10 weeks.
Shop layoutsConfigure your own
Set each bay width, then place shelves, cupboards, and drawers where you want them.
Start designingPlan it with us
Send your measurements and a photo. We’ll suggest a layout and check the fit, free.
Request a fit review
Useful articles.
Read all articles
What to look for in responsibly made shelving
How to judge responsibly made shelving: certified wood, low-emission boards, repairable finishes, and spare parts, with the questions to ask a maker.
13 October 20269 min read
What wood is best for shelves?
The best wood and materials for durable shelves: birch and other plywoods, oak, pine, MDF, chipboard, steel, and aluminium compared, and what wears first.
12 October 202612 min read
Common questions, considered answers.
Answers to the questions we hear most. If yours is not here, get in touch.
Get in touch