Front-facing bookshelf

The Bookshelf - Classic

4.99 from 150 reviews

Keep their favourite books visible, organised and easy to reach, in a clean, simple shape that works in any space. Solid ash with a front bar in the colour of your choice, made in our Cardiff workshop.

£119.95or 3 payments of £39.98 with Klarna · free UK delivery
Size: Small - 40 cmSizes
Front bar: Natural Wood

Painted by hand with child-safe paint, tested to EN 71-3. Not sure? Order a £3 sample

1
  • Made to order, dispatched in 10–12 working days
  • Free UK delivery
  • Arrives assembled, ready to hang
  • 14-day returns
Interior designer? Trade pricing available
The details
  • The original Autumn's Corner design
  • Solid ash, sustainably sourced
  • Floating mortise and tenon joints
  • Front bar in 17 painted colours or natural ash
  • Clean, minimal profile
  • Designed to last beyond childhood
  • Arrives fully assembled, with screws, wall plugs and keyhole markers
Delivery and returns

Made to order in our Cardiff workshop and dispatched within 10–12 working days, fully assembled, with free UK delivery. You have 14 days from delivery to return it; return postage is paid by you.

Fitting and care

Slot the two keyhole markers into the back of the shelf, hold it level against the wall and press: they mark exactly where to drill, so there's no measuring. Then fit the plugs and screws and hang it. To clean, wipe with a soft, damp cloth; no polish or sprays needed.

Design story

Where it all began.

The Classic was our first shelf: a simple, well-made alternative to typical children's furniture, made from solid ash and built for everyday use.

Two Bookshelf Classic shelves by Autumn's Corner above a cosy floor cushion, filled with front-facing picture books
Books they can reach Front-facing, so they can see, choose and put back their own books.
Made for smaller rooms Compact and balanced, it fits where a bigger shelf won't.
A calmer room Every book has a clear place, so tidying up is something they can do themselves.
Works with your home A clean, minimal profile that sits quietly alongside your furniture.
Built for every day Made to be used daily, year after year.
Built to last

Solid ash, joined to last.

The Classic is joined with floating mortise and tenon joints, a traditional cabinetmaking joint that keeps it strong and square under a full load of books.

Mortise and tenonA traditional cabinetmaking joint.
Solid ashSustainably sourced and naturally strong.
Hand-finishedSanded and painted in Cardiff.
Children's reading corner with Bookshelf Classic shelves, a READ print and a wall hanging
Sizes

Three widths, one profile.

Every size is 12cm tall and 10cm deep: a slim, front-facing ledge that fits smaller rooms and tighter spaces.

SizeOverall (w × d × h)
Small · 40cm40 × 10 × 12cm
Medium · 60cm60 × 10 × 12cm
Large · 80cm80 × 10 × 12cm
Keyhole marker slotted into the back of a solid ash Story Shelf, with a spare marker, two screws and two wall plugs included in the box
The keyhole marker sits in the slot on the back. Press the shelf to the wall and its point marks the spot.
Ready to hang

On the wall in minutes. No measuring.

In the boxYour shelf, fully assembled · 2 screws · 2 universal wall plugs · 2 keyhole markers
  1. 1Slot in the markersPush the two keyhole markers into the keyhole slots on the back of the shelf.
  2. 2Level it and pressPlace a spirit level on the shelf, hold it where you want it and press it firmly against the wall. The markers show exactly where to drill.
  3. 3Drill, plug and hangDrill the two holes with a 6mm bit, push in the wall plugs, fit the screws and hang the shelf on them.
You'll need a drill with a 6mm bit and a spirit level.
Shaping solid wood with a router in the Autumn's Corner workshop
From the workshop

“Every Classic is made in our Cardiff workshop, and I build each one as if it were going on my own children's wall.”

Luke, our maker

Loved by families

4.99★ from 150 reviews

Good to know

Can I have it without a painted bar?

Yes. Choose Natural Wood and the front bar is left as plain ash.

Not sure which colour?

Order real painted samples for £3 a colour, posted free, from our colour samples page. Each sample has a code on the back worth £5 off a furniture order of £100 or more, one code per order.

What do I need to put it up?

A drill with a 6mm bit and a spirit level. Everything else, the screws, universal wall plugs and keyhole markers, comes in the box.

Will it work on my walls?

The universal wall plugs in the box work in both solid walls and plasterboard. Every wall is different, so if you're unsure, ask a professional for advice before fitting.

How high should I hang it?

Hang it so the books sit at your child's eye or chest height, where they can reach them comfortably while standing. A simple test: stand them next to the wall and see where their hand naturally lands. For a reading wall, put the lowest shelf at their height and use the higher ones for books you swap in. Avoid hanging shelves directly above a cot or bed.

Is the paint safe for children?

Yes. Every colour is painted in our Cardiff workshop with a furniture paint tested to EN 71-3, the safety standard for children's toys.

When will it arrive?

It's made to order and dispatched within 10–12 working days, fully assembled, with free UK delivery.

Will mine look exactly like the photos?

Very close, but not identical. It's made from solid timber, so the grain and the odd knot will differ from piece to piece. That's what makes each one yours.