Adaptable Bookcase and Storage Solutions That Adjust According to Your Home's Layout
In a celebration of design and functionality, the spring fairs in Stockholm, Milan, and Copenhagen featured a diverse array of modular shelving systems that blend timeless design with modern innovation. These systems, a mix of reissues from design archives and new creations, emphasise flexibility, craftsmanship, and aesthetic appeal.
One such standout is Mogens Koch’s MK Bookcase System, originally designed in 1928 and reissued by the Danish heritage brand Fredericia at the 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen. This classic modular system, handcrafted in solid oak with maple trays, showcases precise geometry and craftsmanship, honouring Koch’s design legacy nearly a century later.
Another noteworthy introduction is Industrial Facility’s ‘Rombe’ shelving system, presented by &Tradition. This London-based design studio's first foray into modular shelving, 'Rombe' combines industrial utility with softened domestic aesthetics. The system uses a rhomboid-shaped steel frame that assembles with a single hidden allen key, allowing shelves to be easily lifted out and repositioned in 20 different configurations. Its design cleverly accommodates room features like skirting boards, sockets, and radiators by not touching the wall, making it highly versatile for modern interiors.
IKEA also reintroduced the iconic shelf designed by Niels Gammelgaard, reflecting their continuing commitment to classic Scandinavian design. This reissue, combining simplicity with functionality in a modular shelving context, is suitable for a broad market.
Originally created for the workplace, 'USM Haller' has since expanded into homes, offering configurations for shelving, cabinets, desks, TV units, and accessories in a spectrum of colours. Recent updates to the system include integrated lighting, charging ports, and display components for house plants.
The '606 Universal Shelving System', designed by Dieter Rams in 1960 and produced by Vitsoe, is another wall-mounted modular system that adapts to any space and can be fitted with a range of components. The '606' shelves are made using recyclable aluminium, steel, and compostable wood, designed for longevity, flexibility, and ease of repair.
FF. Spine, debuted at Milan Design Week 2025, is a modular system designed by Formafantasma that celebrates the artistry of Cassina's joinery workshop, making thoughtful use of wood elements. Meanwhile, Time & Style's 'Grid' shelf, part of the Japanese brand's 2025 collection, transforms walls into architectural features.
HAY's 'Woody' shelves have been updated with refined construction and expanded finish options, while staying true to the original's pared-back charm. 'Keen', a modular shelving system introduced by Linda Korndal's studio, Toko Among Friends, expands vertically and horizontally. This system features seven core modules with frame finishes in black brass or satin stainless steel, and shelves in tinted glass, stained ash, or FSC-certified ALPI veneer.
Lastly, 'Rasters', designed by Muller Van Severen, is a modular shelving system that balances clean geometry with bold colour for home, work, or hybrid spaces. String, a company known for its modular system, introduces a new colour, Dark Grey, to its palette.
These shelving systems reflect both the celebration of design heritage through reissues and fresh approaches to modularity and usability in new designs. The fairs showed a clear trend toward adaptable, handcrafted, and minimalist shelving solutions that evolve with user needs and spaces.
The Mogens Koch's MK Bookcase System, a reissued classic from 1928, offers an aesthetic blend of interior-design and lifestyle, embodying timeless beauty and craftsmanship suitable for home-and-garden settings. The 'Rombe' shelving system, introduced by Industrial Facility, presents a modern take on industrial-utility, seamlessly integrating with modern interiors thanks to its flexible configuration and compromise with room features.
