For a more traditional look, the Sauder Five Shelf Bookcase is sturdy, well-balanced, and timeless. Unfortunately, it’s also fairly expensive at around $172.
Sauder is a well-known name in ready-to-assemble furniture. While the individual pieces on this shelf were somewhat unwieldy, they all fit together with perfection, including every connector, screw, and nail. Combined with detailed instructions and well-organized odds and ends, this heavy-duty bookshelf came together in an hour’s time.
When it came to testing the weight capacity and balance of the individual shelves, the Sauder didn’t disappoint, withstanding its weight capacity and demonstrating decent balance when the weights were stacked on one side. As for design, the Sauder bookcase isn’t going to be featured on the cover of any home design magazines anytime soon, but its look is timeless enough that it could likely blend into just about any home.
In the end, the Sauder’s price tag kept it from being higher on the list. Had it been under $100, it likely would have competed with the IKEA Brusali, simply because its wider design is more functional than our top pick’s tall and narrow build. Still, if you’re looking for a rock-solid traditional-looking bookshelf, we have no qualms sending you Sauder’s way.