The Container Store Floating Bookshelf Review

The Shelf That Disappears Behind Your Books

I absolutely love floating bookshelves because it’s a really cool way to display your books without having big bulky shelves in the way. That’s kind of the whole pitch here — and when I got the Wawocs Invisible Bookshelf sent over for review, I was excited to show how this concept actually works because I think a lot of people see the name and go, “Wait — floating? What does that even mean?”

So let me break it down. These are made from metal. They come with all the hardware you need to install them. And the reason they’re called “invisible” or “floating” is genuinely clever — not just marketing fluff. Once you understand the mechanism, you’re going to get it immediately.

And I know at first you’re like, “What do you mean it’s a floating bookshelf?” That reaction is completely normal. But once you see it in action, it is such a cool concept.

The Hook System Is the Whole Trick

Here’s how it works. Underneath each shelf, there are little hooks. You take your book — it doesn’t matter if it’s a hardcover or a softcover — and you open it. The back of the book fits right into those hooks. So the book is basically cradling the shelf. The shelf sits behind the open spine, tucked away.

The result? You don’t see the shelf at all. Just the book, sitting up against the wall like it’s held there by nothing. And then you stack more books in front of and on top of the first one, and suddenly you’ve got this clean vertical display of books that looks like it’s floating off the wall.

The shelves themselves are metal — so there’s no flex, no wobble, no cheap plastic situation. They come with all the wall hardware included, which I appreciated. You’re not hunting for the right screws or anchors. Everything you need is in the box.

One thing to know: the two shelf pieces aren’t connected to each other. They’re independent units. That means you choose how you arrange them — side by side on the same wall, or stacked vertically on top of each other. That flexibility is a big plus because not every wall and not every room is the same.

What It Looks Like Once It’s Up

The whole point of this shelf is what happens after installation — and the B-roll I shot for the review shows exactly that. Once the books are on and stacked up, the shelf is basically gone. You’re left with what looks like a freestanding tower of books mounted to the wall. No visible bracket. No chunky hardware. Just books.

I just kind of love this idea. You’re going to have your books sitting like this, flat against the wall, and it just doesn’t look like there’s a shelf there at all. For a small room, that’s a big deal. Heavy furniture and visible shelving units eat up visual space fast. This does the opposite — it draws the eye to the books themselves, not the storage method.

And because the shelves aren’t connected, you can design the arrangement however you want. Tight together for a dense book tower look. Spaced out for a more editorial, gallery-wall vibe. Stack them three high if your wall allows it. The flexibility is real.

You can also skip the floating-book effect entirely and just use these as regular wall shelves. Put some books on the bottom section and a cute little plant or some decor at the top. They hold objects just fine — the hooks only come into play when you want to do the invisible book trick. As a straight-up shelf, they work too.

The Part Nobody Talks About — Hardcover vs. Softcover

A lot of floating shelf reviews skip right past this, so I want to address it. The hook system works regardless of whether your book is a hardcover or a softcover. That matters more than you’d think.

With a rigid hardcover, the book opens cleanly and the spine locks into the hooks with zero fuss. Softcovers are a bit more flexible by nature, but they still slot in. The spine just needs to sit in the hook — and as long as you’re loading the shelf with enough books to stack against it, everything holds position.

So you’re not limited to one type of book. Your paperbacks, your hardcovers, your coffee table books — all of them can work with this system. That’s genuinely useful to know before you buy, because some people assume floating shelves only work with certain sizes or binding types.

The metal construction also means you’re not dealing with a shelf that bends or shifts when the weight stacks up. It’s solid. And again — it comes with the installation hardware, so you’re not improvising at the wall.

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Wawocs Invisible Bookshelf

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Small Apartments, Book Lovers, and People Who Hate Bulky Furniture

These are made for a pretty specific kind of person — and if that person is you, you’ll know immediately.

If you’re living somewhere with limited floor space and you’ve been putting off dealing with your book collection because every shelving option feels too big or too boring, this solves that. It takes up basically no footprint. It doesn’t project far off the wall. And it turns your books into a visual feature rather than something to hide.

Book lovers who’ve outgrown a single bookcase but don’t want another piece of furniture — this is a really cool option. You can put one set in the bedroom, one in a hallway, one in the living room, and suddenly your books are part of the decor across the whole space instead of piled up in one corner.

It also works well if you like the idea of a reading nook or a feature wall but don’t have the budget (or the square footage) for built-in shelving. The two-piece system is modular enough that you can keep adding as your collection grows — just install another set wherever there’s wall space.

And because you can use them as regular shelves too — with plants or decorative objects — they’re not a one-trick product. Someone who doesn’t even own many books could still use these as wall-mounted display ledges and get solid mileage out of them.

That said, these aren’t for everyone. If you need to organize and store a serious volume of books — like, a full floor-to-ceiling library situation — these won’t replace a dedicated bookcase. They’re more about curation and display than raw storage capacity. Keep your expectations matched to the product’s actual purpose and you’ll be happy.

Floating Shelf vs. Standard Wall Shelf

The obvious comparison is a standard floating ledge shelf — the kind you see everywhere, just a flat piece of wood or MDF mounted to a wall with a bracket hidden inside.

Those work fine for displaying objects. But here’s the difference: when you put books on a standard ledge shelf, you see the shelf. The books sit on top of it. There’s a visible surface below them, visible depth, visible hardware if the installation isn’t perfect. It looks like a shelf with books on it — because it is.

With the Wawocs, the shelf hides behind the book. The first book in the stack is the anchor, and everything above it stacks forward. So what you see is a column of books, not a shelf. That’s a fundamentally different visual outcome — and for a minimalist or modern aesthetic, it’s a much cleaner look.

The trade-off is that the invisible shelf concept works best with books specifically. A standard ledge shelf can hold candles, frames, plants, random objects — no technique required. The Wawocs hooks need a book spine to grip. If you’re mixing books with other items, you’re placing those objects on top of the stack rather than anchoring them in the hook system directly. That’s fine, but it’s worth understanding before you buy.

For pure book display? The Wawocs wins the visual game easily. For general shelf use? A standard ledge might be more versatile. These really are designed with book lovers specifically in mind — and they deliver on that.

Before You Install These

A few things to think through before you put these on your wall.

Plan your arrangement first. Because the two pieces aren’t connected, you decide whether they go side by side, stacked vertically, or in completely different spots. Decide that before you start drilling. It’s a lot easier to sketch it out on paper than to start plugging holes in your wall and then change your mind.

The hook mechanism makes the most visual impact when you use books of a similar thickness to anchor the shelf. A very thin pamphlet-style book won’t grip as securely as a regular paperback or novel. Start with a standard-thickness book as your base and you’ll get the cleanest floating effect.

Also — the shelves come with the wall hardware included, so use it. Don’t try to substitute your own screws and then wonder why the install feels off. Use what’s in the box, find your studs or use the appropriate wall anchors for your wall type, and you’ll be good.

And if you want to add decor to the top — a small plant, a little figurine, something like that — totally doable. The shelf holds it. Just keep the weight reasonable. These are display shelves, not load-bearing storage for heavy objects.

Check the current price and availability on Amazon at the link below before you buy. Pricing can move around and it’s worth seeing what’s in stock.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the floating effect work with both hardcover and softcover books?

Yes — the hooks underneath the shelf work with both hardcover and softcover books. You open the book and slot the back of the spine into the hooks, regardless of binding type. Softer paperbacks work just fine once you’ve stacked additional books against them to hold the position.

Do you have to use both pieces together, or can you install them separately?

The two pieces aren’t connected, so you can install them however you want — side by side, stacked vertically, or even in completely different parts of a room. That flexibility is one of the better design decisions on this product. You’re not locked into a single configuration.

Can these shelves hold things other than books?

Yes. The hooks are what create the floating book effect, but the shelf surface itself can hold small decor items like plants or figurines. A common approach is books on the lower portion and something decorative at the top. They function as regular display ledges when you’re not using the hook system.

Does this come with everything needed for wall installation?

It does. The hardware for installation is included in the box. You’re not sourcing your own screws or anchors — everything you need comes with the shelf. Just make sure you’re drilling into the right wall type and using the appropriate anchors for your situation.

Is this good for small apartments or rental spaces?

It’s a solid option for small spaces because it takes up almost no floor footprint and keeps the wall looking clean rather than cluttered. The wall installation does mean you’re making holes, so factor that in if you’re in a rental. For small apartments where floor space is at a premium, it’s one of the better book display solutions out there.

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How much wall space do I need for these?

Not much — that’s kind of the whole point. Because the books stack vertically and the shelf mounts flush to the wall, you’re using height rather than width. A fairly narrow strip of wall is enough for one set. If you’re stacking them vertically on top of each other, you’ll need a clear run of wall height, but the horizontal footprint stays minimal.

Learn more

Wawocs Invisible Bookshelf

Find Out More →

This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.