Yes. Tall bookcases should be anchored using the supplied fittings, particularly in homes with children or pets. A loaded bookcase is heavy, children climb shelves like ladders, and toppling furniture causes serious injuries every year. It takes five minutes and it is not optional.

Most bookcases are 25 to 35cm deep, which comfortably holds standard books. For larger art books or baskets, look for a deeper unit around 35cm.

This varies by construction, but solid timber and reinforced shelves carry more than thin laminate. Spread heavier items evenly rather than in one spot, and keep the heaviest books on the lower shelves, which helps both the shelf and the stability of the whole unit.

Adjustable shelves let you change spacing for tall books and objects, while fixed shelves give a cleaner, more uniform appearance and are often a little more rigid.

Long spans and heavy loads are the cause, and books are dense. A wide shelf with no centre support will bow gradually under a full row. Spreading weight, moving heavy items lower, or turning a sagging shelf over can help, but the real fix is choosing a unit with shorter spans or thicker shelves in the first place.

An open back keeps a room feeling light and works well as a divider in open plan living, since you can see through it. A closed back gives a more solid, finished look against a wall and is usually more rigid, which matters on a tall unit.

Most ship flat packed with fixings and instructions. Assemble it lying down where you can, then stand it up with a second person, since a tall unit is awkward to lift alone. Fit the backing panel properly rather than skipping it, as it is what keeps the whole frame square.

An open backed unit works well for this in an open plan space, since it defines an area without blocking light. Freestanding units used this way cannot be anchored to a wall, so choose something lower and wider rather than tall and narrow, and keep the weight low.

Leave some shelves less full than others, mix upright books with a few stacked flat, and give objects room to breathe rather than filling every gap. Grouping in odd numbers and keeping to a limited palette does more than adding decorative pieces.

Direct sun fades spines quickly, so avoid a wall that catches afternoon light. In Queensland humidity, air movement matters too, so leave a small gap between a closed back bookcase and an external wall rather than pushing it hard against one.