Size:
Though it on how many books you want to store, Oliver M. Furth recommends a bookcase that measures at least 30 inches wide. Anything less than this size won't fit many books, especially if they are hardcovers or coffee table books. However, glass door bookcases can go all the way up to 100 inches wide, so there truly is a size to fit every need. However, before you buy the largest bookcase just because it fits in a space, consider how it will impact the furniture around it. A bookcase can be a large and imposing piece of furniture, which is why it's vital to ensure you have enough room to fit your other furniture in. You should leave approximately 10 inches between furniture pieces for a well-spaced look.
Shape:
A bookcase with glass doors can be tall and narrow or smaller and wider. Which shape is best for you depends on the layout of your room. If you have more floor than wall space free, Peter Dunham recommends a bookcase that expands outwards rather than upwards. This will give you enough room to store your books without losing any more space where you need it. If you have the opposite issue, aka more wall than floor space, a tall bookcase will better suit your needs. Remember too that higher ceilings can accommodate bulkier furniture better due to the extra space, though it's always best to leave a small gap between where your bookcase ends and ceiling begins.
Material and Maintenance:
Aside from the glass doors, a bookcase with a glass front is usually made from manufactured wood. Manufactured wood furniture is cheaper than solid wood furniture due to being less expensive to produce, but it will chip and mark more easily. If you plan to use your cabinet often, consider coating the wood section/s in a protective lacquer. When it comes to distressed furniture, maintenance is slightly more difficult. This is because distressed furniture is deliberately damaged and aged, meaning it will deteriorate faster. Of course, this may contribute even more to the style, especially if you are going for a farmhouse or coastal theme, but it could look out of place if your other furniture isn't distressed. Finally, glass requires specialist cleaning spray to stop permanent streaks and marks.
Style and Color:
There may be a slight misconception that bookcases with glass doors are old-fashioned, but this doesn't have to be the case at all. You can easily make a glass door bookcase appear contemporary. One of the simplest ways to do this is to go for a color like white or gray. Miles Redd says that not only will white naturally brighten up a room, but it will always come across as modern. Darker colors are associated with antique furniture, as many antique pieces feature a similar dark wood finish. If you do want to go for a dark wood finish, placing it in a room with high ceilings can help to offset the closed-in effect dark furniture can have.