A quality magazine rack can add a touch of elegance to any living room or library. Though magazines are usually transitory and non-literary in nature, when kept in a handsome rack they take on an air of sophistication.

A magazine rack also serves a practical purpose: It gives you a place to keep all your magazines! Some people use a coffee table or an end table for this, but those pieces of furniture are often occupied by other things, too. A magazine rack is dedicated to just one task, though if the rack is covered, it can serve as a sort of end table as well.

As with so many furniture items, the question is: To build or to buy? Magazine racks are actually fairly simple to build and are often one of the first projects that a beginning woodworker attempts. A homemade magazine rack can be especially aesthetically pleasing in a "rustic" setting such as a cabin or cottage; it may not fit in quite as well with modern home decor, unless you're a particularly skilled woodworker.

When it comes to buying one, there are many options, depending mostly on how much money you want to spend. Magazine racks don't generally get a lot of wear and tear, so you needn't shell out big bucks for the finest imported mahoganies or anything like that. But at the same time, you want something that will complement your decor and look nice by itself. Spend accordingly.

One very useful option is the combination magazine rack and lamp. This is essentially three items in one. On the bottom is the standard magazine rack. It's covered, though, making it a small table. And coming out of the table is a built-in lamp. This is a great piece to have next to your favorite easy chair, perfect for holding reading material, remote controls and snacks.