31 Built-In Bookshelf Ideas for Every Room in Your Home

Combine expressive style and depot with built - in shelving that can work with any design style .

Ali Harper

construct - in bookshelvesoffer functional storageand provide a blank canvas for a beautiful focal point in any area of the theater . If you ’re squeezed for outer space , they ’re an idealistic post to store all kinds of thing , from books to mogul cord ( hold in in a decorative storage container , of course ) .

built in shelves

Credit:Ali Harper

Whether you already have shelves scattered throughout your dwelling or you decide toinstall customs duty establish - inch , pull from these build - in bookshelf theme and plan yours to run into a balance between both style and storage .

Minimalist Bookshelf Design

Adam Albright

If you believe that less is more , permit this design philosophy flow through to your animation room as well . A calm , minimalist home designallows you to wind down after a long day . Here , two narrow built - in bookshelves flank the goggle box are subtly brought to life with blanched shiplap paries and contrast wood ledge . They ’re unite by a lower media cabinet that hides unsightly wires and electronics .

Colorful Built-In Bookshelves

Brie Williams

There are plenty ofways to organize your bookson a ledge . If you have a lot of them , look at sorting them by colour for a striking display . wrick a bulwark of shelves into a rainbow by sorting them by their spine color . Display art by string up it on the ledge in front of your book aggregation to add dimension .

Contrasting Shelves

David Greer

Paint your build - inch darkness to make them pop . In this forward-looking livelihood elbow room , the fireplace and flanking bookcase , paint smart deep green on - trend withmoody colorspopular in contemporary home design , remain firm out against the consummate white walls . The vibrant decor on display summate to the distance ’s cheery , updated tactile property and lend bright , bold colouring against the non-white shelves .

Sliding Doors

Anne D. Schlechter

Adjustable shelving for built - in bookshelf is idealistic if you occasionally rearrange them . Adding the option to hide them behind closed in threshold is another attack to debate when designing your custom console . In this lawsuit , a sliding doorway can cover either the mounted TV or thestyled shelves . The moulding on the door elevate the look from functional to beautiful , and the wallpaper behind the shelves gives the intact shelving unit a custom quality .

Wallpapered Built-In Bookshelves

Add animal print wallpaper to the back wall of a pose area bookcase for an unexpected style financial statement . Keep the ledge understated with simple , elegant decor such as gold potted plants , frame family photos alongside flower art , and a petite pile ofinterior invention books . The wallpaper and the sofa are the same pattern , supply an unexpected style to the traditional room with a playful aim .

Home Office Shelving

A cloffice — acloset - turned - office — is a genius way to make a work or study space materialize in a home with little room to save . However , the small square footage results in minimum store for Holy Writ and supplies . Built - in bookshelves surrounding the outside of the wardrobe room access is a smart solution . Bookshelves are a way to use every column inch in a room without adding furniture that can take up too much space to move around . These bookshelves permit the small ledge in the cloffice to be used for displaying favorite artwork and pottery .

Gallery Wall

Greg Scheidemann

bring a wow component to your formal aliveness room with wall - to - wall , floor - to - ceiling shelve complete with task lighting . Not only are these build - in bookshelves beautiful by themselves , but the arresting styling is a designing focal point . Coordinating baskets and boxes shroud visual clutter , while soft decor and framed photos keep thing interesting . It has everything you necessitate to toy with guests , from magazines to a cellaret .

Using a few select colour for the display accumulation add together to the elegant glory and allows the one bold color — in this case , turquoise — to take center degree .

built in shelves

Credit:Adam Albright

Built-In Entertainment Center

John Bessler

Long travel are the Day when your entertainment nub want to store a slew of tapes , DVDs , and other items that are no longer require in today ’s domain of streaming amusement . you could , however , still make themounted TV the focal pointby establish build - in shelves , knickers , and cabinets on all face for Scripture , accessories , game , and electronics . Using the same bulwark treatment behind the TV , above it , and to the side help the build - ins feeling like a natural conniption , while gold computer hardware and accouterment add some glamour and radiance .

Custom Display Space

Jay Wilde

Display script by turning the spine towards the back of a ledge so the pages confront frontwards , keep optical clutter under control . This gives the outer space a inert tone , so you do n’t have to worry about adding a mix of gloss to a black and white color dodge . Vintage bronze items mixed in with lily-white and Chinoiserie patterned ceramics look streamlined , adding uniqueness to this talkative work up - in . Drawers continue under thewindow behind , increase the storage .

Home Library

Havinga home libraryis a dream for readers and bibliophiles alike . call down drama — not just from the late thriller novel you ca n’t put down , but in the space itself — with drear built - in bookshelf that wrap throughout the room . Floor - to - ceiling memory , including above the sit down area so no blank space is wasted , can hold both your book and art aggregation . The dark walls create a informal spot to spend long hour with a favourite novel or a stack of magazine .

Entryway Shelving

A sliver of quad in the entrywaycan easily be turned into storageby adding ledge eminent up to salt away out - of - time of year items or bulky supplies . A bench with cubby underneath serves as a place to sit and stash shoe off the floor , while a set of hooks permit you to cling coats and hooey by mittens and scarf . A marvellous set of shelves nearby offers additional elbow room for backpacks , reclaimable bag , and more .

Records on Display

Julie Soefer

There are numerous elbow room tostore your cherished vinyl records , but one of the adept is to exhibit them so they ’re always within reach . Organize them fit in to artist or genre on build - in bookshelf alongside the record player and a few account book to crop while listening to your favorite tunes .

Small Built-In Bookshelf

Edmund Barr

If you do n’t have the sumptuosity of a large built - in , you may create a bookcase ( or add one for overflow ) within a minuscule wall . If you have little ones , use these shelves to store children ’s book since they can quick grab them at their eye level . Or , use this modest ledge to display your favorite reads , holding the ones you get through for repeatedly within arm ’s range . Keepbookshelves look interestingby keel your stack . Place some books vertically and others horizontally , mixing colour and size for a amass - over - metre vibration .

Bedroom Bookshelf Storage

Keller & Keller

There ’s no demand for a nightstand in a lofted bedchamber if you use the sloped roof to your advantage . utilize the combination of upper shelving and lower cabinets in a built - in like this to show off mementos and keep essentials hidden out of the means . Because the shelves are paintednavy Amytal , the small section fade into the backdrop , and the unit look streamlined and advanced . Instead of using several modest item , large pieces make a more significant statement and keep the outer space looking intentional .

Small-Scale Built-In Bookshelves

Dylan Chandler

Built - in shelf are a welcome detail in small place because they add storage without taking up supernumerary base space . In this apartment , a two - row bookcase fit utterly between the radiators and rent you circumscribe your current reading obsessions to one spot . organize the books by colour creates a focal point .

Sophisticated Workspace

This inert , rustic , yet refined family position gets a dose of color from the blue and pick - colored establish - in bookshelf and desk compounding . The undecided shelf on either side of the desk adapt books and outmoded interior decoration pieces , while the closed desk draftsman hide necessary employment supplies . The bookshelves , pass with clay sculpture , stop before they reach the cap , allowing thewood panelingoverhead to retain to the close of the room .

Game Room Built-Ins

Designing a game roomis ideal for families who make it their business sector to play . A bulwark of diamond - work shelving allows you to salt away control board games of dissimilar sizes , while nearby horizontal shelves are safe for books and photo albums . Closed cabinets below and adjacent to the open shelving skin electronics , corduroys , and anything else you do n’t want on display .

Open-Concept Built-In Bookshelves

Erin Kunkel

Mostopen - concept designsbenefit from some sorting of partition between the exist spaces . A column separating the kitchen from the family way is an excellent chance to impart a built - in . seat books , criminal record , a record player , decorative detail , and a few potted plants on the shelves to produce a multipurpose focal point . Another choice for this progress - in would be to leave behind the back open , allowing for a sightline between the spaces while comprise storage .

Beaded Board Bookcase

Heather Anne Thomas

Create subtle machination byadding bead boardto the back of built - in bookshelf . The lightlessness - painted paneling is striking against the off - whitened shelf and base cabinets . clothe it up with an eclectic mix of books and time of origin discover that match your style . Dark tones make the back of the unit of measurement languish forth , founder the illusion that it ’s much large and deeper than it is .

Multi-Purpose Mantel

Tria Giovan

If you have a standalone windowpane on the same wall as your open fireplace and ca n’t take oppose build - Hoosier State to the ceiling , assay this concept rather . Level bookcases with the drape and then decorate the shelves and thewall spaceabove .

Built-In Bookshelves for the Kitchen

John Granen

Bookcases in a kitchen make perfect sense : They ensure your culinary reference are easily identifiable , quick to inspire , and hive away within reach of workstations . Recess a bookcase arrant with open shelf and shut store so it sits wealthy with the room ’s upper cabinets . Underscore build - in lineament by end the bookcase to correspond the kitchen ’s cabinets . you may get this look byremoving doorsfrom upper cabinets , set up novel shelves , and painting the unexampled design to match the existing shorts and console fronts .

Window Bookshelves

Better Homes & Gardens

expend custom - designed bookcase to step up pastime around a windowpane and create supererogatory seating area . This troika of build - out bookcases extend the reach of amedia centerand supplies generous book warehousing and exhibit shelf as well as a prettily buffer rod intend for take in view and conversation or just enjoying a good read .

Home Office Built-Ins

Arrangebuilt - in bookshelvesabove a desktop frame by cabinet or file drawers to fashion a home office or a kid ’s homework station . Give the built - out components the look of a built - in structure by finish up the top and bottom boundary with border and baseboard that match those used in the room .

Fireplace Built-Ins

Aligning build - in bookcases with a focal power point ’s horizontal planes creates a strikingly calm scene . When designing this wall , the homeowner took their cue from the paneledfireplace mantel’sshape and tiptop ; the mantel ’s top forms a shelf separating lower shut - door console from the open shelves traverse the bulwark above . Though the two sides of the built - in are different sizes , it ’s barely noticeable due to the simple rouge color and carefully edited storage . Even the house painting is hung more or less off - center to keep everything in musical harmony .

Bedroom Built-In Shelves

Michael Partenio

Take reward of underused bulwark space above and around a seam to produce storage - rich cabinets , built - in nightstands , and display ledge . Match the work up - ins to other wood last in your home and keep the silhouette streamlined so the bedroom ’s passive aura is n’t break up . This twist creates a intimate seam corner made even cozier with a leather - upholstered wall .

Breakfast Nook Built-Ins

Place built - in bookshelves near an natural action pith and paint the bookcase avivid colorto reflect the placement ’s merriment - fill up purpose . Stow crafting materials , role supplies , and incoming and outgoing ring mail in handsome baskets , vibrantly hue box , and efficient arranger so they ’re within reach of those figure out at the table . Arrange often - used references like bird - keep an eye on guides or horticulture books alongside your favorite collections and vases of freshly - pick blooms .

Beyond Books

Stacey Brandford

Built - ins can hold far more than your favorite novels . fab showcases for sculptures , treasure antique , and finelyframed photos , build - in bookshelves supply distinguished dimension to advanced spaces . During the blueprint point , measure the piece you want to expose to ensure the shelves are adequately spaced to give each object way to beam .

Statement Shelving

Jean Allsopp

incorporated arresting details , such as scallop cutouts , raise ornamentation , orfluted moldings , to create built - in bookshelf that require attention . These storey - to - ceiling bookcases string the eye with shapely headers that craft fine - cabinetwork compartments . Gray - paint tip modelling spanning the fabric ’s top edges unify the constructions and fuse the bookcases into the room ’s overall design .

DIY Built-Ins

Katrina Wittkamp

make an clear - shelf bookcase partition that can be accessed from both sides to turn one big room into two discrete spaces . This thoroughly modern social unit provides sizeable storage and showing cubbies without completely parry conversation or stack lines between the two area . The capable shelves admit ignitor to decant in from thelarge windowsin the rooms to increase the burnished look of the house . When styling a bookshelf like this one , opt objects that will be attractive and interesting from both sides .

Home Office Spotlight

Ryann Ford

contrive a lighting plan that focuses attention on bookcase contents , lets you quickly read playscript titles , and creates after - sullen interest . set up impression lights at the top of the bookcases to cast a soft glowing across books and collections . Picture brightness level immediately elevate shelves and artwork by make them a focus of the room . contribute rampart sconce and shelf , strip , or roach lights to clear up the DoI . Whenever possible , put the lights on dimmers so you’re able to master the brightness and set dissimilar moods .

Bathroom Storage Shelves

Werner Straube

Built - in bookshelves optimize abathroom ’s storage capability . Whether you reach between wall studs or build out from a rampart , recollect that bathroom shelves do n’t have to be very deep to accommodate washup essential , such as bath salt , body lotions , and rolled towel . Though place is limited inside walls , you ’ll find out enough elbow room to put in shelves between 4 and 8 inches deep .

built in shevles