Building a new home can sometimes feel like you have to give up on character that seems inherent in an older home. But with the addition of built-in bookshelves —whether they surround your entertainment center, flank your home office desk, or find another nook to bring to life—your new home, remodel, or addition can feel not only like it was always meant to be, but like there’s nowhere you’d rather be.
Built-in bookshelves add practical storage space, display shelving, and that much sought after cozy character everyone loves. And it doesn’t hurt that they can add value to your home, too.
What Are Built-In Bookshelves?
Built-ins are exactly what they sound like—furniture or shelving features that are built directly into the interior of a home. They can take the form of everything from pantry shelves to entertainment centers, office cabinetry, and even reading benches surrounded by bookshelves. Built-in bookshelves and other units provide added storage and display space, plus additional design elements to any room in your house. They often solve unused space issues (think under the stairs, a wide hallway, or in a closet) and maximize the functionality of a home’s square footage.
When you envision built in bookshelves you might automatically picture a regal library or a stately office. The reality is built-in bookshelves design ideas are endless. You can have custom bookshelves to match any home’s aesthetic, including modern, traditional, mid-century, and more. You can build bookcases with additional open shelving, a desk, extra storage areas, or anything else you want or need.
Do Built-In Bookshelves Increase Home Value?
Fortunately for the homeowners seeking to increase value on top of the other benefits built-in bookshelves provide, they do provide a great return on investment.
Because built-ins remain in place presumably forever, they add a more luxurious feeling to any home they’re found in. They can make a space feel more purposely designed and customized, even if you’re not the one who originally had them installed. Built-in bookshelves add personality, dimension, and detail to otherwise open space that would often be filled with temporary and more cheaply-made products to accommodate storage or display needs.
DISCOVER: Our Entire Built-In Porfolio
But your built-in bookshelves do have to be well-designed and well-made, too, in order to increase the value of your home. Cramming a built-in where it doesn’t have adequate space, or using inexpensive materials or inexperienced designers and builders will result in a product that won’t benefit you or any future homeowner.
Are Built-Ins Expensive?
The exact cost of built-ins is difficult to estimate due to the many types of built-ins, as well as the variety of materials, designs, and the professionals used to complete the job. There is also the option to DIY your own built-in bookshelves that can shave some of the cost since you’ll only need to pay for materials if you have the proper tools and equipment to design, build, and install the built-ins yourself.
Style and size of your built-in bookshelves will also be a factor in how expensive the project becomes. Elaborate designs, costly finishes, and detailed finish work—along with proportionate sizing—can all increase the cost of your built-ins.
That said, the cost is definitely balanced by the benefits of the end product, when done correctly and well. Built-in bookshelves are a great way to add style and storage to any home, and I don’t know anyone who has regretted the addition of built-ins in their home based on their initial expense, whether done by a professional or as a DIY project.
DIY vs Professional Built-In Bookshelves
When it comes to adding built-in bookshelves to your home’s interior design, there are two ways to go: DIY or professional. If you’re the handy type, you may be tempted to tackle the project on your own, but before you pick up a hammer, there are several things to ask yourself. Chances are that—unless you’re an exceptionally experienced carpenter—you’re going to really appreciate the quality and look of a professional’s work on your bookshelves more than if you manage to complete the project on your own. Here are a few things to consider if you’re trying to decide whether to tackle DIY built-in bookshelves or opt for professionally designed and installed ones.
First, think about the budget you have available for the built-in bookshelves. If you’re ready to spend more money in order to save time and effort, you should opt for hiring a professional to design and install your bookshelves. There is little doubt that you will thoroughly enjoy the benefits of professionally designed and crafted bookshelves for years to come. On the other hand, if your budget is tighter, but you’re highly capable and have the time, going the DIY route is probably for you.
Another thing to consider is your DIY skill level and capacity. Some may think that because they’ve tackled smaller, less involved projects, DIY bookshelves will be easy to design and build. But well-built and beautifully-finished shelving, drawers, and cabinet doors are more than most DIYers are ready for. Most will also lack the necessary tools and space to get the job done well, leaving them with subpar results that will not only be aesthetically disappointing, but lack a substantial return on investment.
One more question to ask yourself when deciding whether or not to hire a professional is the time and effort you’re willing to invest in the project. Even the most ambitious DIYers tend to underestimate the level of involvement a project as big as DIY bookshelves will require. So ask yourself: Is building bookshelves where you want to invest your time and effort? If so, and your skill level matches the design you’re going for, you’re probably a fine candidate for creating your own built-in bookshelves.
How Deep Should Built-In Bookshelves Be?
Whether you’re hiring a professional or installing DIY built-in bookshelves, it’s a good idea to get a picture in your head of what your built-ins could look like—including important dimensions. According to some library experts, 85% of books will fit on a shelf that is just 8” deep. However, when designing built-in bookshelves for a home, many consider something closer to a foot deep to be more practical, beneficial, and aesthetically pleasing. That said, any single built-in bookshelf in any single home can be designed to the exact proportions that both fit the space and homeowner preferences while optimizing storage and display function.
Where Is The Best Place To Put Built-In Bookshelves?
The best place to put built-in bookshelves is wherever there is enough space for them to make sense as far as design and square footage are concerned. Like we referenced earlier, built-in bookshelves can be found in many rooms of a home, including a living room, den, office, playroom, bedroom, hallway, and more.
Some of our favorite projects have been custom built-in bookshelves with cabinets in a home office painted in deep, bold green; built-in bookshelves around windows for a sweet nursery; and built-in bookshelves as part of a uniquely contrasting entertainment center.
How To Style Your Built-In Bookshelves
How you style your built-in bookshelves depends on a few factors, including what room they are in and how they will be used. Here are a few rules of thumb to consider when styling your custom built-in bookshelves:
Start with Books:
This seems obvious, but trust me, it becomes less obvious when you’re facing rows of empty shelves. Begin by placing the books you want to use and build the other elements around them.
Get Horizontal (and Vertical):
Who says books must be standing straight up and down? When styling your built-in bookshelves with cabinets (or without cabinets), place some books standing vertically and lay some down horizontally on the shelf.
Remove Dust Jackets:
A book dust jacket is designed to protect the book, but it also has the job of making a book stand out from the other books in a bookstore. However, on your built-in bookshelves, you don’t want any one book hogging all the limelight. Take off any dust jackets (especially if they are tattered and worn) and let the beautiful book speak for itself.
Give Some Space:
It can be tempting to cram the shelves full of books, but you have to remember built-in bookshelves need to look good in addition to doing the work of holding books. Allow a little space around the books.
Add Other Elements:
Remember that space you left around the books on your custom bookshelves? Now is the time to put it to use. Fill in some of those empty spaces with art, sculptures, trophies, or other decorative items that will give dimension to your shelves.
Create Groupings:
By grouping books and objects together, you create focal points that will catch people’s eyes. It’s been said that aiming for two groupings per shelf is a good goal and a way to create visual interest without being overwhelming or making the bookshelf feel cluttered.
Built-In Bookshelves Ideas You’ll Want To Copy
If you’re tired of seeing the same built-in bookshelves ideas, you’ve come to the right place. Here are three of our favorite simple built-in bookshelf ideas that could belong in virtually any home.
If you’re going to build custom bookshelves, why not make them fun? The ladder not only makes the upper shelves accessible in this bookcase, but it becomes a design element itself. The fun paint color that matches the room’s walls and trim and the natural wood tones that tie in with the ceiling and other elements all push this custom bookcase design to another level.
What would you put between these two custom bookshelves? It’s the perfect nook for a bed, with either bookcase acting as a nightstand. Or you could use them to frame a desk in an office. Whatever you choose to put between them, these custom built-in bookshelves will look stunning with their floor-to-ceiling height, shallow shelf depth, integrated lighting, and additional storage in the lower portion.
Think of this as a classic, elevated. This is like the entertainment centers of yesteryear but done much better. The custom built-in bookshelves and cabinets are the perfect place to store TV accessories, while the shelves are decorated beautifully and do the job of distracting from the giant black rectangle that hangs above the mantle. After all, who has time to focus on that when there are so many other beautiful things to look at?
Why Hire Christopher Scott Cabinetry For Your Built-In Bookshelf Project?
Custom built-in cabinets and bookshelves bring the art of good design and the utility of increased function to your home, along with increased charm and value. At Christopher Scott Cabinetry, we pride ourselves on being the best at every stage of the process. From using only the highest quality materials and guaranteeing precise installation, to providing the absolute best design services that will not only utilize all potential storage space but also create a perfectly customized interior you will fall in love with. Our team is based in Utah, but we’ve designed and installed built-in bookshelves for homes nationwide and are available to help with your project no matter where you live in the US.
With custom built-ins, there are endless possibilities for adding personality, customized hidden storage, beautiful displays, and added value to your home. Especially if you hire Christopher Scott Cabinetry to do the job for you. Contact us here for help with your custom built-in bookshelves and cabinetry today!
You can also check out more Christopher Scott design projects—kitchens, bathrooms, built-ins, and furniture—on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest.
