32 Built-In Bookcase Ideas to Take Any Room from Boring to Bookish

dining room alcove painted dark black with bookcases on each end and big wood table in the middle
Built-in Bookcases for Every Room in Your House Marta Xochilt Perez


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We’ve all dreamed of a sweeping wall of bookcases filled with literary classics and a rolling library ladder for reaching the top shelf, where your next perfect read is waiting. And while there are many ways to display your books and collections (like floating shelves, free-standing bookcases, or even as stacks on your coffee or bedside table), nothing comes close to the form-meets-function of well-appointed built-in bookshelves.

So if you’re a lover of books, a collector of trinkets, or have a more-is-more sensibility, you’ve come to the right place (there never seems to be enough space for those treasures that spark joy!). Traditionally built-in bookshelves have been confined to living rooms, family rooms, home offices, and studies, and, of course, libraries. But designers are getting more creative, with book nooks sneaking their way into unexpected and delightful places like dining rooms, at the end of hallways, and even bathrooms (you know you read in the bathtub!). So keep scrolling to see beautiful ideas for adding new a built-in bookcase to your home or upgrading the bookshelves you already have. That library ladder is calling.

Here are even more design ideas for book lovers and trinket collectors alike:


Paint Your Woodwork a Pretty Color

In this family room, designer Cameron Ruppert took a cozy stone space with wood beams and added style and function with
wall-to-wall blue-painted bookcases with custom strawberry vine needlepoint panels. The space is outfitted with an antique trestle table and chairs that serves double-duty as a workspace or gathering spot for playing cards or board games.

Get the Look:
Bookcase Paint Color:
Stone Blue by Farrow and Ball

RELATED: The Top 100 Paint Colors For Every Room in Your House

antique trestle desk in a home office with blue bookshelves
Stacy Zarin Goldberg


Work with Your Architecture

Designer Mark D. Sikes dreamed up this happy little corner in a home in Birmingham. Working with the quirky slant of the roof, he embraced the shape of this room and added a happy assortment of books and trinkets. Spines arranged by color add to the happy spirit.

RELATED: 70 Stylish Kids’ Room Ideas That Even Grownups Will Love

white bookcase filled with rainbow of colorful books
Mary Margaret Smith


Think Beyond Books

When temperatures drop in autumn, homeowner Justin Reis stacks firewood along the bottom of his living room built-ins, which are painted a deep navy that took three tries to get right.

Get the Look:
Wall and Bookcase Paint Color: Dark Navy by Behr

RELATED: Tour More of This Connecticut Georgian Colonial That is an Old House Lover’s Dream

navy blue living room with wall of bookshelves, gray sofa, glass topped coffee table, and colorful rug
Alpha Smoot


Use Reclaimed Wood

Reclaimed barn boards add cozy texture to the walls of this primary bedroom, which features built-in shelves and an antique Swedish desk topped with a collection of tramp art boxes.

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Buying and Using Reclaimed Wood

bedroom with rustic wood walls and a built in bookcase
Annie Schlechter


Create a Multi-Use Room

No library? No problem. Inspired by Irish pubs they visited during their travels, Minnesota homeowners Jeff and Jill Murphy created what the family calls its “Dibrary,” a dining alcove lined with bookcases.

Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color:
Deep Caviar by Benjamin Moore

RELATED: See More of This Dream Cottage on Minnesota’s Lake Pulaski

dining room alcove painted dark black with bookcases on each end and big wood table in the middle
Marta Xochilt Perez


Create a Campy Space

Homeowner Kelly Gray counts old camp movies like On Golden Pond as major style inspirations for her choices, such as this living room’s rattan chairs that have drink and magazine holders. The perfectly crammed built-in bookcases add to the campy spirit of the room.

white living room with bookshelves and firplace with plaid curtains and rattan chair
Brie Williams


Balance with a Window

Homeowner and Country Living Editor-in-Chief Rachel Barrett filled her original built-ins in the family room of this former hunting lodge with antique treasures. The symmetrical casing with the window on the right side of the room brings balance to the fireplace wall.

Get the Look:
Sofas: "Madeline" by Kathy Kuo Home
Sconces: "Flea Market" lantern from Circa Lighting
Vintage Books and Trophies: from Palladio Home & Garden

RELATED: Tour more of this before and after former hunting lodge in Mississippi.

wood wrapped family room with fireplace, builtin bookshelves, green velvet sofas
Becky Luigart-Stayner


Keep It On Theme

Homeowner Carter Smith embraced the mystery of his coastal Maine cottage (and indulged his Scooby-Doo obsessed niece!) when he dreamed up a secret revolving-door bookcase that leads to a powder room. Keeping on theme, he filled the shelves with his collection of Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries.

RELATED: 26 Collectors Share Their Favorite Carefully Curated Finds From Books To Pie Servers

secret revolving door bookcase in the bailey island, maine home of carter smith
Maura McEvoy


Don’t Overlook the Kitchen

This inset, channel-back banquette off the kitchen created the perfect narrow space for a built-in shelving nook used for storing cookbooks and extra kitchen knick-knacks.

Get the Look:
Kitchen Wall Paint Color:
Dark Night by Sherwin-Williams

RELATED: Tour More of This Wisconsin Cabin That Feels Like Happy Hour

built in dining nook painted green with navy banquette
Adam Albright


Try the Cocoon Effect

Painting your built-ins the same color as your walls and trim can make any room feel more modern and cozy. Bonus: The cocoon effect can really help your books and antiques sing. Here, a vibrant green paint color compliments the warm wood floors and antique desk.

Get the Look:
Room Paint Color:
Arsenic by Farrow & Ball

RELATED: More green paint colors than will liven up your rooms.

home office with bright green walls and built in bookshelves
Peter Murdock


Think Outside the Box

If we’re honest, one of life’s great joys is reading a book in the bath. Here, built-in bookshelves in a bold blueish-black hue keep books nearby for just the occasion. Tip: Drop-in, alcove, or undermount tubs like the one shown here are best suited for this look, as they provide a natural base for built-ins.

RELATED: Dozens More Ideas to Help You Add Soul to Your Bathroom

bathroom with built in bookshelves above tub
Paige Rumore


Add a Library Ladder

When the Wright family turned a welding factory into their family home, this library/music room was created to connect two larger sides. The dressed up the simple white built-in shelving with a brand-new rolling library ladder. The nestled-in piano dates back to 1914.

floor to ceiling bookshelving and a piano with four kids around
Aaron Colussi


Go with Dark Paint for High Contrast

Homeowner Jeannette Fristoe takes a “more is more” approach to decorating. Here, dark black built-ins showcase a collection of creamy white books and patinaed silver under the careful watch of a flock of antique sheep.

Get the Look:
Bookcase Paint Color: Jet Black by Behr

RELATED: Find treasures galore in this serene Maryland bungalow.

black bookcases filled with books, antique silver pieces, and vintage sheep
Rikki Snyder


Make it Modern

In this Massachusetts cabin, the homeowner set the scene with pickled knotty pine walls and simple bookcases. Filling the shelves with neutral books and objects helps the texture of the wood shine and the graphic tin “B,” part of an old gas station sign, pop.

RELATED: Wood Walls Are Back! Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Knotty Pine.

bookshelves in a knotty pine room with dog on cushion
John Gruen


Use as a Bedside “Table”

Skip adding a nightstand to your bedroom and add a floor-to-ceiling bookcase or built-in bookshelf unit instead. Then tuck a comfy reading chair and side table in front to create a reading nook for when you’re not quite ready for bedtime.

RELATED: The Most Comfortable and Cozy Chairs for Reading

floor to ceiling bookshelf in a bedroom
David A. Land


Add Game Room Storage

Built-ins traditionally grace living rooms and libraries, but here they enhance a game room with much-need room for game storage. Additionally, the extra shelving makes room for more personal collections like the homeowners vintage National Geographic magazines, which provide a fun yellow punch.

RELATED: See more vintage finds in this Georgia lake house.

white shelving in a georgia lakeside cabin room with round table and green wicker chairs
Brie Williams


Surround a Window

A window can be a lovely anchor for a custom bookcase. The sunny view helps break up visual density and the space underneath the window can be turned into a upholstered window seat or small shelf depending on how deep the space.

RELATED: 35+ Cozy Reading Nook Ideas for Whiling Away the Afternoon

home office with bookshelves and desk
David A. Land


Create a Bookshelf Nook

Inside this Minnesota lake cottage, a mantel shelf that spans the length of the wall creates clever storage against a wall of moss rock. Besides providing a perch for displaying art and decor, it’s also accented with a built-in bookcase nook that holds the homeowners’ large collection of vintage vinyl records and music equipment.

Get the Look:
Blanket: Wool Throw by Faribault Mill
Rug: Braided Jute Hand Woven Rug by FHYGGE

RELATED: Tour More of this Dream Cottage on Minnesota’s Lake Pulaski.

a living room with stone walls
Marta Xochilt Perez


Tuck Them Into a Corner

Tucked in the corner of the family room, a built-in bookcase—painted the same color as the walls for a calming, cohesive feel—holds the homeowners’s collections of leather books, earthy pottery, and copper accents. An over-sized upholstered reading chair placed irreverently in front helps the space feel layered and inviting.

RELATED: See More of This Dreamy Alabama River Cottage That Beckons You to Slow Down and Savor Every Minute.

living room with upholstered chair and floor lamp in front of bookshelf
ALI HARPER


Go Floor to Ceiling

In this welcoming living room, the homeowners opted to skip lower cabinets and instead ran the built-in shelving from floor to ceiling allowing for even more space for books, artwork, and antiques.

Get the Look:
Wall, Millwork, and Ceiling Paint Color: Mouse’s Back by Farrow & Ball

RELATED: Tour More of This Charming Cottage That is Proof that the Best Things Come in Small Packages.

cozy gray study with leather sofa and bookcases
ALI HARPER


Create a Wall of Built-Ins

DIY-loving duo Victoria and Marcus Ford teamed up with Country Living to breathe new life into their 1970s Dutch Colonial–style home. Inspired by their love of reading, they transformed a long, awkward space into a cozy library-like living room by adding built-in b0okcases and a tufted leather sofa.

Get the Look:
Wall and Millwork Paint Color:
Endless Sea by Sherwin-Williams

RELATED: See More of the Ford’s Home Makeover.

a living room with a dark blue wall of builtin bookcases and fireplace
Brie Williams


Add Character to New Builds

This new home built in a historical style in South Carolina’s Low Country uses built-ins to add layers of character. The architecture firm Historical Concepts and interior designer Barbara Westbrook used cypress paneling to create this warm and refined office space. A spindle-leg farm table used as a desk adds more history and charm.

RELATED: Tour More of This New Build That Embraces Old Country Charm (You Have to See the Kitchen!)

wood wrapped home office with table desk and tall bookshelves
Eric Piasecki


Fill with Monochromatic Treasures

Wood walls bring the cozy to this game table corner of the living room, but a collection of mostly green treasures filling the shelves, including framed antique art with green mattes to coordinate with vintage books, helps break up the warmth.

Get the Look:
Frames: by Framebridge
Vintage Lamp: Adams Antiques & the Potager

two girls sitting at a wood game table in front of wood built in bookshelves
Becky Luigart-Stayner


Add Character with Collectibles

If an artful arrangement is what you’re after, collectibles and small-scale objects can help create interest and corral your books. Here, no tools or supplies are required for these petite bookends! Simply buy a matching pair of small vintage corbels (these are 10 inches high) and place on a bookshelf with your favorite titles sandwiched in between.

RELATED: 100+ Best Places to Shop for Antiques and Vintage Online

bookshelves with book and bookends made from vintage corbels
Becky Luigart-Stayner


Add Unique Lighting

Take a new or existing built-in bookcase to new heights with the addition of lighting. Built-in bookshelves in this colorful kids’ room are complemented by red shaded wall sconces. The center placement of the fixtures gives the space an extra punch of personality and provides lighting for books, art, and keepsakes.

Get the Look:
Sonces: For similar, Linlithgow Plug-in Armed Sconce by Everly Quinn

RELATED: The 3 Types Of Lighting Every Room Needs

a colorful room with bookshelves and a wood crate with toys
John Ellis


DIY Custom Built-Ins

Just off the dining room, homeowner Bambi Costanzo carved out a 7- by 7-foot space for a pocket-size library. She customized one wall by adding molding to four Ikea bookshelves to make them look built in. Mossy green paint and inexpensive brass sconces she customized with patterned fabric glued onto plain shades gives the room an English country look.

Get the Look:
Green Paint Color:
Pinetop by PPG Paints
Sconce: for similar, “Lysed” Wall Sconce from Amazon

RELATED: See more of the big personality in this tiny West Virginia cottage.

green bookshelf with a wood library ladder
Brie Williams


Embrace Old Home Quirk

Homeowner Mary Barrett embraced the narrow shelving original to her vacation home in Maine’s Boothbay Harbor, artfully filling the “funky little nooks and shelves” with an assortment of books and nautical knickknacks. New custom built-in shelving might be wonderful for storage, but this shelving nook proves that the original character of a home is worth holding on to.

RELATED: 40 Coastal Decor Ideas That Will Make Major Waves in Any Interior

wood wrapped living room with knickknacks and books filling shelves
Gridley and Graves


Add Whimsy with Wallpaper

A small nook in a shared boys' room is transformed into a creative space with the addition of built-in shelving. A woodland-patterned peel-and-stick wallpaper adds youthful spirit to standard shelves and helps them feel more custom.

Get the Look:
Wallpaper:
"Wild" in Gold/Cream by Chasing Paper

RELATED: Top 10 Best Removable Wallpapers, Tested by Our Editors

kids' bookshelves with wallpaper behind
David A. Land


Repurpose a Hallway

The owner of this California home turned a 15-foot-wide section of hallway into a snug spot for reading with the help of rich, navy blue paint, simple recessed bookshelves, and an antique leather club chair.

Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball

RELATED: The Best Dark Blue Paint Colors for Any Room in the House

navy reading nook with leather club chair
Max Kim-Bee


Recess Built-In Shelving

Unused attic space is now this kid- and adult-friendly hideaway complete with a pillow-filled bed, books, and a reading light. The recessed shelving holds beloved childhood toys and books. “You can always find at least one kid curled up here,” says homeowner Megan Duncan.

Get the Look:
Sconce: “Exeter” Wall Sconce by Hudson Valley Lighting Group

RELATED: Step inside more of this cozy Wisconsin lakeside cabin.

a tucked away reading nook made of reclaimed wood
Dana Gallagher


Pair With a Window Seat

Flanking a scenic view, these built-in bookcases also frame a warm perch above the radiator that is topped with a cushion covered in a romantic cabbage rose fabric, which is repeated on the window’s Roman shade.

Get the Look:
Cushion and Roman Shade Fabric: “Roses” by Kate Forman

window seat in a reading nook in a countryside cottage
Brent Darby


Add a Glass-Paned Door

This quirky, built-in glass-front cabinet is original to the house, trimmed in the hallmark Victorian-style millwork. “The contractor had that taken out, but we put it back in,” says homeowner Claire Zinnecker of the cabinet that she uses for display and books.

RELATED: See inside more of this charming farmhouse that was purchased on Facebook for $15,000.

home office with a built in glass front cabinet
Buff Strickland

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