Read This to Know Everything About Built-In Bookcases

Owning a big house means you have the flexibility of incorporating different furniture pieces across the rooms, irrespective of their sizes. However, that isn’t the case in homes that have limited furniture space, such as studio apartments, townhouses, etc.

But just because you are low on space doesn’t mean you cannot incorporate highly functional furniture pieces in your home. Just a little creativity is all it takes.

Built-ins, for instance, are great for integrating both storage and functional furniture piece in homes that have space limitations. They not only utilize unused space but help you enjoy a fully integrated home design in the smallest space available.

In this blog, we will talk about built-in bookcases and everything you need to know about them so you can incorporate them in your home.

What is a built-in bookcase?

As the name suggests, built-in bookcases are permanent furniture fixtures that are encased into walls with only the front part exposed. Most built-in bookcases take up the entire wall – from the floor to the ceiling; some have shelving while others are installed with cabinetry at the bottom.

The best thing about a built-in bookcase is that it takes very little space and ends up providing plenty of storage room. From displaying your favorite books to placing potted plants and other objects, you can decorate your bookcases just as you like.

What are some best rooms for building a built-in bookcase?

There are no limitations to where you can put a built-in bookcase. They help in storing a variety of stuff. So, as long as you have enough space to create one, the area doesn’t matter.

Below are some popular examples:

1 – Living room

You will typically notice built-in bookcases in the living room of most houses. They are either mounted over the fireplace or on either side of the TV.

2 – Kid’s room or nursery

Another best place to install a built-in bookcase is in the nursery or kid’s room. It can be used to store toys, kid’s clothes, books, photo frames, and more.

3 – Home office

If you have a dedicated office space in your home, try placing a built-in bookcase on one of the walls. Your office will turn into a bookworm’s gateway in no time. You can place books, office files, and even stationery items as you please.

4 – Kitchen Island

There is never enough storage space when it comes to the kitchen. You can add an almost hidden bookcase on one end of the kitchen island to store your cookbooks and magazines.

5 – Laundry room

Just because the name says “bookcase,” it doesn’t mean you only need to store books on it. Create one in your laundry room just above the washer and dryer to store extra linens, detergents, etc.

6 – Dining room

If you own a few fancy chinawares, cutleries, and ceramic dishes that you want to display proudly, then there is nothing better than a bookcase to do so.

7 – Unused nooks and crannies in different rooms

As mentioned before, as long as you have space, built-in bookcases can be installed anywhere. If you notice a blank space across the hallways that can be used to store a few things, then go ahead and create a narrow, small built-in bookcase to transform your hallway for the better.

8 – Bathroom

Our last suggestion is the bathroom. A small built-in bookcase in the bathroom can be used to store extra towels and toiletries.

Here are some things to consider before building a built-in bookcase

Before you proceed with creating a built-in bookcase to enhance a room or add extra storage space without impacting the floor space, make sure to consider these points:

1. Don’t forget that you have the option of customizing

The first thing many people forget when undertaking custom furniture building projects like building built-in bookcases is how much freedom they have.

It is best to always think out of the box when undertaking such projects. Add cabinets, shelves, drawers, etc., as you like and as per your requirements. For instance, adding a few drawers at the bottom can help you store things that you don’t want to display. Similarly, adding a shallow drawer beneath a shelf can help you store bookmarks or similar accessories.

Keep in mind that the sky is your limit!

2. Stay away from plumbing and electrical

While creating something functional for your home, the last thing you want to do is create additional work and expenses for yourself. For instance, you end up uncovering an electrical conduit or plumbing pipe while cutting into the wall.

It is best to first inspect and determine where wall outlets are located in the room. You can also visit the city hall to access the wiring/plumbing schematics of your home to be safe.

3. Pay attention to lighting needs

If you are one of those people who thinks about aesthetic appeal, then you might want to pay attention to lighting needs. If you want your bookcase to look a certain way, you need to start planning for it way ahead. For instance, you certainly don’t want all the wires hanging around the bookcase.

This means you will require drilling a small cutaway at the back of your bookshelf to place the unwanted wires. Lastly, don’t forget about the plugging situation.

4. Call professionals

You may love undertaking DIY projects every now and then. But, when it comes to creating a bookcase, it is best to rely on professionals instead of working on your own.

This is because professionals know what they are doing. They have the right expertise and even tools to complete the project for you. With experts around, there is no room for mistakes or reworking required on certain aspects of the projects.

Benefits of having a built-in bookcase

1 – Make unused space functional

Almost every home has nooks and crannies that are just impossible to be used functionally. For instance, that odd-looking corner in your bedroom, unused space underneath the stairways, or the unused space beside your fireplace.

While these areas cannot be used for habitation, that doesn’t mean they cannot prove a perfect storage space.

As mentioned above, customization is the biggest aspect of your built-in project. So, work with an expert to create a uniquely designed storage space that will make the most out of the odd-looking and useless corners and spaces around the house.

2 – A safer alternative to free-standing furniture pieces

Do you ever feel unsafe around your free-standing furniture, as if it was going to fall on you? Well, that won’t happen with a built-in bookcase.

No matter how sturdy and stable free-standing furniture may look, the chances of it falling to the ground are never zero.

But since built-in structures are practically encased in a certain space of your home, they prove to be a stable and safer option.

3 – They integrate seamlessly with interior décor

For almost every homeowner, aesthetic cohesion is a top priority.

When furniture doesn’t integrate with the interior décor, the space looks out of order all the time. But since you have the option of creating your built-in bookcases from scratch, there are options available to make the bookcase match any living space.

For instance, you can choose the right material, color, and design based on your needs and, of course, the style of your home.

4 – Help you in keeping things organized

Do you ever feel like you are always running out of space to store your valuable things?

A customized built-in bookcase will not only look clean with the décor of your home but will help you keep things tucked away in the right place, making the home look clean and decluttered at all times.

Wrapping up

Don’t worry about the limited space you have; instead, work with the experts at Burkhart Company and let the experts take over.

They will understand your requirements, inspect the available space, and design and install a perfect built-in bookcase that not only complements the design of your interiors but helps you keep everything organized without eating up the limited available space.