customized bookshelves

Looking for a way to customize big-box store bookshelves? In the last month I’ve stumbled across two blog posts on customizing Ikea bookshelves. For more pictures, follow the links below. While these are all about Ikea’s Billy bookshelves, the tricks would work on any other basic bookshelf.

Young House Love: Office Progress: Bookcase Building (complete with how-to instructions – I especially like the idea of filling in the extra holes)

Source: Young House Love

Colour me Happy: Here’s a way to make your bookshelves beautiful

Source: House & Home Magazine

I’ve also seen plenty of bookshelves with wallpaper on the back instead of paint. Here are some others: some high-end, some low-end.

Source: Better Homes & Gardens, April 2010

Source

Source: Design*Sponge

Source: Yvestown (via Ikea Hacker, Apartment Therapy)

Source: Good Housekeeping (via Matters of Style)

Source: Martha Stewart (via Matters of Style)

Others: rottencupcakes (via Apartment Therapy)

Some wallpapers can look too busy, so take into account what you’re putting onto the shelves (books? storage? accents?). I especially like the analogous color schemes (colors that are next to each other on the color scheme, like the blue and green, or orange and yellow). Just a bit of contrast, but not distracting.

Not only is this budget-friendly, but it would be a great way to reuse secondhand furniture.  There are many great eco-friendly paints and papers available.