8 Built-In Ideas for the Living Room
One thing I love about older homes is the unique built-in ideas you find within their walls. It’s nice to see some of the newer homes adding these custom features.
Photo by Lisa Tharp Design
I started writing this post about built-in ideas for every room in the house, but I found so many great examples I decided to focus on just one room at a time. The photos above and below are the same room. Above you see the built-in bookcase, and below you see more of the banquette for added seating.
Photo by Lisa Tharp Design
Yes, you could add a free-standing cabinet to a living room for storage, but a built-in cabinet with doors and drawers is so charming.
Photo by Whitten Architects
To add dimension to a built-in shelving unit, consider painting the back wall a contrasting color. Think about the items you plan to display before choosing your paint color.
Photo by Period Architecture Ltd.
Built-in shelves are a great option to fill a space next to a fireplace. You can always add custom features like this to your house at any time. Look around your house and you’ll probably find a dead spot spaces that would benefit from a built-in option.
Photo by M House Development
Built-in bookcases can contain books, collectibles, or a combination of the two. Get creative and consider your case a blank canvas waiting to be filled with beauty.
Photo by Sims Hilditch
Other built-in ideas include framing a window with shelves or cabinets. It’ll give dimension to a flat, boring wall.
Photo by Everything Home
A contemporary home makes great use of space with a window seat and book shelves. Grab a book and curl up on the seat with comfy pillows.
Photo by Jordyn DevelopmentsTake a fresh look around your house and see if you can identify a space that could use a functional and pretty built-in. Let me know if you come up with an idea!
I love any built in. Also the removable ones that can be taken with you. Years ago the homes were just four walls, then the builders realized that the husbands were completing the job. So many things can be hidden in the built ins.
Built-ins are so really nice to have and i do wish i had a few, i love all the ideas, thanks.
My two favorite things about the home we just bought were the built in bookcase in the family room and the window seat in the guest bedroom. We’ve lived in many homes but never in one where both existed. What a sweet thing for the Lord to do for us since this will probably be our forever home. You were so right when suggesting that the items in the bookcase be considered when painting the back wall a contrasting color. Ours is the same color as the walls but that might have to change as we get more settled in. 🙂
As a child I always wanted a window seat in my bedroom. Alas, never had it. I still would love to have one but my little house can’t give up the space. Loved your post, though.
So many spaces that can be hidden gems. The contractors need a woman standing over them to help them be more creative when building homes. Never too many bookcases or storage areas in a home.