5 Things to Consider When Making Built-in Bookshelves

Built-in bookshelves enhance a room like nothing else. They provide extra storage without reducing floor space, increase the value of the home and add to the overall ambiance of the room. To ensure that your built-in bookshelves project in Southeast Louisiana gives you the results you envision, keep the following in mind.

1. Remember It’s Custom

If this is your home improvement project making built-in bookshelves, you may not realize how much freedom you actually have. Try to think outside the box when designing your project. Consider adding a drawer or two at the bottom of the built-in bookcase. You could even have a shallow drawer directly beneath one of the shelves to hold bookmarks and other related accessories. The sky is the limit when it comes to your design options!

2. Avoid Electrical and Plumbing

The last thing you want is to cut into the wall only to discover that you’ve uncovered an electrical conduit or plumbing pipe. You can avoid this scenario first by paying attention to where wall outlets are located in the room. If you can access the wiring and/or plumbing schematics for your home through your city hall, that would be best. Alternatively, you can use a stud finder, which reads at least 120 volts when you get near electrical wiring. Plumbing pipes will be trickier. The easiest way is to avoid walls that back onto known plumbing areas like the kitchen or bathroom.

3. Consider Lighting Needs

Under-shelf lighting can add tremendous appeal to built-in bookshelves. If this is a look that you desire, you should plan for it ahead of time. You’ll want to hide the wires behind the shelves, in which case you should drill a small cutaway at the center back of each shelf so the wire has adequate space. Finally, consider where the lights will plug into the wall and plan accordingly.

4. Prime First

Before installing any wood, prime all of your pieces. At this stage, nail holes won’t matter because you’ll be filling and priming those separately. But it’s definitely worth it to apply at least one coat of primer to each piece prior to the final fitting. It’s easier to prime individual pieces than it is to prime after everything’s in place.

5. Pre-built Components Make Life Easier

Just because you’re doing a DIY project doesn’t mean the entire project has to be built by hand. Remember that pre-built components are at your disposal. You can purchase pre-primed wood, prebuilt drawers and ready to install molding and finishes. Using pre-made components doesn’t take away from the fact that you made your own built-in bookshelves.

Are you ready to get started with your home improvement project? Please let us know if you have any questions, including where to find supplies or how to use the ones you’ve purchased. We love being a part of your home improvement projects!