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10 DIY built in ideas {decorating inspiration}

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Would you like some DIY built in ideas? The last couple of weeks have been slow around here as far as projects go. It is freezing outside and the thought of setting up shop to cut wood is not appealing at the moment. Some of you know that I am a Better Homes and Garden pinning pro so in between home projects I love to search for DIY ideas and inspiration for existing and upcoming projects. A little eye candy! That term makes me laugh and I didn’t even know what it was until I started blogging a little over a year ago.  It’s kind of goofy but people seem to love it so I’ll go with it! Anyway, this past week while coordinating and launching our first group giveaway (we are giving away over $4000 in cash in prizes so you may want to enter), I started rounding up DIY built in ideas for the better homes and garden pinterest board with our playroom/study conversion in mind.

10 diy built in ideas BHG inspiration

I’ll start with our DIY built in that we did for our family room peninsula. This photo is courtesy of This Old House Magazine. Yes, this little o’l built in landed itself in their October 2012 issue.

DIY barn doors for built in cabinet TOH

Our existing playroom has a small wall where a stand alone desk will fit or built in will be constructed. I love this petite desk below with a built in bookcase above.

petite builtin desk unit

 BHG

We will be adding built in bookshelves on either side of the fireplace and I love how this picture below carried the paint color from the wall over to the bookcase.

bookshelf color scheme + unity

BHG

Beautifully styled bookshelves. The bead board is a great way to add character to any wall or bookcase.

styled bookcase with symetry

 BHG

Pre fabricated bookshelves are also an easy way to add a custom built-in look to any wall. Ikea has some amazing affordable bookshelves that you can put together yourself.

prefab built in bookshelves

BHG

By connecting a petite slim lined desk to a bookcase is a great solution for a bare wall. Something like this may suit our new study perfectly.

simple styled bookcase with kids desk

BHG

I love the idea of using woven textured baskets to hide everyday items.

aqua green woven baskets bookshelves

BHG

This picture below is my favorite so far as the inspiration for our study. The built-in bookcase, free standing industrial style shelving and desk are gorgeous together. I love the idea of combining industrial and rustic elements.

aqua accents bookshelves woven baskets BHG

Our stairway wall in the existing playroom is where I would love something like this picture below. A simple desk with industrial styled legs and floating modern styled shelving.

kids wall desk unit built in modern floating shelvingBHG

A great idea for closed and open storage built in’s. I especially love the furniture arrangement in front of the entire bookcase. Who says furniture needs to be up against the wall?

built in for TV + closed storage

BHG

The appearance of square stacked bookcases below as a means of creating a DIY built-in is also another option for us. I would definitely add some doors below though to hide toys.

orange and brown living room + built in bookshelves

DIY decorating for me, is all about the inspiration photo. I am a visual person. I believe in finding a picture I love and copying that look! Showing my dad the picture I love is also a sure way to get him involved. He is visual as well. If you are not comfortable constructing DIY built-ins on your own, many of your local home improvement stores have affordable pre fabricated built-in’s that you can buy and put together yourself. You would be amazed at how beautiful and well constructed some of there are. Would you like to follow me on pinterest to see what I am pinning during the week?  You can also follow me on the Better Homes and Garden pinterest board. Happy Friday everyone! The snow has started here…… Yikes!

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Meet Jessica

What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.

5 Comments

  1. Cheryl Siciliano says:

    Hey Jessica! Fun chatting with you at Haven…I love the bookshelf Ideas. I am in the process of doing this now. I have a long narrow living room that I need to use more efficiently and make a little cozier. I got two matching bookshelves and I’m looking for a small desk for the middle under the window. I might just have to build it with all my new skills…Cheryl

  2. Debra Aubin says:

    Hi, I love all of the work that you have done around your home, very tasteful. You said that you are going to be painting your bathroom. I am planning to do that as well and I was just wondering what color you are going to paint, what will be your color scheme? I want to do a color scheme with gray,white and I am not sure yet what other color I want to use. Any idea’s???
    Thank you
    Debbie

    1. I am doing a neutral wall color b/c the existing mirror and lights are black. I chose a light pink and gray for accents 🙂

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