Bookcases handily provide both storage and display space for books, collectibles, and other accessories.
Although these furnishings are highly functional, they often feature basic silhouettes and finishes that lack personality.
These before-and-after bookcase makeovers demonstrate how to add new style to a bare-bones piece.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Before: Basic Bookshelf
Small updates are often all it takes totransform old furniture into something special.
After: Basic Bookshelf
Geode-inspired wrapping paper makes an eye-catching addition to this once-basic white bookshelf.
Vases and quirky knickknacks add depth, while wicker baskets stash magazines and movies on the bottom shelf.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Before: Basic Blonde Shelving Unit
This basic blonde-wood shelving unit lacked pizazz.
Check out four stylish ways to upgrade this piece on the following slides.
To create dividers and shorter shelves, cut sections equal to the vertical spacing between shelves.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Screw the divider to the end of the shortened shelf, then load the connected pieces inside the bookcase.
Repeat with remaining shelves.
A new coat of white paint makes the interior stand out against the exterior’s navy blue paint job.
Credit: Courtesy
Connect the adjacent legs with a screw, then secure the bookcases to the wall with L brackets.
Attach molding with pin nails.
Adhere textured wallpaper to the back of the shelves for a custom look.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Do the same for shorter shelf segments.
After: Supporting Role
A petite storage-desk comboworks when office space is scarce.
Nailhead trim on the shelf edges gives a sophisticated metallic finish.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
A deep blue backdrop added depth but lacked one-of-a-kind character.
A bookcase makeover brought new personality and purpose to this shelving unit.
Fresh white paint and orange patterned wallpaper on the back of the bookcase update the unit.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Colorful accessories emphasize the playful theme of the reading nook.
The finished look features contemporary styling and added function for modern-day needs.
Finish with a coat of creamy yellow paint and shiny brass hardware.
Credit: Robert Brinson
Bonus: An existing hole cut out of the back can be used to power up a charging station.
A simple shelving unit provides the perfect foundation for dropzone organization.
Makeover a bookcase into a do-it-all mudroom organizer with tips from this clever design.
Credit: Brie Williams
Before: Built-In Library
Dark and drab, this custom wood shelving needed a more contemporary update.
A mirrored background and boring black surface made the room feel dated.
Plus, shelves packed with books and miscellaneous itemslooked too cluttered and cramped.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
A gentle green background fills the unit with a pop of coloralongside sunny Roman shades.
New floral-inspired hardware adorns lower cabinets, which retained their original grass-cloth wallpaper inserts.
An adjustable library lamp provides soft display lighting above.
Credit: Kim Cornelison
In the following slides, see how this plain bookcase was updated in three different styles.
After: Contemporary Concealment
Pull the shade on unsightly essentials while showing off your organized storage bins.
Start by giving the bookcase a rich color with a deep ebony gel stain finish.
Finish off the shade pull with a decorative finial or tassel.
After sanding, priming, and painting the pieces, hang the shutters on the bookcase with cabinetry hinges.
Top it off with a forge-iron shutter bolt to secure the doors closed.
Credit: Adam Albright
To get this look, start by painting the case and shelves cream.
Cover the backwith peel-and-stick wallpaperin a floral, toile, or damask pattern.
Mount a skirt using a small tension rod to conceal the lower shelves.
Credit: Steven McDonald
Before: Drinks Cabinet
Paint is one of theeasiest ways to update furniturewith a pop of color.
The updated piece now serves as a stylish beverage station for entertaining.
The lime green paint job turns this piece into a striking focal point.
Credit: Steven McDonald
Items typically used in the living room, for example, can find new function in the laundry room.
The bar doubles as a spot to drip-dry delicates.
The plain wood finish provided an opportunity to add color with paint.
Credit: Steven McDonald
New hardware completed this bookcase makeover.
The two-tone paint job ties in with the rest of the room’s nature-inspired color palette.
Large painted knobs, which replaced the barely noticeable hardware, finish off the transformation.
Credit: Steven McDonald
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Greg Scheidemann
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Greg Scheidemann
Credit: Scott Little
Credit: Kim Cornelison
