Built-in bookcases for main living spaces - good or bad?

[Anonymous]

I think I want add a wall of built in bookcases to our main living space in our Victorian home, but I'm scared of something so permanent (and not cheap). The main area has an arch that looks sort of like this: http://www.houzz.com/photos/182381/Beech-Residence-los-angeles

I'd probably keep them flush in front and go all the way to the ceiling, but I'm open to ideas.

Anyone do built-ins and love it? Regret it?

[Anonymous]

That's what I want to do! DH does like the idea, though, mainly because he's trying to resist the book onslaught. One, day, I'll do it.

[Anonymous]

"DH does NOT like the idea", sorry.

[Anonymous]

I love that look!!

[Anonymous]

I'm failing to think of any situation in which built-in bookcases would not be a good idea.

I love the bookcases in the photo.

[Anonymous]

Dusty and dirty. Invites clutter.

[Anonymous]

Built-in bookcases are always a good idea. Always.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dusty and dirty. Invites clutter.

Totally the opposite. They are a solution for clutter, not a cause.

[Anonymous]

I don't particularly like the one in the example, because they aren't good for books - shelves are too deep and too far apart - but in general, I love built in bookshelves. I built some to either side of my fireplace, under those little window that flank the fireplace in a cape cod, and I love them.

[Anonymous]

Op again. Thanks for the feedback!

What do you think about fixed height shelves vs adjustable? Adjustable has many attractions except I really don't like the look of those little holes along the sides where the pegs go. Is there a way to avoid those?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op again. Thanks for the feedback!

What do you think about fixed height shelves vs adjustable? Adjustable has many attractions except I really don't like the look of those little holes along the sides where the pegs go. Is there a way to avoid those?

Adjustable will save you a lot of headaches. You'll just get used to the holes.

[Anonymous]

I personally don't like them. I agree with the PP who says they invite clutter. I like a more minimalist look, so I don't want a bunch of shelves filled up with knick knacks and mismatched books.

I do love books, and have bookshelves filled with books, but I think they only look nice when they don't have many books on them and the books are all hard covers and organized by size and color. My bookshelves do not look nice because every shelf is full, they are mostly paperbacks, and I organize them by genre and author. So they are in a more private area of our home.

Function or form, which do you prefer?

[Anonymous]

Only problem -- when we moved they did not come with us and I miss them!

[Anonymous]

We're considering built-ins. Here's my thoughts:

1. They need to be nicely done. I've seen some places where it's just basic boards painted white and frankly, it looks terrible. The ones in the pics are obviously high quality. But this is not a DIY project.

2. You have to be very disciplined about keeping them free of clutter and too much stuff. Look at pics on Houzz and the like. You'll notice the shelves are maybe 1/2 full, that there aren't many actual books, and the books that are there are nicer, coffee table or leather-bound, maybe a few non-fiction hard covers.

3. It can limit furniture placement. If you have built-ins, that's one wall you can use for a couch or the tv, etc. That's actually our biggest hurdle -- our house is pretty open, so we don't have a lot of wall space and the rooms aren't quite big enough to do a lot of floating furniture.

I think overall, they can really be great, but those are the pitfalls that come to mind.

[Anonymous]

We have some built in book cases in our main living area and I love them! I organised the books by colour (as a former librarian I should hate myself for doing it but they look great).