20 Beautiful Living Rooms With Built-In Shelving

Maximize Space

A-frame houses can pose certain complications when trying to decorate and maximize space. The angle of the walls can make it difficult to use prefab cabinets without causing a visual break. 

In this case, custom living room built-ins can provide an excellent solution. We love how these built-ins create a stunning book collection but aren't so tall that they block the gorgeous half-circle windows—everything works together.

Add Floating Bar Shelves

Entertainment centers aren't the only built-ins to continue to gain popularity—home bars are quickly catching up.

While they used to be relegated to dining rooms, basements, and less populated areas of the home, they can now often be found front and center in the living room, as seen in this example by Marie Flanigan Interiors.

Choose Classic Cubbies

Traditional white built-ins with open shelving are so versatile that they can fit into just about any style of living room. Choosing a simple cabinet style will ensure that if your tastes change and you decide to redecorate, the built-ins will always fit in.

Customize Proportions

When it comes to living room built-ins, there's no need to always build from floor to ceiling. Leclair Decor installed built-in cabinets about halfway up the wall on either side of a mantel to maximize the available space while framing the focal point and not blocking any light.

Add Glass Doors

Sometimes less is more, especially in rooms where there isn't a lot of wall space. As demonstrated by Light and Dwell, tall, narrow built-ins can help frame a fireplace and reinforce a focal point while still providing some display or storage space. Accent lighting or deep contrast helps draw the eye to where it's supposed to go.

Install Custom Lighting

Bring some life to your built-ins by painting them a bright or bold color, such as this backlit wall from Kendall Wilkinson Design.

While the style of these units is fairly straightforward and traditional, the vibrant blue color gives them a sense of playfulness.

Paint Them Black

Add drama to a living room with sleek and modern built-ins designed around entertaining. Media centers have been popular for quite a while, so transforming a simple stand into a built-in with plenty of shelving makes perfect sense.

The matte black color of this version in a living room by Maite Granda adds a sophisticated look that helps to camouflage the TV.

Focus on Artwork

Use built-ins to frame a large piece of art to create a focal point.

Marie Flanigan Interiors installed neutral floor-to-ceiling built-ins on either side of a large portrait, with matching blue scones coming out the side of each shelving structure to add extra light. The result is a calm, inviting living room that holds plenty of storage without being a huge distraction.

Try Wraparound Shelving

The beauty of built-ins is that they can be customized to suit a home's or homeowner's specific needs.

In this room from Kendall Wilkinson Design, the shelves wrap around the corner, providing plenty of storage and display space. The contrasting color manages to create a focal point amid all the shelves. Additionally, a blank area was left above the desk to create a simple workspace—further proof of how customizable installed shelving can be.

Paint to Match Walls

Paint the built-ins the same color as the walls and trim for a cohesive feel, like this purple-gray living room from Leclair Decor.

The light mounted above the shelving allows for a small spotlight for moments you want the display to shine—the entire setup is easily customizable to suit whatever you're feeling that day.

Mix Open and Closed Storage

Create a contemporary look with a classic neutral color scheme. The lack of hardware and decorative embellishments keep the look clean, and the combo of floating shelves and closed lower cabinets painted white leaves the area feeling spacious and full of possibility.

Wall to Wall

Honestly, is there really such a thing as too much storage? These customized built-ins stretch across the entire back wall, though the crisp white color makes the room feel refreshing rather than cramped.

The simple style with open shelving at the top and closed cabinets at the bottom provides plenty of space to store or display whatever you'd like—and with plenty of room to do so.

Try a Two-Tone Look

Customization of built-in shelves doesn't have to stop with the measurements. Painting built-ins so that they contrast or complement other colors in the room is a great way to add interest to a room and create a focal point.

Use Warm Natural Wood Tones

Built-in wood cabinetry adds warmth to both traditional and modern living rooms. Whittney Parkinson Design built a mix of cabinetry around a black stone fireplace and TV wall that add contrast in the neutral modern space.

Add Arches

Add arches to the top of your fireplace built-ins to soften the look. Paint the built-ins and fireplace mantel and surround in the same color for a cohesive feel.

Install Floating Shelves

Floating shelves make the built-in process that much simpler. Pieces of wood can be custom-cut to fit a variety of spaces regardless of height or width.

This living room designed by Ashley Montgomery Design combines a white-painted brick fireplace with wooden floating shelves and deep blue lower cabinets for a modern look.

Customize Your Shelf Size

When we think of shelving, we often picture having the same style and size happening on each level—but that doesn't have to be the case.

This built-in has a range of sizes to fit different types of decor, rather than having the same size and shape throughout. This subtle shift creates visual interest and is ultimately more convenient to ensure the things you want on display can fit.

Add a Window Seat

The term "built-in" doesn't just refer to shelving. Seating can also be a component. This window seat reading nook (with storage underneath) creates a picturesque view to sit and read by the window. The two arched built-in shelves on either side complete the look.

Install Mini Built-Ins

Ultimately, built-ins should be created to fit the preferences and needs of the homeowner. While for some, that may mean floor-to-ceiling options, for others with smaller living rooms, something short and sweet does the trick.

This small built-in is nestled right on top of the fireplace, almost serving as its own vertical extension (rather than keeping the shelving on the sides for a wider appearance). A few books, some small decor items, and the television are all right at home.

Mix Wood and Stone

Mix materials and finishes to add texture to your living room built-ins. Whittney Parkinson Design paired stone walls with arched wood built-ins painted white with shiplap backing and natural wood shelving.