We've lived in a few big cities and one of the things we love about the often older apartments available are the built-in units. If you are lucky to have built-in units, consider making them over to make them work for your space. Check out four ideas after the jump.
The Beauty of Built-Ins
Most people welcome the added space for books, home decor, pictures and family heirlooms and we've seen some great ideas for adding personal touches to built-in units.
1) Measure and cut mirrors to place against the back of the built-in. If they are cut accurately, you won't need firm glue to hold them in place. Like the mirrored bedside table, this is an affordable and non-permanent project. When you move out, you can take your mirrors with you.
2) Add scraps of wallpaper or fabric to the back of the bookshelf, like Viv of ish and chi pictured above.
3) Paint the back of the unit an accent color or even use chalkboard paint. You'll most likely end up placing objects in front of the paint but if not, you have a fun place to write sweet notes or draw pictures for your family and friends.
4) Keep the entire unit it bright white. Like the photo pictured in the beginning of the post, leave your built-in as is and use home decor to make it your design style.
Have you made over a built-in unit? Tell us your design idea below and upload some photos in the Apartment Therapy Flickr pool.
Check out more shelving ideas from Apartment Therapy:
(Image via Rene's Bright & Sunny Home)
Comments (8)
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I find it sad that modern builders rarely install quirky built-ins like these anymore -
- At their best they're interesting and clever, often putting dead space and leftover building materials to use.
view bepsf's profile
I never thought of putting wallpaper in the back of my built bookshelves. I've wanted to do an accent wall, but my walls have a texture and the amount work involved to get them smooth just makes it too time consuming if even possible at all. I'm going to look for a nice graphic wallpaper to use.
view dmstudio's profile
I've lived in my fair share of old houses and apartments with (once) beautiful built-ins. I've always liked them but like befspf mentioned, modern builders usually forego this feature as well as any other creative and skillful features. However, you may be able to put them in yourself depending on your space. I put in three different built-in features in my place to add character and additional functionality.
view art's profile
If I recall correctly, the picture is from a house in Austin. Not an apartment in a big city.
view kelleyk's profile
Kelleyk It doesn't matter whether it's from a house or an apt or where it's located. These are small space ideas. The 'apartment' in apartment therapy is not to be taken literally... it's a theory, an idea, a way of life!
view atomicranch79's profile
Off-topic: what do we thnk of that blanket/sheet of fabric overtop of the couch cushions? My new kitten is wreaking havoc on my white couch cushions and I don't thnk that looks like a half bad solution to cover them up. As long as it was interesting fabric that complemented the decor...
view EC's profile
Anyone know that sofa!?
view chrisciever's profile
ahh Kramfors...sigh
view chrisciever's profile