DIY Built-in Bookcases

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This is our biggest project to date. My husband bought all the tools we would need to build our built-in bookcases. He learned each tool as we needed to use them. You can read all about each tool at LindaHomeisWhereMyHeartis.com.

We bought kitchen cabinets from Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Two coats of primer and trim paint.

Butcherblock countertop from IKEA. I stained it a dark walnut, Then three coats of polyurethane.

We built each bookcase section separately. We cut dado cuts for the shelves.

Three of the sections out of a total of six sections (three on each side of the desk in the center).

I painted all the bookcases.


I knew I wanted lights in the bookcases. We had someone run a wire through each box to the electrical box.

We added the fascia (top piece) to cover the exposed wire.

We added trim to give it a clean finished look.

We added the sconces. As I said, we had prewired before the bookcases were put up and attached to the wall.

The finished bookcase.

All dressed up

All Falled Up!

Before and After

Linda @ Home is Where My Heart is
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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  • PeprmintPatti PeprmintPatti on Dec 01, 2019

    It looks like you removed the 2 drawers on each side... is it just decoration or do the openings serve a purpose?

  • Candi Cornell May Candi Cornell May on Dec 01, 2019

    How did you join your butcher block? I have a very long kitchen counter and wanted to use IKEA's too, but didn't know how it would look butted up against each other.

  • Elizabeth Luise Raynard Elizabeth Luise Raynard on Jan 03, 2021

    How tall is the top of the desk/counter from the floor?

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  • Linda Abate Linda Abate on Sep 21, 2022

    Beautiful wall unit you have created by repurposing your old kitchen cabinets. Love the amount of space you have b adding the book shelves. Gorgeous.

  • Mary Lou Mary Lou on Sep 21, 2022

    Bookshelves?? Where are the BOOKS??? Nice addition to your room, well done!! 👍️

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