A bookshelf is a must-have piece of furniture when you have such a lot of collections at home. You can’t let those books scattered around the floor, chairs, or carpets which will turn your home into a complete mess.

Of course, there are tons of manufactured bookshelves that you can find in the market. They are available in various designs, materials, and price tags. However, they can be expensive, and frankly, quite boring.

Lucky for you, there are a lot of clever DIYers who build bookshelves all by themselves. They use super cheap materials like crates, shelves, and even hangers to keep their books neatly organized.

In this article, we have compiled some creative DIY bookshelf ideas that you can add to your list of references. You won’t have to spend a lot but you will have a convenient bookshelf that looks uniquely attractive.

DIY Bookshelf Ideas

Rustic Corner Shelf

It can be quite challenging to add a bookshelf to a living room or bedroom with limited space. In this idea, a slim bookshelf is installed in the corner of the room, so you don’t have to worry about taking up a lot of space inside. The shelf is made of wood with a natural finish which also will give a nice rustic touch to the decor of the room.

Even with its slim design, you can still store a lot of books, decor items, and other stuff there.

Elegant Crate Shelf

To create this shelf, you just have to grab some wooden crates and stack them all together in various positions. Of course, you won’t have to spend a lot of money to build this crate shelf that you can use to store your books and other personal items. If you want to make it look more attractive, you can paint each crate with your favorite color.

The design of the shelf will give a nice farmhouse touch to the overall look of the room in a very functional way.

Rustic Triangular Shelf

A rectangular bookshelf can be quite boring and this idea is a good reference for you to create a more distinctive touch. Here, a bookshelf is designed in a triangular shape which is all made of wood. You can use each level of the shelf to store various items as you wish starting from indoor planters to books.

Its natural wood finish, of course, fits those who are planning to add a rustic touch to your home decor.

Tall Crate Shelf

Who says that you always have to prepare an extra budget to have a tall spacious bookcase? Well, this idea shows how to create a tall bookcase with spacious space out of wood crates. The crates are stacked in a certain formation which makes the shelf look uniquely attractive.

The shelf is finished in a deep brown finish with a natural texture which fits you who love modern earthy decorating style.

Space Saving Shelf

There are a lot of ways to have a bookshelf that doesn’t take up a lot of space in your bedroom or living room. Here, the shelf is made of wall trims which are installed behind the door which saves space on the floor creatively. It’s a very great way to keep your books or magazines neatly in a tiny home.

Hanging Pallet Shelf

This idea shows a creative way to use a wood pallet as the bookshelf. A big pallet is hung on the wall which is enough to deal with tons of books. There’s no need to paint the pallet here since it’s meant to keep the rustic overall look.

Decorative Rustic Bookshelf

If you are looking for a bookshelf that also works as a decor item, this idea is the one that you should as a reference. The shelf is designed in a tower-like shape and the trays are installed in a criss-cross position which makes it look so attractive. The design also makes it fit to place in the corner of the room so it suits well for a living room with limited space.

Antique Framed Shelf

Do you have some built-in shelves already installed on the walls? Turn them into gorgeous bookshelves just like this DIY bookshelf ideas shows. Each built-in shelf is decorated with a white decorative frame which instantly enhances its beauty. You can actually create similar kinds of frames out of wood all by yourself at home which will not cost you a lot.

Office Bookshelf Desk

Are you looking for a piece of furniture that works a double job? Here, a bookshelf is designed to work as an office desk at the same time which is tempting to have. Uniquely, the shelves are built under the table top in different sizes which are enough to keep dozens of books. The material that builds the shelf is wood so you can create this at home if you are familiar with woodworking skills.

For sure, this one single piece of furniture is enough to handle the needs of your very own home office.

Simple Minimalist Shelf

The design of this shelf creates a clean look that fits very well for you who decorate your living room or home office with a minimalist decorating style. You can find those types of metal shelves in the nearby bookstores and arrange them on the walls of the room. It allows you to have as many bookshelves as you need following the number of books that you’d like to display.

Tall Pallet Shelf

A stunning shelf that is made of wood pallets for your ultimate reference to improve the storage of your living room. You just need to stack the pallets in similar sizes and finish them with a light wood lock. To make it much taller, the legs made of wood complete the construction.

Besides displaying the books, the shelf is also good to showcase some decor items.

Pretty Desk Shelf

If you have a home office with a large desk, this idea is a good reference to make it neatly stylish. A bookshelf with a tree-like design is able to handle a bunch of books and even some decor items on its base. Then, the wood is finished in pink to match the color palette of the room, so you can add this to the girls’ bedroom.

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Minimalist Wood Shelf

To create this floating shelf, you just need as simple as one solid thick wood plank. To secure the book, you need to add wood sticks to the edges of the wood plank. It’s a very effortless project to enhance storage when you have limited space in your very own bedroom and living room.

Easy Book Hanger

Who needs a shelf when you can simply hang the books? This DIY bookshelf ideas shows how to use some hangers to hang your books on the walls neatly. All you need to prepare are some steel hangers, hooks, and an empty wall. The project totally will not cost your money and time a lot but you can have a convenient storage station that everybody will be amazed by.

Clever Futuristic Shelf

The design of this shelf will add a unique touch to the overall look of your bedroom while working as an easy storage station. Two wood frames in square shape hold some books that you can grab easily whenever you need them. This is a good DIY bookshelf ideas when you want to display small numbers of books.

Zigzag Wood Shelf

If the floating shelves with flat rectangular trays are too boring for you, this one is a good inspiration to create a more attractive one. The zigzag structures made of wood boards create a unique bookshelf to fill your empty wall. Each shelf is painted in a different color to give a colorful touch to the decor of the room.

Sleek Earthy Shelf

Wood boards and planks are the main supplies that you need to create this gorgeous bookshelf at home. The plank holds some sleek wood trays where you can store books and other decor items. Of course, the design of the shelf fits well to complement any room with a minimalist decorating style.

Corner Crate Shelf

Besides using the creates to create a stand-alone bookshelf that you place on the floor, you can also use them as the main materials to create floating shelves. Here, some small crates are hung in the corner of the room, forming a distinctively chic shelf to keep your books and decor items. It’s a very inspiring DIY bookshelf ideas that you can get done without spending a lot of money.

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How to Place a Bookshelf Properly

Now you may already have chosen one clever bookshelf to complete the feature of your house. However, you may not really know the perfect place to place the shelf. Below, we share with you a quick guide on how to place a bookshelf properly that you can consider.

Behind your sofa

For those who live in a small apartment or have a tiny living room, placing the bookshelf behind the sofa is always a great idea. This is actually most of the common options to place the bookshelf against the wall right behind the sofa. Besides saving space, it also gives a more visual appeal to the overall look of the room.

You can consider choosing a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf that is installed behind one of the sofas of the room that faces the TV console or fireplace. One thing to keep in mind is that you need to give the proper space between the back of the sofa and the bookshelf so you can access the books easily even when you need to squeeze the space.

Another important thing is that you need to arrange the book as beautifully as possible. You can make the group of book covers or spines as pieces of art behind the seating area. For instance, you can consider arranging one book with a similar color in one line.

Next to the couch

If you prefer to have a shorter bookshelf in your living room, it’s a good idea to place it next to the couch. With this placement, you can also turn your bookshelf into a side table. That being said, the bookshelf can also keep your snacks and drinks while you are finishing a thick book or bingeing some TV series.

You can also apply this to a large bookshelf if you place your coach close to the wall. If one shelf is not enough, placing two won’t hurt since you may have a lot of items to store there. For a large shelf, always place your favorite books within eye level so you can grab them anytime quickly.

On the sides of the TV console

If you still have enough space on either side of the TV console, you can consider framing the unit with a matching bookshelf. This will create an ultimate entertaining area that enhances both comfort and beauty of the room in an instant.

This type of placement will create a center of attention, so you need to make sure that you arrange the books neatly and aesthetically. Besides the bookcases, you can also add some framed photos, indoor plants, or other decor items.

Set a reading nook

Of course, the best option of all is to set up a reading nook in your bedroom, living room, or home office. It doesn’t have to be a huge space, you can utilize an empty corner of the room to create one. You can consider separating the main area of the room from the reading nook by using a tall bookshelf or large pieces of furniture.

Placing an armchair with some throw pillows and blankets will totally make the room look and feel way more inviting.