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Updating Style Add molding or trim elements to the bookcase unit that will mirror this overall style. For a traditional colonial home, add trim details such as bull’s-eye rosettes or fluted trim. In a contemporary-styled home, install simple wood, plastic or metal casing in geometric shapes and crisp, clean lines.
How do you modernize built in bookshelves?
5 Ways to Update Built-Ins Without Breaking the Bank! Paint or restain. Remove elaborate pilasters and molding that don’t fit the home’s style. Change hardware. Change or remove cabinet and drawer fronts. Install lighting.
How can I make my bookshelves look better?
I’ve got three great tips for making your bookshelf look a little more styled. Vary Horizontal and Vertical Stacking. I like to start by dividing up all my books by size. Add Color to The Back of Your Bookshelf. This is a great way to make your bookshelf look more harmonious. Display Books by Size and Use Bookends.
How do you update old built in cabinets?
The best way to update old built ins is to change the door style of the cabinets. I tossed the old doors and built new shaker style doors out of 1/2″ plywood and added edge banding around the outside.
Do built ins have to go to ceiling?
When it comes to living room built-ins, there’s no need to always build from floor to ceiling. In this case, designed by LeClair Decor, built-in cabinets were installed about halfway up the wall, on either side of a mantel.
What kind of paint do you use on built in bookshelves?
You should use Sherwin Williams ProClassic Acrylic/ Alkyd because it won’t yellow like an oil base will and you can clean it up with water. The acrylic/ alkyd will be hard and durable and is meant for high contact surfaces like bookshelves. That’s for the finish coat.
Are bookshelves outdated?
Bookcases, especially if made of high-quality wood and boasting a modern design, are not outdated. However, modern trends and shopping patterns of the new generations indicate whether it still makes sense to have a bookcase in our houses.
How do you paint finished bookshelves?
How to paint a bookshelf by hand: Take the hardware and doors off the bookshelf. Take the hardware off the doors. Tape off where the screws will go. Prep the bookshelf. Prime the bookshelf. Paint! Distress (optional) Seal with wax. Put the doors and new hardware on the bookshelf.
How do you dress a bookcase?
Lean artwork along the back of the shelves, and anchor them with books or heavier objects. To decorate the bookcase, place a few small pieces of art near the front of the shelves to give them depth. Bulky vases or decorative plates can hide their heft behind small frames without losing their uniqueness.
How do you remove built in bookshelves?
Open the doors or door on the cabinet. Hold a reciprocating saw vertically, with the blade centered on the front of the shelf. Tap upward on one side of the shelf with a rubber mallet. Tap on the pie-shaped section to break it off, if necessary, and remove it from the cabinet.
How do you paint plywood bookshelves?
How to Paint Sanded Plywood Shelves Wipe the sanded shelves with a damp rag to remove all of the dust particles left over from sanding. Allow the shelves to dry thoroughly. Brush on sanding sealer with a paintbrush. Prime the shelves with a latex primer. Paint the shelves with a semigloss or gloss topcoat.
How do you paint oak bookshelves?
Give an old oak bookcase a fresh, new look with these simple steps. Prep the bookcase. Remove the shelves and shelf pins (if removable) and gather your supplies. Remove the old finish. Smooth the wood. Clean the bookcase. Paint the exterior. Reattach the back.
Can you paint built ins?
You can, sometimes. If the built ins have an old finish that looks perfectly smooth and ready for paint, then you can sometimes skip sanding. BUT, you have to be sure you’ll still have good adhesion between the old finish and the new paint.
Why do kitchen cabinets not go to ceiling?
Disadvantages of Kitchen Cabinets That Go All The Way Up to the Ceiling. Ceiling height cabinets are not easy to access as they are very high up in the ceiling. Anything up there at the top of these cabinets is quite hard to access hence you will need to have something to step on in order to reach these things.
How do you fix the space between cabinets and ceilings?
You can build the cabinets to the ceiling (most expensive option), keep the area open (no cost!), build a soffit to match the cabinets, or add a drywall soffit.
How do you fill the gap between kitchen cabinets and ceiling?
Fill in the space with trim If the gap between your upper cabinets and the ceiling isn’t particularly large, you can fill it in with trim running along the top of your upper cabinets. This makes for a cohesive, built-in look, and a lot less potential for collecting dust.
How do you recolor bookshelves?
Paint and Stain Painting or staining your bookcase will transform it into a new piece of furniture. Paint your bookcase a new vibrant or neutral color if it is made of wood or particle board. Apply a primer first (based on the paint type and color you’ve selected) and let it dry.
What’s the difference between acrylic and enamel paint?
Enamel paint has a glossy look while acrylic paint has more of a matte paint finish to it. Enamel paint is mostly used for painting the exterior walls of the house while acrylic paint is used to paint the interior of the house. Enamel paint is an oil-based paint finish while acrylic paint is a water-based paint.
Should I paint the back of my bookcase?
Painting just the back of a bookcase creates a fresh, current look that will instantly wake up a room. Either watery aqua or sunshine yellow with crisp white trim would be ideal for a summery living room.
