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in DIYing· Painting

I finally finished painting the bookshelves

My parents gave me these two nice solid wood bookshelves.

Bookshelves1

They fit perfectly in this little hallway off our Family Room between the Master Bedroom and the Laundry Room.

You can get a better idea of where they are in the house from this photo I posted while painting the Family Room.

Do you see the shelves in the back corner?

Anyway, the shelves are perfect for the space, but the oak color was really dragging me down. I decided to paint them.

First thing I did was Prime them.

Bookshelves2

A little trick I used: when I painted around the bottom of each shelf I just slid a piece of wax paper under to block the paint from getting on the tile. Worked like a charm.

Bookshelves3

Once they were Primed and dry I painted the backs of the shelves with the same paint I used on the wall – Restoration Hardware “Slate” and painted the rest of the shelves white “Alabaster” by Sherwin Williams in Gloss finish.

They look splotchy because they were mid-drying at this point.

Bookshelves4

To paint each shelf I set up an assembly line on my floor and set each shelf on top of little bowls and cups – pretty much anything I could find to lift them off the ground a little. I primed each side, and then I gave each side a few coats of the Alabaster.

Bookshelves5

And finally, the shelves are done.

Bookshelves6

I’m still tweaking the accessories on the shelves. Many items are in line for a coat of spray paint.

Bookshelves7

Also, the bottom of each bookshelf is suppose to have doors, which my dad can’t find. So eventually I want to make new doors for the bottom of the shelves to hide all the books.

Bookshelves8

I’m definitely feeling more settled now that I have a place for all of these accessories.

Before:
Bookshelves1

After:
Bookshelves7

A little paint can make a huge difference.

Filed Under: DIYing, Painting Tagged With: family room

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Comments

  1. Mikalah says

    02/28/2011 at 4:30 pm

    Wow, what a difference! I love the newly painted shelves. I like the two-tone look as well, very chic!

    Reply
  2. Priscilla-The Wheelchair Mommy says

    02/28/2011 at 4:36 pm

    WOW!!! looks awesome. I think we have some like that in storage that MIL had in her house but I have NO idea where to put them. 🙁

    our house is faitly large but very open and not a lot of wall space for stuff like that.

    Reply
  3. Brittanie says

    02/28/2011 at 4:39 pm

    They look great! We are getting ready to start some bookshelves and I want to paint the back a different color too!

    Reply
  4. Stacy says

    02/28/2011 at 4:47 pm

    I love it! I especially love that the back is a contrasting color. Looks awesome!!!

    Reply
  5. homepodge says

    02/28/2011 at 4:48 pm

    Great before and after! That’s so clever painting the bookcase backs to match the wall. You get the look of open shelves but nothing can get pushed off the back. I’ll have to remember this.

    Reply
  6. Katie says

    02/28/2011 at 4:49 pm

    I love it now!! The paint makes such a big difference! I recently built a bookcase and considered painting the back a different color… seeing yours makes me want to rip all my books off the shelves and do it! It looks great! Love the pops of color too!

    Reply
  7. Erika...with a K says

    02/28/2011 at 5:18 pm

    Looks great!! You did an awesome job!

    Reply
  8. Jill says

    02/28/2011 at 5:29 pm

    i never would have thought to do the slate gray background! wow!! that pops! beautiful!! can’t wait to see more projects!!

    Reply
  9. Kristi says

    02/28/2011 at 5:47 pm

    Wow, those look great! I love how the white pops against the slate. I’ve got a hutch top that I’m about to paint. I’m not loking forward to it. ha

    Reply
  10. Becky says

    02/28/2011 at 6:03 pm

    A-mazing!!!!! It looks 10000% better! Love them!

    Reply
  11. Chrissie says

    02/28/2011 at 6:23 pm

    Your bookshelves look wonderful. I have some I desperately need to paint, I have a hard time motivating myself, you have inspired me!

    Reply
  12. Lorie says

    02/28/2011 at 8:06 pm

    I love the faux open shelving look!

    Reply
  13. Emily Love says

    02/28/2011 at 8:09 pm

    Those look great!!

    Reply
  14. Jess @ Frugal with a Flourish says

    02/28/2011 at 8:10 pm

    Looks great darling! I love the white and gray!

    Reply
  15. Barbara Wilbanks says

    02/28/2011 at 8:21 pm

    Love the shelves. Don’t know why I am so afraid of painting things. Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply
  16. Opalm says

    02/28/2011 at 9:05 pm

    I have to tell you painting the backs the same color of the wall makes all the difference between office looking shelves and chic looking shelves. Great!

    Reply
  17. Tracey says

    02/28/2011 at 9:27 pm

    I love everything you do! Your bookcases and the paint color you used look amazing. Please don’t ever stop blogging 🙂

    Reply
  18. Heather@ The Black's Best says

    02/28/2011 at 9:36 pm

    These turned out so well! I love how you painted the back the same color as the walls. These are definitely a great place for displaying just about anything. Did you sand before you primed?

    Reply
  19. Rebecca@This Present Life says

    02/28/2011 at 9:55 pm

    I LOVE how they turned out. What a brilliant idea to paint the back of the shelves the same color as the wall! And all your little accessories look so great!

    Reply
  20. Susan says

    02/28/2011 at 10:00 pm

    Oh emm gee! I have almost the exact same bookcase and I just hate the oak color. I’ve been ignoring it because it simply never occurred to me to paint the ding-dong thing. Thank you so much!

    Reply
  21. Carmen @ Life with Sprinkles on Top says

    02/28/2011 at 10:35 pm

    The shelves look wonderful!!!! They are pretty and useful. Love! 🙂

    Reply
  22. Jess says

    03/01/2011 at 7:31 am

    Love Love Love how the shelves look backless yet have the stability of full shelves. I want to put that type of shelving in my LR and I am so going with the two-tone.

    Reply
  23. Les says

    03/01/2011 at 9:21 am

    They look like built-in shelves. Lurve!

    Reply
  24. shahana says

    03/03/2011 at 1:52 pm

    wow this is really cool

    Reply
  25. Kristen says

    03/08/2011 at 7:49 am

    The bookshelves look amazing! I can’t wait to do that with my very similar oak shelves. Great job!

    Reply
  26. Sandy Jenney - Organize with Sandy says

    03/09/2011 at 7:04 am

    I love how you painted the back a different color. I would have never thought of that.
    They look awesome!

    Reply
  27. leigh7911 says

    03/18/2011 at 6:04 pm

    I also really like the cleverness that is painting the back with your wall colors! However, I don’t understand why you’d want to hide *books*, of all things!! 😉

    Reply
  28. Annette A. says

    04/14/2011 at 11:56 am

    I love this idea! It looks more cohesive now and not an eye-sore like before. BTW, I love the gumball machine!!! (I have the same one but looking to buy a stand for it). Your blog is a daily inspiration!

    Reply
  29. Jessica G says

    04/29/2011 at 1:41 am

    This is awesome! I love how you make it it look like part of the wall with the same colors!

    also….is that a twilight book I spy behind the clock?!

    Reply
  30. nancy says

    07/14/2012 at 1:25 am

    Hi, I have these exact bookshelves I am pretty sure. I just painted them and now the little holes are kinda small for the pegs that hold the shelves up. Do your book cases have the holes? If so how did you get the paint out??
    Thanks, your place is beautiful!!!

    Reply
  31. Linda Gilleland says

    06/14/2013 at 1:17 pm

    They look so good!!! can u tell me what kind of paint ( latex or oil based?? How much prep did it take? did u have to sand down everything?? I am ready to start on my shelves but just am wondering how to do it where the paint will hold ??
    thanks
    linda

    Reply

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