Vast home libraries are the epitome of cozy, giving us a space to curl up with our favorite stories and even store some beloved knickknacks on each shelf — and you don’t need to be a Beauty and the Beast-size castle to have some stuffed shelves. For example, DIYer Claudia Williams (@byclaudiawilliams) created a vintage-inspired home library that’s a bookworm’s dream in her Brooklyn studio apartment rental.
“The day I toured the place, I made a mental note that this little alcove would be perfect for built-in shelves to showcase my book collection, and the rest is history!” she says.
When Claudia first moved in, her apartment’s previous owners had left the apartment’s small alcove bare apart from two shelves made from wood and steel pipes. “They weren’t my taste, and they didn’t take advantage of the [apartment’s] 12-foot ceilings,” she says. “I had the old shelves taken down, then had the landlord give the whole room a fresh coat of paint.” After that, the custom-for-Claudia shelving was installed — and the whole thing cost about $320.
Rather than spending hundreds of dollars on premade shelving, Williams decided to save money by heading to The Home Depot to grab lumber herself. “I’d never bought my own lumber!” she says. “It was so fun going to Home Depot, finding the right wood, and getting it cut on the spot. I felt so independent and empowered.”
Don’t underestimate the importance of leaning on professionals when you need to. Since this was Williams’ first time working with lumber, she decided to enlist a tasker from Taskrabbit to come install the wood. She painted the shelves herself in the same color as the walls, Benjamin Moore’s Mannequin Cream.
“[If I could do anything differently], I’d anchor [the lumber shelves] in the center so they could hold more weight,” Williams says. “I learned that sometimes, hiring professional help is the move.”
Thrifted finds fill the shelves.
Apart from the height and architectural interest that Claudia’s shelves now add to her space, her favorite part of adding them is “having ample space to display my treasures,” from family heirlooms to plants to vintage books. Stocking your bookshelves with thrifted finds or preexisting decor is also a great way to make over your home library on a budget.
“A lot of the items on the shelves are thrifted or found at flea markets,” she says. “If you know what you’re looking for and are willing to be patient, you can collect some true gems.”
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