DIY Bookcase Ideas for a Long Hall

Built-In-Style Bookcases

• Create the feel of built-in bookcases in your hallways without building bookcases from scratch. Select pre-fabricated bookcases to fit in the space, choosing those that reach to, or near, the ceiling. Measure your hallway and purchase the number bookcases necessary to cover the length. To ensure that your bookcases stay tight against the wall, secure them by driving screws through the back top corners and into the wall.

Varied-Heights Bookcases

• For a shabby chic look, mix and match bookcases of various heights. Gather bookcases that may be lying around unused, or purchase vintage bookcases from a rummage sale or thrift shop. Position them against one wall in your long hall, mixing and matching them so shorter bookcases rest against taller ones, creating an eclectic wall scape. Fill the shelves not just with books but also decorative additions.

Suspended Shelving

• Instead of taking up floor space with your bookshelves, add suspended shelving to your wall space. Purchase hangable wall shelves in an assortment of dimensions and add them to your wall, placing them at various heights across your wall. Take care to place these relatively randomly as if you appear to be following a pattern in your placement, then deviate from it, or your shelves will look out of place. Place decorative items, as well as books held in place with bookends, on these shelves.

Color-Themed Bookcase

• Make your bookshelf additions colorful ones with a color-themed bookshelf display. Select a dominant hue to feature in the hallway you are decorating. Choose paint in this hue and paint the bookshelves you intend to place in this space. When selecting decorative items to add, choose those that feature complementary hues. Transform old books, making them fitting for this hallway by painting their spines. If you don’t wish to actually alter the books, purchase wrapping paper featuring the color you selected and create book jackets to cover each volume you intend to place on this shelving.