There is nothing that will make you want to take on a home improvement project more than a global pandemic, an economic shutdown and quarantining yourself in your home.
In Need of an Upgrade
That is exactly what happened when it came to a room in my house that I absolutely despised and was forced to stare at. It was the room we called “The Special Room,” which was a mix of playroom, sitting/TV room and music room.
I had been wanting to change this space for a while, but there was something about being stuck in my house that made me take action and finally give it a much needed upgrade.
My DIY Bookcase Wall and Window Seat On a Budget
I hated that my current shelves were too small to hold all the books, board games and toys, which made them stick out awkwardly. I really didn’t like that the shelves didn’t go all the way across the wall and left an annoying space on either side. It looked so unorganized and it made decorating above it nearly impossible without looking completely unbalanced.
I thought to myself, custom built-in book cases all the way to the ceiling, with crown molding and a cute little upholstered window seat would be perfect! But let’s get real, we didn’t have the budget for that.
So I took matters into my own hands. First, the old toys my kids never played with had to go (thank you Facebook Marketplace!). Then, I measured the space and ordered stackable bookcases that are meant to go together, to create my own custom bookcase wall and window seat, thanks to Walmart’s collection of Better Homes & Gardens Cube Organizers.
Results
The concept in my mind that was hidden behind all the unorganization and mess from before was still what I was going for, but I was able to give the space the much needed upgrade it deserved. And I am proud to say that I built this entire wall on my own!
My custom bookcase combination included: One 5-cube | Two 8-cube | Two 4-cube
It was so easy to assemble and only took a couple of hours to complete.
The Hyacinth baskets and white cube bins were also from Walmart.
Tip: Go with Trademark Innovations brand for Hyacinth baskets. I ordered several different ones and these were the best quality in my opinion. It is so weird cause the images online are not what you receive so it is very deceiving, but I loved the look and quality of these the best.
Can you believe all of this was done under $500? That is crazy!
I really love how much storage we have now. These baskets hold SO much stuff. The games and books fit all the way in the cubes which looks so much neater. And switching to white shelves made the space feel so much brighter and more inviting.
Still to Do
Of course, a project is never finished when you own a home, there is always something left to do. Still on the list:
- Get a cushion made for the bench
- Lamps for the shelves below the mirrors
- Fill empty photo frames with family pictures
- Fill empty spaces with more lovely brick-a-brack
- Update pillows depending on bench cushion fabric
- Get a rug to make space more inviting. I am eyeing this one, but it is not safe in my house with my elderly dog. :/
Wow great!