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Large bookcase in boing room - what color?

5 years ago

Hi all. This is my first post. We are doing some renovations and decorating. We want to order a large custom wooden bookcase for the living room (approximately 14 feet in length). The plan is to have open shelves on the top and doors on the bottom. I just cannot decide on the color. What do you think of gray wash, navy blue, white or espresso? Thanks so much! I am attaching a photo. The bookcase will replace the two current IKEA ones.

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mim_fri
Original Author

5 years ago

Thanks. In your opinion white doesn’t look less classy than more wooden tones? I’m afraid that such a large white bookcase may look a bit tacky.

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Comments (11)

PRO
Via B Design
5 years ago
Wow, this room has real potential! White is in right now as well as a nice black which acts as an accent to the room. Espresso make the room look smaller, but it is also a good choice. The lighter you go the bigger the room looks!
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I would also do the darker stain. If your shelves are adjustable I would remove the one on the left above the TV components and sit the TV in there. The TV distracts from the fireplace. The fireplace should be the focal point and not the TV. Also get some heat resistance spray paint and up-date the fireplace screen/surround. Where you have the family picture I would stack nice logs
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acm
5 years ago
This is to replace the shelves that are there currently, or go next to them?
PRO
Via B Design
5 years ago

Not at all. If you choose white consider adding black items like the windows as an accent, or lights/chairs. Like below where the tv acts as the black accent and complimentary gray walls.
mim_fri
Original Author
5 years ago
This is to replace the white bookcases that are there currently and temporarily. It will be a large custom built unit that will pretty much span one wall of the living room.
Irene Morresey
5 years ago
I would go white, love the back of it painted grey or perhaps a colour you are using in your lounge, best of both worlds, a thought
felizlady
5 years ago
You already have what appears to be a large sectional in the room. Another huge (14' is huge) structure may overwhelm the space. A group of light-to-medium colored freestanding wall unit sections would give some flexibility to the ways you can position them. I do note that with the sectional facing a large wall system, there really isn't a conversation area or a comfortable reading corner.
PRO
Flo Mangan
5 years ago
Will you be putting a TV in this room. Is there another room you could put bookcases and books? This space appears to narrow for much on that wall except possibly a wall hung console and art or a wall mounted TV. I would encourage you to reconsider your thinking.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Espresso is already dated and was almost always cheap material, IMO black is too much for your space I know you are having this custom built but too bad you could have gone to Ikea and made one to exactly what you need. including TV display and storage BTW I find a wall full of odd things like what you show a very busy thing to look at I would find other storag for at least 1/2 of what you have showing or at least put most of it in closed storage. This is one Besta idea from Ikea
mim_fri
Original Author
5 years ago
We do not have a sectional , but rather two matching gray couches. A two seater and a three seater. We will not put a tv in the living room , so that’s not an issue. We do have many books and want to be able to fit most of them in the bookcase. As such, we are trying to find the best (and most esthetic) solution. Thanks everyone!
PRO
Flo Mangan
5 years ago
Ok then consider a longer, lower piece. And oversized art above it. If this space is largely for sitting and reading or for gatherings consider rearranging the furnishings to work better for your usage. Post the dimensions of the room and i can do some scale layouts for you. Just trying to help you avoid expensive mistakes.

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