We had been talking for a while about adding a bookcase to our office/guest room/playroom. Bookcases are great for storage, display, and adding architectural height to a space, and we knew the wall to the left of the off-center window would be the ideal spot. With measurements scribbled on a scrap of paper, we headed to Ikea and bought a Billy bookcase for $69. It fit the wall’s proportions perfectly and had a small footprint that wouldn’t crowd the sleeper sofa.
We checked a few other options in the store, but the Billy’s dimensions and price were hard to beat. Once we brought it home and began assembling it, we realized the baseboard and shoe molding prevented the case from sitting flush against the wall. A quick ten-minute tweak with a coping saw and a chisel solved the problem: we removed just enough material from the bookcase back so it would sit neatly against the molding. The result looked custom and felt like a small victory.
Stepping back, we loved how the new bookcase balanced the wall. The height on the right side complemented the window on the left and the slim design fit alongside our sleeper sofa without feeling cramped. But the factory back panel bothered us: it was thin, folded into thirds during shipping, and even after nailing it in place it still showed creases and looked flimsy.
We brainstormed a few solutions. One idea was to cut foam core to fit the six rectangular openings and cover it with paint, wallpaper, or fabric for a finished look. That would work, but it felt like a lot of foam core and extra effort. Our second idea was simpler: remove the back entirely and paint the wall behind the bookcase. So we popped off the back panel and taped a rectangle on the wall to define the area we wanted to paint while the bookcase remained in place.
We used leftover paint—Mythic’s Adanna Aire, a soft aqua we’d used on the nursery ceiling—and filled the taped rectangle. The soft aqua coordinated nicely with our blue-green sleeper sofa and required no additional purchases. When the paint dried, we slid the bookcase back into place in front of the painted section of wall, achieving a tailored built-in look without much cost or effort.
Removing the back created a new concern: the inside of the bookcase now had a dark crevice and exposed row of peg holes for shelf adjustment that didn’t look refined. We fixed this with white caulk. We filled most of the unused shelf-pin holes while leaving one hole above and below each shelf in case we needed minor adjustments later. The DAP window and trim caulk we used matched the bookcase color closely, hiding the ridge near the wall and giving a cleaner, more finished appearance.
Taking off the back did reduce the bookcase’s rigidity slightly. It wasn’t dangerously unstable, but it did feel less reinforced than with the original panel attached. Anchoring the bookcase to the wall at the top restored some stability, and for extra safety—especially with kids around—we recommend installing metal L-brackets. Painted white, they practically disappear but add real structural support. We’ll add those brackets when we tackle other childproofing projects in the house.
When it came time to style and stock the shelves, we aimed for a balance of function and aesthetics: the room needs to serve as an office and a guest space. We listed everything we wanted to store so we could prioritize function before decorating. The list included office supplies (envelopes, tape, scissors, stapler, notepads), extra printer paper and cardstock, paint swatches we reference while blogging, books and binders, a clock for quick checks during feedings, some of our daughter’s favorite books and toys, treats for our dog Burger, and a few decorative items to soften the office vibe for overnight guests.
We filled baskets (on sale from a craft store) to conceal office clutter, paper, toys, and paint decks. Open shelves display books, binders, decorative vases and frames, a small clock, and a glass jar of dog treats. The mix of concealed storage and visible decor keeps the bookcase practical without feeling too businesslike, making overnight visitors feel at home.
We still plan to store files and paperwork on the desk side of the room, but the $69 bookcase plus leftover paint added balance, storage, and visual interest to the space for very little money. We even tucked an Ikea planter in the corner to hold mailing tubes used for shipping shop items, which provided even more organized storage.
So that’s the latest on the office update: a small, affordable bookcase customized to look built-in, painted wall backing, simple caulk fixes, and a thoughtful mix of storage and styling. What have you been up to this week—any bookcase makeovers or clever concealed storage wins in your home?