PIP: What to do with this bookcase

[heygrey]

glass doors sound like a recipe for disaster with children.

does it match the other furniture in the room?

[heygrey]

i don't think it's bad at all, but it could be more "fun". it's just sort of ordinary in it's current state.

i think i'd paint it and add baskets for storage that tie into some of the other colours in the room so that it blends kid/adult space.

[tarheels]

I can't quite see the backing board to tell its age - is this a modern piece or an antique? If it's an antique, put the doors back on it and sell it. If it's a modern piece, it's ok to paint.

[housegeek]

Maybe frost the glass and put the doors back on? Paint it emerald

[sierramist03]

Can you put a piece of fabric covered cardboard in the back of every section to tie in your room colors.
Eta like this
www.thehappierhomemaker.com/2012/04/ikea-billy-bookcase-makeover-2.html

[bunnymendelbaum]

Dec 23, 2012 16:12:35 GMT -5 sierramist03 said:

Can you put a piece of fabric covered cardboard in the back of every section to tie in your room colors.
Eta like this
www.thehappierhomemaker.com/2012/04/ikea-billy-bookcase-makeover-2.html

I like this idea!

[magdala9]

I like oak bookcases and rooms that aren't too matchy-matchy so I would not paint it. I think it looks good as is. I would line the vertical books by size to give in a more even look (smaller books together, taller books together etc). The horizontal books (Dr. Seuss, maybe) look so much more organized because they are all the same size.

[magdala9]

Oak can look great with the right material. I would not think the oak would be a problem at all. A textured solid or a simple print would look good. Adding material to oak would be a very country look.

With the assortment of kids books, it could also look busy if you added a patterned background when kids books have so much pattern to begin with.

[sierramist03]

Dec 23, 2012 17:04:58 GMT -5 @bluesky said:

Dec 23, 2012 16:59:34 GMT -5 magdala9 said:

I like oak bookcases and rooms that aren't too matchy-matchy so I would not paint it. I think it looks good as is. I would line the vertical books by size to give in a more even look (smaller books together, taller books together etc). The horizontal books (Dr. Seuss, maybe) look so much more organized because they are all the same size.

Going to reorganize books now and see how it looks. I agree with not too matchy. There is no way the oak would look good with a material background is there?

I'd try before painting it. depending on fabric I think it could work unpainted. I like the oak personally

[Ramz-ee]

Dec 23, 2012 16:12:35 GMT -5 sierramist03 said:

Can you put a piece of fabric covered cardboard in the back of every section to tie in your room colors.
Eta like this
www.thehappierhomemaker.com/2012/04/ikea-billy-bookcase-makeover-2.html

This was going to be my suggestion, except stencil poster board instead of using fabric. I couldn't find fabric I wanted, so stenciling was my solution. But either one make a huge difference.