WHY WE GOT A CUSTOM BUILT-IN

When we moved into our home, the wall where our built-in is now was completely flat with no depth or style. The living room to me is the main spot where we hang out and entertain so I wanted this space to be stylish, airy and a focal point to set the mood of the homes interior aesthetic.

CHOOSING A STYLE OF BUILT-IN

If you search built-in’s on pinterest can be overwhelming, there’s so many options and styles. The main thing to look for is how large your space is and how much it can handle. Think of what sort of decor you want to put around and on the shelves and how much space and depth you want for them. For me, I knew I wanted to use vases & small frames so I wanted a little height in between each. I also wanted to hide some chords and used the cabinets to store some of our entertaining pieces like napkins, place mats, etc. This is a great spot to store these types of items. So make sure to ask your contractor if everything will be hidden and what they can do, to make that happen!

CHOOSING A WOOD STAIN OR COLOR

When adding shelves, I wanted a warmer tone to match our earthy/coastal vibe in our home. We live in Florida, and our decor pieces are all on the neutral side so I didn’t want anything too dark. If you want a richer tone, a darker wood stain may work perfect for you. We also have all white walls ( Nano White by Behr paint ) so even a darker color would have worked fine, it just wasn’t what I wanted.

STYLING YOUR SHELVES

This has to be my favorite part of built in shelves! It’s finally time to style them! I love to add tall, short vases mixed with faux greenery, small frames or bowls. Have fun with it, nothing has to be so in “order”. Books are great for texture in breaking up the stone or wood pieces. You also can change as the seasons come and go, it’s such a fun way to add flair to your living room!

OUR FAUX FIREPLACE

If you’re adding a faux fireplace there’s tons of great electric ones to choose from! Even ones that have heat! The realistic flames are so relaxing and add a total “vibe” to your living room, it’s such a fun touch to add to your built-in! Check out some of my favorites below!

1. Matte Black Taper Candlestick Holders – I love these holders! They’re perfect paired with the flame-less white taper candles! Perfect to add on your mantle or console table!