When it comes to bookshelves, there’s no doubt they serve two important purposes in your home:
The first is pure functionality. They help get things organized, reduce clutter, and give you a sense of peace when you have a place to store and find your things.
The second of course is a design purpose. Of course, when you decorate your home, you wouldn’t just store (Read: display) your belongings in boring or unattractive methods.
Nothing beats a great looking or interesting bookshelf as a design piece. In fact awesome bookshelves go a step further and become complementary pieces to other decor items.
We don’t just store books on bookshelves, right? This makes shelving a central decor item in any home.
Check out these 15 DIY bookshelf ideas to inspire you enhance both your organizational AND home decor.
1. Plumbing Pipes Bookshelves
Iron piping you can find at any Home Depot or Lowe’s. The best part is this “rustic black” color is how these pipe come.
Cut pieces evenly to keep it all simple, screw together and mount on the top and bottom, and enjoy your new corner bookshelf that will be a talking piece with every visitor to your home.
See the DIY Tutorial: blurppy.com
2. Spine Bookshelf
It’s modern, unique and works with rustic decor too! They say it’s like sculpture hanging from your wall. The best part is it’s easier to make than you first think.
See the DIY Tutorial: shadesofblueinteriors.com
3. Wall-mounted Ladder Bookshelf
There really are a million and one ways to repurpose old ladders. Here’s a nifty way if you have a decent size library of books but don’t want a big piece of furniture like a bookcase.
See the DIY Tutorial: instructables.com
4. Wood and Brick Stackable Shelf
Can you imagine this bookshelf style in the same room as a matching brick fireplace? This one is so cool, but of course make sure you anchor it well to the wall!
See the DIY Tutorial: amazinginteriordesign.com
5. Invisible “Magic” Bookshelf
Talk about minimalism when it comes to floating shelves. This trick actually works and keeps you staring for a minute.
Add several of these across a large wall, or fill in little wall spaces in a small place. This one is super easy to do too.
See the DIY Tutorial: instructables.com
6. Tree Trunk for Books
If you like woodsy decor, this one is definitely for you. A centerpiece that is so inviting for avid readers.
See the DIY Tutorial: forreadingaddicts.co.uk/
7. Toscana Rustic Shelves
One of the best DIY bookshelf ideas out there, but an excellent way to get a nice looking and sturdy bookshelf put together quickly with minimal effort.
See the DIY Tutorial: jenwoodhouse.com
8. Industrial Pipe Shelves
Another great way to use pipes for shelving. These have been popular for a while now, and certainly a timeless style that will be around for a long time.
See the DIY Tutorial: designdininganddiapers.com
Our Favorite Ready-Made Shelf on Amazon
Like all nice decor pieces, you either pay big bucks for high-end designer stuff…or you make it yourself!
But sometimes, you just want it and don’t have the time or patience to DIY it.
Thankfully, there’s middle ground where you can save both money AND time.
So…here’s our favorite choice from Amazon. It looks amazing without the horrific high price you’d have to pay with our friends at Pottery Barn.
9. DIY Hanging Skateboard Bookshelf
An old skateboard without wheels isn’t much on it’s own. But ad some rope and some cool anchors hanging from a wall and you have one of the most creative DIY bookshelf ideas out there.
10. Industrial Free Standing Bookshelf
A DIY modern twist to a bookshelf…literally. This one is a nice combo of wood and metal for a classic industrial approach.
See the DIY Tutorial: babble.com
11. Leather Belt Wall Shelves
An ingenious way to use leather belts. Cut to size, secure to the wall and add your ledges for another unique DIY book shelf.
See the DIY Tutorial: knockoffdecor.com/leather-belt-wall-shelves
12. Distressed Shelf That Spells “HOME”
You bet you’re going to pay hundreds of dollars for this type of shelf from a catalog store. But ask yourself, is it really that hard to spell the word “HOME” in a home-themed DIY shelving project? It isn’t!
See the DIY Tutorial: acraftymix.com
13. “The Tree” DIY Bookshelf
Artsy meets books. If you don’t like your world to be so symmetrical and have a little surprise to it, this tree bookshelf is the way to go.
See the DIY Tutorial: instructables.com
14. Easy-to-Build Crate Shelves
Another classic DIY bookshelf idea. So simple, yet so lovely in nearly any decor style. And it doesn’t get any cheaper or easier to make either.
See the DIY Tutorial: creatingreallyawesomefunthings.com
15. Repurposed Metal Basket Bookshelves
We’ve seen more and more of these the last couple of years. They can hold a lot of things, but books work great.
Make them removable, and you can lift off a basket and be on your way for a lazy afternoon reading session with your favorite current books.
See the DIY Tutorial: rainonatinroof.com
Of course there are countless other DIY bookshelf ideas. We picked the above as a way to represent the extremely unique to the pleasantly creative to the simple and just plain practical.
If anything, let these ideas inspire your own thinking next time you’re ready to declutter your house and give it another notch up in it’s design.