You don't live anywhere near earthquake country, do you? Even if not, are you sure you want bookshelves there? It's going to be hard to get to them to dust and clean unless you move the bed out each time. And if you have books above where you can easily reach them that will prove a pain. Plus, it gives the whole room (that should be devoted to serenity and peaceful sleep) a cluttered look. And there's always the possibility of things simply falling off onto your head.

No earthquakes (north Colorado). The shelves are already built into the walll, in a knee wall/alcove. I’m not opposed to removing them, but thought it might look really neat AND the lowest shelve would still be there. thoughts given that?

We are readers, so books in the bedroom is a feature not a flaw. :) i did think maybe putting books only on the sides, and something else in ge middle?

I don't dislike the idea, but the execution could be much more beautiful.

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Yes- we are honestly open to about everything. Prefer simpler lines, and wood tones. The doors on the left will leave, all shelf contents currently there leaves...only a king sized bed of indeterminate headboard will be there! (plus whats on the shelves or above the knee wall if shelves leave.

I like how that one has dark shelf backing with dark shelf contents to remove some visual clutter.

Do you have a family room or library? That would seem a better place for a collection of books and guitars. Is this temporary lodging? All those other things will make it seem more like a multi-purpose guest room than a retreat.

I made the mistake of putting a (very nice) computer table in our master bedroom. My husband, who loathes change, will not let me move it. So we are stuck with what amounts to a printer cabinet in our room. I would not make that mistake again.

Honestly the guitars are staying while we are in this house (trust me- we’ve gone through every other option including selling and building an addition or a backyard jam room), and we honestly won’t likely leave for at least 12 years. I’m ok with this. im A musician also, and they are gorgeous to look at (except the red bass which may have to go elsewhere lol.)

Im ok with this. Probably should have left them off this thread. (I deleted them from my question.)

We have a full two walls of bookshelves full in the family room outside this room. :) I can rip these shelves out, but though it might look neat? I might be wrong.

Two more ideas that are getting warmish....

we live in a smaller house, fyi, 3bed 2ba with the rest completely open to itself. my desire to not move and not increase my mortgage is definitely stronger than most compromises but he books are definitely optional. Just trying to find a good idea for this wall as headboard?

Honestly don’t like the look at all...can the bed go on another wall?

Leather would be an option! Just want easy clean. :) i likr upholstered headboards; just practicality keeping me from diving in.

I could build more on down around the bed like this...

Amanda, nope. This is the best wall! Only one other even possible, and it would be tight.

You wouldn’t have access to any of those books....a bad idea.

If the bed must go on that wall, I would leave the middle shelves empty. Just put books on the sides.

Hope this link helps; it has lots of great examples. I think it really comes down to the execution and you may have to make a few attempts to get it just right.

https://www.google.com/search?q=bookshelves%20in%20bedroom&tbm=isch&safe=active&tbs=rimg:Cd04Rh46a2BeYfIWEKiaqKZA&hl=en-US&sa=X&ved=0CBIQuIIBahcKEwjYu5KZnY7wAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQBg&biw=375&bih=495

I like the side shelves! I think it would make the bed feel very cozy, built into a nook like that. Don’t listen to the haters. It’s a cool space — so much better to work and make what you have sing than to rip it all out. I love a pretty house, but I hate the waste that the culture promotes....

Here’s an idea...books on the sides, artwork in the middle.

Maybe the bookcases can also be the nightstands for the room.

Mazsola, I'm definitely more into unique and part of the house than matching styles or anything. :) I built these shelves to match the house, in fact! I hadn't thought of enclosing with more shelves before tonight...

Beverly- we do need some sort of nightstand shelf! A place for keys and an inhaler and the book currently reading...

I'd feel quite cozy surrounded by books like that! I do think you'll want some sort of headboard though-- it will protect the wall from finger prints and head rubs.

I suggest you box up all your stuff and take a pic without any clutter. That will allow us to better understand exactly what you're dealing with.

Jennifer-will post when I'm done! (Actually hope to be done this weekend!) There is a lot of stuff on those shelves that is literal "filler," things we've been given over the years and had no place for, so they ended up in this craft/music/where things go to die room. LOL. Now's the time to look at each thing and decide whether we actually like it or not! (And then it will be EMPTY!)

Hi! Did you redo your bedroom yet? I’m putting together shelves at my house today and thought of this post 😆

Not yet- this is actually part of a huge house flip whereby this room becomes the master, and our two kids get their own room. :) theres a lot of pieces and we want to “do it right,” so have been spending time getting the closet orgsnization built in, finding the proper home for everything leaving the room (and honestly getting rid of over half) which involves some design/furniture decisions in the family room.

we are at tye place where the shelves are mostly empty, one of the cube shelves is gone, the couch is listed for sale....

thought I’d be able to have the shelving clearedsooner but had a brilliant idea for built in ivar cabinets in the famiky room forthe storage which is taking time. No place in tye small house to store things except their actual places!

But Im excited to get to the bare shelves to really start thinking. We also need an armless Cushioned chair (and maybe ottoman) for the corner on foot side of the bed I’m gathering thoughts on, too! (you all will be horrified by the guitars again when I add that side, but :) )

1- One thing about bookshelves behind the bed (where there's a half-height wall that sticks out as your does) is that if you lean against them while reading in bed, your back will not be supported unless the books are packed solidly right up to where a wall would be. A headboard built out to the same depth as the wall will fix this problem.

2- It sounds like you are well along the way of moving things out already. If you put stuff on the sides of the bed only, the shelves will be much easier to dust. A long handled duster or Webster with a swivel head will help with the center over the bed.

3- I think your copper pipe and wood shelves could be easily disassembled and moved elsewhere if this arrangement doesn't work out. They would give a lot of space for kid stuff storage if they rest on the floor, for example, or for craft supplies at any height.

4- You have quite a collection of sewing things and beautiful fabrics. If you'd like advice on creating a new sewing area with storage for fabric, I'm sure you'd get comments on a new post.

I'm quite taken with this way of displaying/storing books. Doesn't hold as much but...

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Applepie- they are just boards pocket screwed, wuarter rounded to the wall; any disassembly is a complete tear down. They are actually inset into a 5” wide “niche” in the wall (split level basement), and the bottom is actually part of the wall/existing trim! They don’t actually stick out until above head height, and then by less than an inch, and a headboard would definitely be more than it! So yay that hurdle is cleared.

yes- I need to post the new sewing space. It has more built in bookshelves aboce it (lol)! I have ivar cabinets on order for the base to build around!

decoenthisiest- if you can believe it, we have that type in the living room upstairs, mostly filled with kudsbooks right now, but I do love it! yes, we may have more books than is standard. :)

Ok- two sick kiddos causing a postponed birthday party made us do a Quick bed switch. (As small solace for the oldest, who desperately wants her own room, whose birthday is today and was to have her first sleepover in over a year.)

the shelves still aren’t clear, but a bed is in position. This bed frame won’t be staying long. :)I think we need sonething lower?

horn is leaving. It just wanted to photobomb the last picture. Pile of file boxes and fabric likewise is not staying.

And completely cleared out...

blue sheets stay. Wall color is completely up in the air as is headboard and whether we build more shelves down the lower part to enclose or use a standalone end table. Curtains are definitely leaving.

It might be more cost effective to make the knee wall a little higher and keep your headboard.

I would definitely try to lower the bedframe. Can you cut a couple inches off the legs? The shelves look great now that everything is cleared away!

I can definitely hack the bed frame to be lower, definitely in my wheelhouse of skills, but it is a banged up $150 ikea frame that is pretty wiggly even after some stablising hacks and we’d like to drop the footboard/have none which is not doable with this frame. (If you google ”what not to buy at ikea”, it’s exhibit a. Lol.)

but is the overall dark brown/black and simple styling a good fit I’m hearing?

IMO the slats on the headboard compete with the shelving. I would just get a new headboard or DIY and make an upholstered one that fits with the shelving height you already have.

I would paint the walls behind the shelf a navy or dark blue to make the copper piping pop. Add plywood paneling to the bottom to act as your headboard. You don't really need one, just use a regular bed frame. Maybe add a long bolster pillow at the top to cushion your head. Paint the ceiling white with a matte paint, it looks shiny. Get long curtains to the floor in a blue pattern. Add a hanging list fixture, maybe rattan or something to add in wooden detailing.

The ikea bedframe is also not a good color for the room too dark. You need to add lighter wood detailing not black.

Good luck!

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Modpod I love both those pictures! If you did blue behind the shelves, what color would you paint the rest of the walls? blue of a lighter shade? (The existing paint is a horribly done sponge paint disaster from previous owners, the green was what we painted before we installed the shelves, and intended on painting the room When it was a study/guest room)

Depends on the mood you want.
You could go all dark and moody, every wall.
Use white to give a crisp touch and really make the shelves and color the focus.
Use a tonal accent to soften the space.
Might help to look for some curtains you would like and another bedding/sheet set as an alternate. That might help you find the cold direction you want to go in. Obviously some artwork and at least one night table with a lamp would also help the space feel a bit more comfortable.
Good luck!!!