I would remove the bookcase to run the new flooring under it. Even if you reinstall the bookcase, because whoever does remove that bookcase (in the future) will curse you for not running the flooring underneath!

The bookcase doesn't look like anything special, so whether to remove it is up to you.

I don't know that I would add back two smaller bookcases. Maybe one smaller one, or a great credenza. And maybe a bigger TV? I think we really need to see the whole room to make comments on that part of your situation.

You must remove it to complete the floor properly.

Do you need a bookcase that big? can you break it apart into a smaller section?

the windows on the left and the linear bookcase aren't working, for me.

I'd see if you could salvage the lumber and remake it into a smaller stacked unit.

I would take it out regardless while you replace your flooring, and run hardwoods throughout the room. Now - the question about whether you should keep it or not: Is there another room in the house where it could reside? The design makes your room look very "office" or "rec room". I would move it, and get a nicer cabinet for under your television.

For future you better go with floor underneath shelving. But I would paint it and put back.

YBecause of your tall ceiling, you're going to need something substantial under the TV. You have it already. As you can see from inspiration photos, a long, low painted bookcase is ideal. You don't have any white trim, so paint the bookcase a semi-gloss version of your wall paint. Add art, and a lamp, possibly some floating shelves as shown, and it'll look great.

Remove it to install a prettier media wall. Oak drives most Houzzers crazy. Even when painted, without special treatment, the grain will show through. If you keep it, close it with doors and add better proportioned shelving above for a mix of 1/3 books, 1/3 large decor items and 1/3 open space.

You could even add some open shelving above. The main issue it has for TV is that it is too high.

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It's awesome. Keep it unless you hate it. Customize it if you want.

It's a built-in unit. You don't put flooring under built-ins. If you keep it, ignore what is under it.

What do the floor installers say about it?

I would want to keep it. I would hang the TV. It looks very solid and useful. I would not worry about running flooring up to it, not under. I don't see it ever going anywhere.

I would attempt to keep it. You can always use this type of storage in a family room for books, games, baskets with craft supplies. . .

I have seen where they not only screw something in place, but also glue and it makes removal almost impossible. I would want to remove, place the hardwood underneath and replace.

I see no reason to replace it with something else that serves the same purpose.

As for the TV viewing angles, I grew up in a home where the television was about 4" off the floor (hidden in a lower cabinet), had my TVs mounted at the top of my 8' walls after I adopted a Rottweiler/Greyhound mix that attacked the televisions when an animal appeared on the screen, and I currently have my TV at the "Appropriate" viewing angle. I didn't mind any of the 3 viewing angles. I don't think the height of your TV is all that far off the ideal.

I think this pic that housegal posted would be a perfect way to update your wall. Hang the tv slightly above the bookcases. Add some floating shelves beside the tv to make the wall, tv and bookshelves more cohesive. It will look wonderful.

Thank you everyone for your comments!!

kempek01, I agree with you and others that we should remove the bookcase and run the flooring underneath it. There is quite a bit of oak in our house and I wouldn't miss the bookcase. If we painted it, the grain may still show through.

Lyn Nielson, I don't know that we need a bookcase that big. It is nice to have a place to put framed photos and display pottery and other items, however. Once we take the bookcase apart, we can't put it back. You mentioned the linear bookcase and the windows don't work and I agree.

decoenthuiaste, we want to hang the television lower on the wall.

olychick, I want to make everything more cohesive. As housegal200 suggested, maybe we could add art and floating shelves.

I really like the idea of placing a credenza or cabinet under the television. As Sammie commented, maybe something more modern. My questions are what style would look good with the windows, and how large should it be?

Here are a few photos of the room!

I hear you know what you want to do...go for it. Remove the book case it's your home, after all.

If you remove the cabinetry to install the flooring, see about taking off the bottom section of it so it will be lower for your TV.

I think the lower, two shelf bookcases that @housegal200 posted look better, so I would remove the bookcase and add a more interesting floor lamp and a sleeker bookcase. I also like how they've styled their top shelf using large art and different shaped objects, some hanging and some leaning. Lamps are from West Elm.

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@decoentusiaste & barncatz: What a great idea to remove the top shelf if that's possible. Long, low shelving is often recommended for large TVs.

@barncatz: This is one of those Design Dilemmas where OP already decided to get rid of the bookcase. I misunderstood that she already planned to do that so we all went running around suggesting alternatives. Over and out!

I'm in the keep it camp.

I would 86 those bookshelves, They are heavy looking and cut the wall in half. I do like Ikea Besta, a lot of storage and they can be custom configured with drawers or doors. Because its not sitting on the floor, it has a lighter more modern look. Doors keep the visual clutter to a minimum.

My 2c

I like it a lot and would keep it (and probably stain it a different color eventually, but in no rush). I might also add doors. But you seem clear you want it gone so get rid of it! Trust your intuition.

I would definitely remove the bookcase and run the flooring under it just incase you end up removing it completely in the future (or if anyone who will own the house in the future wants to remove it). If you want to keep the book case, I would stain it a different color and add some sliding barn doors onto it.

"Do you need a bookcase that big"

Is there such a thing as any house anywhere that has enough bookshelves? our house has probably 10X that amount of bookshelf space and it's nowhere near adequate!

I'd pull it out for the flooring installation-- carpet under a built-in is gross, and then put it back in, running the flooring underneath just in case.

Some people are readers, collectors of books. My daughter collects hard covers of books she likes. Then there are the tchotchke people that need display area. I keep clutter to minimal, but I have built ins flanking my FP, for some decor and my limited book collection.

Color idea:

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Last try to save it. ;)

Would this type help blend in skylights, track lights, etc...

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I read this is a family room, so you've seen Home Goods baskets or bins used - seems ideal if there are toys and things... possibly onlookers like us see items along the top as clutter-y... if you placed them within it, on the top shelf might look 'neater.'...?

If bookcase can be removed without damaging, I‘d lay flooring underneath.

Some suggested replacing with a higher unit, but given the slanted ceiling, your bookcase works well. It‘s free, doesn't take over room and can take on a new life.

Take a look on Pinterest for “low wall to walll bookcases” and you will see all kinds of ideas. Painting, if you decide, would mean sanding and priming with a special paint and even look into chalk paint. Imagine TV in the centre of wall decor in pictures below.

Consider reconfiguration of some shelves and no matter what you decide to do, play around with accessorizing.

I really appreciate all your comments. So many great ideas and photos! I feel inspired to re-do that area of our family room in a new and creative way. @housegal200, just wanted to say I hadn’t already decided to get rid of the bookcase when I posted the design dilemma. Rather, when I was reading everyone’s comments, my gut was telling me to replace the flooring underneath and find a different style cabinet.

Unfortunately, the old bookcase can’t be taken apart so we won’t be able to remove the top shelf to make it lower. I will try to find a cabinet that has both open shelves and doors so I can tuck things away. I might look for one that’s painted and will match the walls. Maybe add art above or floating shelves. Excited to begin the next step. Thanks, again.

that reminds of this look!

looks cool when it's staged properly

you could also paint it, paint the walls, the brick, do some art above it. (or hang your tv)

just depends on the look you want

Long/low bookcase fits with scale of other parts of vaulted room: a few+ windows, tall fireplace, skylight[s]. In a lower, smaller room overwhelming. Matters whether curtains will be full and pattern-full? might then 'oops' I'd change mind, just mine.

This gives you an idea of how it would look with the bookcase painted white and hardwoods.

Without the furniture. Are you painting the walls and window trim??

@zeld, every room in our 3 bedroom house is painted cream. When we moved here two years ago, we started working on other projects. There is so much trim. I hadn’t planned to paint the walls and trim white. Do you think the cream looks dated?

That’s amazing to see the bookcase painted white. It looks so bright against the cream background! The wall color changes in this room, depending on time of day. Sometimes it ranges from light cream to more yellow. If we didn’t paint the walls and trim, what other color do you suggest for bookcase?

@Laurie Fryett All too often we go about renovating a home without a plan for the whole home and we end up with choices we regret. Paint is one of the least expensive of the choices. Making your choices on furniture, flooring, countertops or cabinets should never be predicated on wall color. The wall color should be chosen based on the other more expensive finishes.

It would be great if we could afford to gut our homes and pick all new finishes and all new furniture, but most of us can't afford to do this, so my first step in deciding colors for a home is to determine those colors that must stay. (either you can't afford to change or you don't want to change).

The second step is to determine what colors bring you joy. We all have colors that we are drawn to. We don't make a conscious decision to buy things that are these colors, but end up bringing home the painting, vase, shirt, towels . . . that consistently have the same 2 or 3 colors.

I happen to be attracted to purples and teals/blue greens and a few wine red accents, Darker colors vs pastels.

These are some of my favorite things.

Most of my walls will be neutral as will the flooring and shower tile, but which neutral I pick is predicated on the colors I love. Walls and floors are the backdrop, not the main attraction.

I was lucky in that there weren't many colors that needed to stay in my home, full renovation with only a white tub in the master that had to stay and a pink brick wall and slate floor that had to stay.

Before choosing my flooring or sofa or cabinets I picked the undertone that would work best with the colors I love and the colors that have to stay.

Here are my things with Blue gray and green gray/greige on the left and Orange beige and green beige on the right.

Greige is often touted as the color that works with everything. Looks muddy with my things.

The blue gray is the best of the 4, but my things kind of blend in instead of stand out.

Here are my things and the next 4 neutral color families

Taupe (gray beige with purple undertones) and violet gray on the left and pink beige and yellow/gold beige on the right

The two beiges don't look good with my cool colors, but both the taupe and violet gray work well with my things. The taupe with the pink brick is much better than the violet gray.

Notice how the different color families pull the color from the brick? It is the exact same picture with just the color blocks changing, but the taupe and violet gray pull the grayer colors from the brick while the gold and pink beige pull the yellow/orange colors from the brick

The other big consideration was my wood furnishings. Almost all the wood furniture in my home is teak. It is the warmth that my color palette needs.

You may have wood flooring that is already in place. You have to consider the wood tone with your neutral choice.

For me, I again like the taupe with my teak furnishings (Taupe is actually an orange color that has been deeply subdued/grayed down).

My choice may be quite different if I had all oak furnishings. But I would have been unlikely to choose oak considering the colors that I love.

My sister in law has oak, but look how pretty it is with her peaches and cornflower blues.

Knowing what colors bring you joy can help guide you through the design decisions that will stand the test of time. If your design is based on what you love you won't have to redecorate every 10 years to keep up with the latest trend. You won't get stuck in the rabbit hole where every room you decorate makes the next room look off or out of place. You won't make a decision that boxes you into an uncomfortable corner. You will be able to build your inventory of art, furnishings, décor one piece at a time over many, many years instead of starting over every 10 years.

Trim painted white with a lighter paint on walls and ceiling.

Here are a couple other examples without changing walls or trim.

Not.