Where should the bookshelf go?

4 years ago

I'd like to add some built in bookshelves into this bedroom on either side of the window, along with a bench in between to make a nice window seat. There's about 24" from the wall to the side edge of the window.

I'm not sure if I should extend the bookshelf all the way up to the ceiling (this is what I see mostly on Pinterest) or just to the picture rail. I'm also not sure if I should go to the edge of the extended horizontal trim pieces, or butt the bookshelves right up against the trim at the window.

Does anyone have any thoughts on what's "best" in this situation?

Featured Answer

Jennifer K

4 years ago

Cool. Since that's the case, start with the standard twin bed frame size. That's the primary constraint. You might consider building a captain's bed with drawers underneath.

I'd probably build a plinth with a drawer to fit at each end of the bed. Each plinth would be (wall width - bed length)/2 wide.

The plinths could either be the same depth as the bed if you want to allow for seating or a step. Or you could make them the same depth as the closets that will sit on top of them. If you do make them bed depth, make sure to get heavy duty full-extension slides for the drawers. The extra expense will be worth it.

Plinth height should be at least bed frame + mattress height. You could make them taller if you want to give more of a sense of enclosure to the bed (or if you want to have multiple drawers).

For the closets, the max width is the distance from the corner of the room to about a handspan from the window stool. I'm assuming you'll want clothes hanging space in the bottom section. Consider making this section a foot taller than your toddler needs so that you can raise the bar when they are taller (and their clothes are longer).

It's quite possible you can find most of what I've outlined above at Ikea. Then the only work would be to assemble it and trim it to look built-in.

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Comments (15)

Jennifer K
4 years ago
Go to the ceiling. But build the bookshelf in. i.e. put baseboard around the bottom and wrap picture rail and frieze trim around the top. If you're not going to build it in, then get a bookshelf that stops shy of the picture rail like in #1. And definitely don't crowd the window. #'s 2 and 4 just look cramped.
Amanda Healey thanked Jennifer K
decoenthusiaste
4 years ago
Other ideas if you have room.
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RedRyder
4 years ago
Where is the bed in your room? I love the ideas already posted but your room is what counts.
Amanda Healey
Original Author
4 years ago
It's a small room with a tiny closet for my toddler and there's not a lot of options. I've already spent hours on Pinterest and decided on storage around the window. Currently I have a twin mattress on the floor as shown in the first photo, but it could go the other way if need be. It's a bit tricky because the bed is wider than the width of the wall space beside the window, but This still seems like the best option to me.
Amanda Healey
Original Author
4 years ago
The other option I had been considering, was putting the bed in the window. But I had a hard time trying to sort out the depth of the drawers and cabinets in relation to the twin mattress. Then I decided a bed in the window wasn't the best option and landed with what's above.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
IMO in kids room the bookshelves should be reachable for the kid and this is asmall space and IMO if you want a window seat do one with the book shelves under it and leave th rest of the space for other things your child might want more than book shelves they can't reach
Amanda Healey
Original Author
4 years ago
I was wanting to do drawers under the window bench as a substitute for a dresser. I see your point about not being able to reach bookshelves at toddler age, but I'm not sure how else the small space on either side of the window could be used. It's only 2 feet across, and unreachable by a toddler no matter what's in that space. Open storage seems like something valuable that could grow with her. Patricia, what else were you thinking would go into that space?
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago
Why not a bed with storage underneath, the use those space for closet spce and still do the books under the seat . Is this a girl or a boy toddler?
Amanda Healey
Original Author
4 years ago
The room is for my toddler. It'll be painted light blue with rainbow-ish decoration though, so pretty gender neutral. A bed with storage underneath would also be ideal, wouldn't it? It won't take up any extra floor space. I like the idea of closet/hanging space, but could never sort out the doors opening up over the bed, or needing to stand on the bed to get to the closet. and then wanting it to be the same on either side of the window so not liking the idea of shelves on one side and a closet on the other. But maybe I need to get over that :)
Jennifer K
4 years ago
If you decide to do a bed/closet built-in around the window, you don't have to figure out the measurements. Your carpenter will do that. You just give them an inspiration picture and they draw you a plan. You make any tweaks to the plan you like and once it's final, you get a price. It won't be cheap. But it shouldn't be impossible. And you will have a quality product that does what you need it to.
Amanda Healey
Original Author
4 years ago
I was planning on building it myself, not hiring a carpenter. I've built a few other "built in" pieces in other homes I've lived in, so I feel confident in my carpentry skills. I just need a bit of design advice.
decoenthusiaste
4 years ago
Some ideas to help you flesh out the overall concept; you might want to mesh some of these together.
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Hannah
4 years ago
@Amanda Healey, I like @decoenthusiaste's ideas about building around the bed (assuming you wouldn't need the bed against a wall to act as a bed rail/keep kiddo from falling off bed?). Do you need the floor space to play? If so, you could think about doing a murphy bed (so it could be up during play time). Across from the bed (next to the door) you could add a dresser, a book shelf, or maybe a little table in the corner? Wall book shelves could save space too.
Amanda Healey
Original Author
4 years ago
@Jennifer K Thanks for the ideas. I have her bed on the floor, but more and more it seems that storage underneath might be the better option. She hasn't fallen off her mattress in a long while. You're right in that Ikea has a whole lot of different options that suit the pieces you and others have mentioned, but unfortunately most of it is out of stock for delivery.

@Hannah I never thought of a murphy bed. I think at this age, the bed is a big part of the play space, so I'm not sure I would want it up. Something to consider in the future though