I just moved into a California ranch that suffers from LCS (low ceiling syndrome) and i’m still in the thinking stage. i feel your bookcases make the ceiling look lower. if you add bookcases they should match the wall color and they should go to the ceiling to give the room height.

I considered painting them…hubby freaked! They may have to go in great room. TY!

Not suggesting you paint them. If you are looking to add height to the room i would remove those bookcases and add something that is taller/ceiling height.

I don’t think everyone cal or should get custom book cases to reach the ceiling. That’d eliminate a lot of bookshelf lovers.

Not painting them, at least initially, since they seem to go with decor.

First I’d move them all together to be a cohesive unit which might allow for some lighter art at one side or sides— unless, either you have room and already want them in family room, or could remove one unit to family room. With 2 units in DR you could try out arrangements of the 2 together, 2 separated by art, 2 separated by a slim, sleek console table with art over it.

When you have time, create an inspo- mood board looking up shelf decorating— can search for decorating dark shelves even—lean into lighter colored decor & metallics, but don’t go buy a bunch of junk- often you already own some items that you can group and still use some of your not-so - light special favorites.

I’m m not saying never install custom painted shelving, just that it seems premature ( you may not yet know what types of furnishings & storage you want where) and I think the room could look really great now without a lot of fuss or $$ while you’re figuring things out.

So the dining room is probably not the right place for these bookcases, but decide if you really even need them.

You cannot 'gang' them together because of the base and the crown so they have to be used separately. Not many of us are storing books that we reference anymore.

Make sure your light fixture is hung at the correct height.

Thank you! Still testing scale on light fixture. Great view that we don’t want to hide. I’ll update once I commit. Appreciate the advice!

I want to add a settee in the center of two and hand an antique mirror above. Just not in budget…first things first!

Yes, the ceiling is a bit lower than ideal, but I would ignore that for now. I would not worry about decorating above now, but rather style the shelves themselves. The viewer's eyes will be drawn down to the decorated contents and not dwell on the ceiling or the "clutter" between the top shelf and the ceiling.

I did read an article stating if you do not have 2’ above the bookshelves, leave it alone. Love all this advice. Very helpful to get unbiased input.

Push the bookcases together to look like one unit. But first, put up subtle vertically striped wallpaper on that one wall to move the eye upward.

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Great idea! Have you used the peel and stick wallpaper?