There’s something different lurking back there in our family room.
It’s the $69 Ikea Expedit bookcase. After writing about my love for a pair of tall Hemnes cabinets, I went back by to look at them again and I just didn’t feel like those were the right choice. I knew if I got something tall that I wanted doors and I wasn’t convinced our family wouldn’t break the doors the very first day. So, I opted for a super inexpensive yet functional shelf.
It can be scary buying furniture, even the less than $100 kind because no one wants to waste time or money with the wrong choice. But, I knew if this shelf didn’t look right I could tuck it into a closet or turn it upright and use it in the garage or even in our bedroom. I also bought four $15 baskets to hide the ugly stuff and ground the backless shelf a little. And I can’t wait to play around with the books and the stuff and hang something else above it. Right now the books are kind of pretty in rainboetical order {thanks to a commenter on my closet post for informing me of my new favorite term}. The bulk of our book collection is still upstairs but now we have a place to stash the stuff we are currently using.
I have a set of four vintage casters that we tried on the shelf but it was just too heavy. So, I’m in the market for non new non- bright silvery casters or feet or legs or industrial looking old wheels or something to add to the bottom.
And here how it looks in the room, you actually don’t really see much of the shelf since the green chair is always in front of it. I’m glad to have something in that space with some storage and I’m really glad that I didn’t have to spend $800 to fill it.
Sooo….about a month ago I posted on your fb wall asking your opinion on my expedit bookshelf. I know it’s not true, but today I am just going to pretend that you were inspired to buy this shelf because of me. Because thinking that is totally making my day. :)
I just wish my expedit was white. I have the darker one. Seeing it in white makes me totally want to make mine over!! ;)
You can totally paint it!
http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2010/04/go-right-ahead-and-paint-that-laminate/
We currently own 3 of those shelves an LOVE them! I’m looking for a storage piece for my kitchen table wall and may end up w/ another one.
Just wondering if you found the baskets at Ikea as well. Super cute!
I think you made the perfect choice. The baskets ground the shelf similar to doors except they can’t be broken. :-) Don’t you love when a piece doesn’t have to be expensive to look great!?
abby
Love, love, LOVE the Expedit storage stuff from IKEA. We have a 4×4 and a 2×2 in our finished basement and they’re just the greatest for cost and functionality. And there are so many fun options for baskets/boxes/containers that fit them. I’m predicting this won’t be your last piece from that line!
it’s so interesting how i LOVE the look of your living room now and i LOVED the look of your living room when it was buffalo checks, red toile and black chairs. the way it has changed & evolved the past months is way cool!! :-) two totally cool, but totally different looks…but still Nestery.
i still have never been to ikea. i need to go!! it’s only 40 minutes away!!
Love your choice……and I love the cute doggie in the pic too!!
I Luuuuuuuuuuuuvvvv my Expedits. We have a 4×4 in the playroom for kid stuff. I found 2 of the 4×2′s on Craigslist for my livingroom. They span the length of the wall and almost look like built-ins.
Rainboetical!
Love it!
Yeah, I have some Billy’s from Ikea in red-brown (back when they made it.) and I love them. This white would be fantastic. And, I love the way you used baskets to give it both color and texture.
One trick I learned for backless shelves – and for HUGE backless entertainment cabinets – is frequently you can simply (ahem, I didn’t say this) use duct tape to fix black poster board to the back. I cut out a tv sized hole so it had enough room to breathe, and then the space around had a back to frame a light colored vase or book. (Rather than just an open wall.)
Simple. Easy.
Such a great idea!!
Wow, The shelf looks amazing there! great idea.
Nester! IKEA sells casters, too. They’re down somewhere near the frames; “near” being a relative term in IKEA. I can’t remember precisely how much they are, but I filed them away in my memory banks when I was there last. Somewhere in the realm of $4-$8 for a set of four. My man & I are going there tonight for our weekly date (seriously. a date. to ikea.) so I’ll price ‘em for you.
It was either IKEA or Home Depot. Don’t tell ME the passion isn’t staying alive after 14 years!!!
Casters…yes! Casters will looking amazing– especially something industrial looking. Still loving the lamps. The color is beautiful.
My daughters each have one! We love them. And, yes IKEA does sell the casters for them.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60169977
$65 – I think I’m in love. Did the baskets come from IKEA as well???
We love that shelf, it’s home is our school room and we bought he dark one (black-brown). When we tear down the school room this spring so my FIL can move into it I already have a place for it in our bonus room under the flat screen on the wall. In fact some days I can’t wait to get it moved in there! think it looks great in your family room.
One day I will be able to display breakable things that low to the ground….one day….if i ever stop having babies. Seriously though, i love the versatility of that shelf… you could use it a hundred different ways! It looks great!
I have two of those in my home and love them. The lines are so simple and classic. Yours looks great there!!
I hope you are having a great week!!!!
xoxo
Jen
We have one as well and a smaller one in my daughter’s room that acts as a night stand/storage/bookcase. It was $39, how can you go wrong. The best thing about this piece is when you need a change you can place vertically on the wall and use it as a bookcase or whatever……love it!!
Just wanted you to know that I linked you the other day from your Keeping House post.
Not that I have many followers at all, ha! Just wanted you to know that that was a great post and I gave you credit for you words :) have a good day!
http://itsadarngoodlife.blogspot.com/2011/02/refreshing-so-refreshing.html
So I LOVE the bookshelf – it really looks great in the space, but my biggest question is WHERE is my absolute most favorite project of yours OF.ALL.TIME: The Sunburst Mirror?!?!?! I love it so much that I am currently making one for my own home. I hope it still has a special place in your cute nest. Also, rainboetical!! Love it!
it’s in my office, I LOVE it in there but I love it in both rooms! ahhh
I have the large white Ikea Expedit and love it.
If I could give you just 1 tip with these -
If you are using baskets – place CLEAR contact paper on the bottom of those shelves. That way the baskets sliding in and out won’t scratch your finish on them :)
Works like a charm! :)
I’ve had these bookcases for all five years we’ve been married and they are AWESOME! They are so much fun to rearrange. We turn them vertical or horizontal depending on our mood and it totally changes the space :) glad you like them too!
Love it! I recently added the most perfect inexpensive IKEA piece to my home, too! Hope you’ll come by and see!
http://accordingtolei.blogspot.com/2011/02/kitchen-redone.html
Love it!!
I love them! and i really like the color scheme of your family room:)
We have had that unit for 4 years and love it. In our previous house it was used as a toy bin/room divider. It was able to handle my kids using it as a jumping rock, a chair, a cooking station and an anchor for their tents and it still looks great. It now houses books etc in our hall way and I still love it. So glad I’m not the only one. Enjoy, your space looks wonderful.
Oh I love expedit, so versatile! I’ve relocated the one I have several times thru the house. Now I’m using it to organize my faux mudroom. I even posted it here: http://afromartha.com/?p=1023
Try the Habitat for Humanity “ReStore” for casters. I got some there for an old table we refinished and they always seem to have a great selection!
We have the big 4×4 expedit in our living room and I LOVE IT!!! I was originally planning to get the same baskets that you got, but I thought they smelled like hay once I was looking at them in person, lol. Couldn’t do that since dh has allergies. I don’t think you need to add anything to the bottom. It looks great just the way it is!
I love it. Especially with the colored lamps & black and white photo.
PS Thank you so much for putting our video on your tumblr! We were all so flattered!! Let us know how the flat iron-ing goes. hee hee! xxoo
Wow it looks great! You are so lucky, here in Australia that bookcase costs $119, even with our dollar neck and neck with yours! No fair! I love the symmetry of your lampreys also the baskets below …
Great choice. Perfect in that space! I loved them the first time I saw them at IKEA. I am still trying to figure out if I have a spot in the house where they would fit!
We bought the big expedit bookcase for our younger son’s bedroom. He is a lego maniac, so most of the shelves are filled with his lego creations (this looks so much nicer than lego creations all over the playroom floor). Walmart had yellow and green fabric storage cubes on clearance for $5 a piece two weeks ago and added them to all the bottom cubbies. It is nice to have hidden storage for books, lego building manuals, school supplies, and (of course) legos!
My husband wants to put two of the big expedit bookcases in our home office. I am leaning toward the billy bookcases with extenders instead, after seeing the wonderful wall of bookcases in the Target “blue glass” lamp add in the latest copy of Martha Stewart living.
I like it. It goes perfectly with your room and I like all of the cubbies.
I think it looks great. I sure wish we had and Ikea store here in Nashville. As my 3 year old granddaughter would say “No Fair”.
We have two of these in our home and LOVE them… one in our kitchen/den for cookbooks and odds and ends and one in the playroom for kids books and toys. I also love that they’re practically indestructible!
i really like the contrast of the clean, modern lines with your green, worn in chair. and i love how the green plants relate to the chair. layers! i like this even better than the original set up!
Just in case there is anything suitable for your shelf.
http://casterland.com/
Wow, that really adds to the space over there by the fireplace!
Have Expidits in my playroom and son’s room. Love love love them!
I love your blog and love those bookshelves! I have one in my sons room and want to get another. I am trying to sell my 4 chairs like you did on ebay but no bids yet? ! They were great sturdy chairs . Posted them here—
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350440925071&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_500wt_1156
I hope they sell like yours did although I don’t have an amazing blog like yours! :)
Oh my goodness your place is GORGEOUS!
What a deal! Might head to Ikea tomorrow…
I love it. You know what would be kind of cool? To set it on top of a rolling flat pallet crate for that homey, ‘industrial’ feel, like the bed here:
http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/2009/06/30/entering-the-girl-world-the-nursery/
my husband and i were just looking online for vintage casters ourselves today! we’re hoping to find some for a new coffee table, but they are pricey for the bigger ones. let me know if you find some for a great price!
Ikea is opening in Colorado this year (Fall) and I can’t wait. Having just moved into a new home, I need frames, shelves, odds and ends that I would love to be able to pop into Ikea to purchase. Love the shelf, it works perfectly for your space and functional to boot!
I *love* Expedit, yours looks lovely. I have a massive one in my daughter’s bedroom. It’s the only thing that has tamed her mess and still makes her stuff accessible. I wish I had space for another one.
I want one of those soooo bad but the nearest IKEA is 8 hours away. I looked into buying it online but the shipping is $300!!! It’d be cheaper to drive the 8 hours! lol So, it’ll have to wait until we move closer to one. Anyway, I love it in your living room, it looks awesome.
love it! You can’t go wrong with such a versatile piece. I know how you feel about not wanting to waste any money… even if just a bit.
I love a credenza flanked with two lamps. Looking lovely!
LOVE. IT. Long live Ikea. : )