Built-In Cabinets for the Living Room: Ideas, Layouts and Costs
Built-In Cabinets for the Living Room: Ideas, Layouts and Costs
Built-in cabinets give a living room storage and structure at the same time. Here are the layouts that work best, and what built-ins usually cost.
Built-ins on both sides of the fireplace
The classic layout: closed base cabinets for storage, with open shelves or glass doors above, on each side of the fireplace. Keeping the cabinets the same depth as the chimney breast, or just shy of it, makes the wall look planned rather than added.
Media wall
A media wall frames the TV with cabinets and shelves and hides the cables, the receiver and the game consoles behind doors. Plan the wiring and ventilation for the equipment before the cabinets are built.
Bookcases, window seats and desks
- Floor-to-ceiling bookcases, sometimes with a library ladder.
- Window seats with drawers or lift-up storage underneath.
- A built-in desk in a corner of the room, with cabinets above.
What living room built-ins cost
- Built-in cabinets: about $200 to $600 per linear foot, according to Angi, with most homeowners spending $2,000 to $7,500.
- Custom built-in bookcases: about $400 to $1,200 per linear foot for fully custom units, per HomeAdvisor.
Paint grade or stain grade wood, inset or overlay doors, lighting and the height of the wall are what move the price the most.
We design built-ins in 3D, build them in our Mashpee shop and install them with our own team. See fireplace walls, bookcases and window seats on our built-ins and bookcases page.
Sources: Angi, built-in cabinets cost; HomeAdvisor, built-in bookshelves cost. National figures; Cape Cod labor and material prices can run higher.