DIY beige shelving unit for the living room, by Alexandra

A beige compartment cabinet that combines storage and display.

A cabinet where you can store books, home accessories, and other items out of sight? With this self-made compartment cabinet, Alexandra shows how beautifully that works together. You see a tall, rectangular cabinet with a playful arrangement of open compartments and closed storage space. Alexandra made the project entirely herself, using MDF Primed that was cut to size by OPMAATZAGEN.nl. The Subtle Stone finish gives the cabinet a soft beige appearance.

A smart layout with different compartment sizes

The base consists of three vertical sections, but the staggered shelves make the cabinet look anything but standard. At the top, you see three open compartments, the middle one being taller. To the left, below that, is a closed cabinet compartment with an open book compartment underneath. In the middle, a tall, open compartment takes up plenty of space. To the right, two open compartments and an elongated closed section alternate.

A single wide open compartment runs under the left and middle sections, providing space for books and magazines. At the very bottom, you see three closed fronts side by side. In total, the cabinet has seven open compartments and five flat door fronts without visible handles. The narrow seams around the doors and the continuous outer edge create a calm overall appearance.

Small lights, big mood effect

In two open compartments, you can see small, round black lights on the underside of the shelf above. In the photos with the lighting switched on, warm light falls on the back of the compartments. This allows you to give a bottle, photo frame, or other personal item just that little extra attention. The remaining compartments offer space for books and decorations, without having to fill every corner.

Subtle stone in a green living room

The shelving unit stands against a greyish-green wall, next to a low, light-coloured TV unit. A strip of wall is still visible all around: the cabinet is therefore not built flush between two walls or against the ceiling. The beige colour Subtle Stone contrasts softly with the green. The interior sides and visible back surfaces also have the same calm tint.

The wood-look floor and the plants next to the cabinet make the whole space warm and homey. Combining the height of the shelving unit with the low TV unit creates variety along the wall. At the same time, the light furniture colors keep the living room calm.

Build your own shelving unit with custom-made wood

For this project, OPMAATZAGEN.nl handled the cutting of the MDF Primed to size. Alexandra took care of making the cabinet herself. Especially with a design featuring many different compartments, precise sawing is a great foundation: you can coordinate the parts beforehand and don't have to cut the large sheets to size yourself.

If you want to build such a shelving unit yourself, you determine the width, height, and compartment layout based on your living room. For example, first measure your largest books and the accessories you want to display. You choose the material and finish yourself and can adapt the design to your budget. Moreover, by doing the assembly and painting yourself, you keep more control over the costs. Do take into account extra expenses for hinges, mounting hardware, paint, and any lighting.

A practical preparation

Beforehand, mark in not only the external dimensions but also the panel thicknesses and the space around the doors. This prevents a compartment from appearing larger on paper than it will ultimately be. For a tall cabinet, also ensure suitable wall mounting to prevent tipping; match the fasteners to the type of wall.

Modern Scandinavian style

With its straight lines, calm beige colour, and combination of open and closed compartments, this finished cabinet fits beautifully with a modern Scandinavian style. You get a tidy base, while books, plants, and personal items provide atmosphere. The asymmetrical layout and warm accent lighting give the design its own unique character without creating a cluttered look.

The material used: MDF Primed

MDF Primed is an MDF board with a pre-applied primer. The smooth, even surface is pleasant for painted furniture such as this beige shelving unit: there is no visible wood grain, allowing for a subtle color finish. The primer reduces preparatory work on the treated surfaces. However, pay extra attention to the sawed edges: sand them smooth and treat them with a suitable MDF primer before applying the topcoat. Follow the drying times and application instructions of your paint so that you can proceed neatly.