Built-in cabinets can transform your living room, offering tailored solutions for storage, entertainment, and even work-from-home needs. Let’s explore the pros and cons of incorporating built-in cabinets into your living space, with a focus on bookshelves, entertainment storage, a small office area, a dry bar, and lighting options for all of your living room built-ins.

Pros

  1. Customized Storage and Functionality

Full overlay stained cabinet built-in by Wellborn

Built-in cabinets can be designed to meet your specific needs:

  • Books and Entertainment Storage: Custom shelving can accommodate your book collection and entertainment system, including space for a large TV, gaming consoles, and speakers.
  • Small Office Area: A built-in desk with overhead cabinets can create a compact home office within your living room, perfect for remote work or study.
  • Dry Bar: Incorporate a stylish dry bar with glass-front cabinets, a small sink, and a wine fridge for entertaining guests.

  1. Integrated Lighting Solutions

  • Under Cabinet Lighting: LED strips under shelves or cabinets can provide ambient lighting and highlight decor items.
  • Inside Cabinet Lighting: Motion-sensor lights inside cabinets make it easy to find items and add a luxurious touch.

Full overlay Prairie door stained built-in cabinet Entertainment center by Wellborn

  1. Space Efficiency

Built-ins maximize vertical space and can be fitted into awkward corners, making the most of every inch in your living room. These custom storage solutions not only provide ample space for books, decor, and entertainment systems but also seamlessly blend with your home’s architecture, creating a cohesive and polished look. By utilizing floor-to-ceiling designs, built-ins draw the eye upward, making rooms appear larger and more open. Additionally, they can be tailored to accommodate specific items or serve multiple functions, such as incorporating a desk area or hiding unsightly electronics, thus enhancing both the functionality and aesthetics of your living space.

  1. Aesthetic Appeal

Custom cabinets can be designed to match your home’s style perfectly, creating a cohesive and polished look. This tailored approach allows you to seamlessly integrate storage solutions into your living room’s existing aesthetic, whether it’s modern, traditional, or eclectic. By enhancing your living room’s overall appearance, custom built-ins make a powerful statement in the first space visitors see, setting the tone for the rest of your home. Moreover, these bespoke cabinets can incorporate unique design elements, such as custom moldings, specialized hardware, or integrated lighting, further elevating the room’s visual appeal and functionality.

  1. Increased Home Value

Well-designed built-ins with versatile features like a home office and dry bar can be highly attractive to potential buyers. These multi-functional elements not only add value to your home but also demonstrate thoughtful use of space, which is increasingly important in today’s real estate market. By incorporating adaptable areas for work and entertainment, built-ins cater to the evolving needs of modern homeowners, potentially setting your property apart from others. Furthermore, these custom features can create a lasting impression during home viewings, showcasing the property’s unique character and helping potential buyers envision themselves living in and enjoying the space.

Full overlay office cabinetry Bedford Square & Millbrook Square door style in Divinity finish by Wellborn

Cons

  1. Cost

Custom built-in cabinets with advanced features like integrated lighting and a dry bar are typically more expensive than ready-made furniture. At Elite Cabinet Designs we focus on semi-custom cabinetry, so we can add certain features that you might want in your entertainment space.

  1. Permanence

Unlike freestanding furniture, built-ins are permanent. Changing the layout or removing features like a built-in desk or dry bar can be costly and challenging. The best decision you can make is to hire a professional designer with the knowledge of timeless trends that won’t break the bank and will be appealing if you choose to resell your home.

  1. Time-Consuming Installation

Hutch & refreshments area Dry bar in Cherry Bedford Square door style by Wellborn

The design and installation process, especially for complex systems with lighting and plumbing for a dry bar, can take several weeks or even months. Consider this in your planning process. We recommend ordering all the materials, cabinetry, hardware and accessories ahead of time and making sure it all ships prior to installation.

  1. Potential for Dated Look

While built-ins can be timeless, features like a small office area or entertainment center may become outdated as technology and work trends evolve.

  1. Maintenance and Repairs

Integrated lighting systems and plumbing for a dry bar may require professional maintenance or repairs, adding to long-term costs.

Built-in cabinets with features like book and entertainment storage, a small office area, a dry bar, and integrated lighting can significantly enhance your living room’s functionality and appeal. They offer customized solutions that can adapt to your lifestyle and potentially increase your home’s value.

However, these advanced built-ins come with higher costs, both upfront and potentially in the long term. They also require careful planning to ensure they remain functional and stylish for years to come.

Before deciding, consider your long-term needs, budget, and how you use your living space. Consult with a professional designer who can help you balance aesthetics, functionality, and future adaptability in your built-in cabinet design. Reach out to one of our cabinet designers at Elite Cabinet Designs and they can help you with planning, design and any custom recommendations that are the best fit for your entertainment space. Call us to schedule a consultation 850.502.4957 or stop by our showroom today!