30 Built-In Cabinets & Shelves That Boost Storage and Style
Seeking ideas for built-in joinery? Look no further – we've gathered together 30 clever and classic examples on Houzz
There’s much to love about built-in joinery – done right, it can deliver perfectly proportioned storage, comfortable seating, an easy-to-use solution for all those children’s toys and more. Today, rather than blending in with its surrounds, on-trend built-in furniture is designed to stand out. Here are 30 striking examples from around the world.
2. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Designer: Base Architecture
Features
We love how this built-in shelving-and-seat combo perfectly fits the room’s unusual angles.
Find a designer to help design storage in your home
Designer: Base Architecture
Features
We love how this built-in shelving-and-seat combo perfectly fits the room’s unusual angles.
Find a designer to help design storage in your home
3. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Brett Mickan Interior Design
Features
Full-height cabinetry provides oodles of storage, and we love how the white interior contrasts with the dusty blue of the painted-panelled doors.
These are the best materials for kitchen cabinets
Designer: Brett Mickan Interior Design
Features
Full-height cabinetry provides oodles of storage, and we love how the white interior contrasts with the dusty blue of the painted-panelled doors.
These are the best materials for kitchen cabinets
4. Location: London, UK
Features
An offbeat cupboard set-up creates a lovely little spot to sit and enjoy the garden view.
Features
An offbeat cupboard set-up creates a lovely little spot to sit and enjoy the garden view.
5. Location: Hamburg, Germany
Features
This built-in, eye-catching bookshelf takes its shape from the pitched roofline.
Features
This built-in, eye-catching bookshelf takes its shape from the pitched roofline.
6. Location: Adelaide, SA
Designer: BTF Constructions
Features
A blonde-timber bench seat stands out against a deep-grey backdrop.
Designer: BTF Constructions
Features
A blonde-timber bench seat stands out against a deep-grey backdrop.
7. Location: Watsons Bay, NSW
Designer: Walter Barda Design
Features
This built-in banquette seat offers the cosiest spot imaginable to sit by the fire in a room that embraces rustic sophistication.
Designer: Walter Barda Design
Features
This built-in banquette seat offers the cosiest spot imaginable to sit by the fire in a room that embraces rustic sophistication.
8. Location: Hobart, Tasmania
Designer: Room 11
Features
A delightful contrast of angles – plus a great way to store logs for the fire.
Designer: Room 11
Features
A delightful contrast of angles – plus a great way to store logs for the fire.
9. Location: Queanbeyan, NSW
Designer: Status Living
Features
A bank of dark-painted kitchen cupboards is brought to life with the inclusion of a contrasting pale-timber display nook.
See these captivating kitchen colour combinations
Designer: Status Living
Features
A bank of dark-painted kitchen cupboards is brought to life with the inclusion of a contrasting pale-timber display nook.
See these captivating kitchen colour combinations
10. Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Designer: Indi Interiors
Features
Built-in seating with storage drawers in the base is both practical and appealing.
Designer: Indi Interiors
Features
Built-in seating with storage drawers in the base is both practical and appealing.
11. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Designer: CG Design Studio
Features
This honey-coloured timber storage unit has a distinct mid-century feel, while the inclusion of a marble section in the base makes it feel modern. An unframed artwork in similarly warm hues is the perfect finishing touch.
Designer: CG Design Studio
Features
This honey-coloured timber storage unit has a distinct mid-century feel, while the inclusion of a marble section in the base makes it feel modern. An unframed artwork in similarly warm hues is the perfect finishing touch.
12. Location: Alexandria, NSW
Designer: Studio 1 Interiors
Features
These built-in, panelled cabinetry doors in soft, chalky grey complement the blonde timber and touches of sage green in this dining area.
Designer: Studio 1 Interiors
Features
These built-in, panelled cabinetry doors in soft, chalky grey complement the blonde timber and touches of sage green in this dining area.
13. Location: Toorak, Victoria
Designer: Northbourne Architecture + Design
Features
A concealed, built-in laundry set-up and lashings of
overhead storage allow this space to smoothly transition from bathroom to laundry and back again.
Designer: Northbourne Architecture + Design
Features
A concealed, built-in laundry set-up and lashings of
overhead storage allow this space to smoothly transition from bathroom to laundry and back again.
14. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Features
It’s the thoughtfully considered details here – from the way the built-in storage unit has been angled to capture the light to the soothing colour palette and the striking window seat – that make this space truly spectacular.
Features
It’s the thoughtfully considered details here – from the way the built-in storage unit has been angled to capture the light to the soothing colour palette and the striking window seat – that make this space truly spectacular.
… and here’s a beautiful view of that window seat from the garden.
Browse through images of window seats
Browse through images of window seats
15. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Bondi Kitchens
Features
Fine lines and exaggerated proportions elevate this simple little cupboard into something special.
Designer: Bondi Kitchens
Features
Fine lines and exaggerated proportions elevate this simple little cupboard into something special.
16. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: CplusC Architectural Workshop
Features
A bookshelf that follows the curved lines of the staircase and the rhythm created by these timber rods add a touch of flair.
Designer: CplusC Architectural Workshop
Features
A bookshelf that follows the curved lines of the staircase and the rhythm created by these timber rods add a touch of flair.
17. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Melbourne Design Studios (MDS)
Features
A pale grey and white palette is given a subtle lift with a blonde-timber built-in unit. There’s a wonderful sense of restraint here – perfect for creating that calm, cleansing ambience.
Designer: Melbourne Design Studios (MDS)
Features
A pale grey and white palette is given a subtle lift with a blonde-timber built-in unit. There’s a wonderful sense of restraint here – perfect for creating that calm, cleansing ambience.
18. Location: San Francisco, USA
Features
A built-in bench seat (with storage) flows smoothly from the kitchen benchtops.
Features
A built-in bench seat (with storage) flows smoothly from the kitchen benchtops.
19. Location: Fitzroy North, Victoria
Designer: Constructing Spaces
Features
An ingenious wall storage set-up brings this simple room scheme to life.
Designer: Constructing Spaces
Features
An ingenious wall storage set-up brings this simple room scheme to life.
20. Location: London, UK
Features
Built-in wall storage and a generous desk that runs all the way to the stairs maximises every little bit of space here.
Features
Built-in wall storage and a generous desk that runs all the way to the stairs maximises every little bit of space here.
21. Location: San Francisco, USA
Features
This ranch bedroom not only makes clever use of built-in cupboards and shelves for storage, it also features a built-in bed that disappears into the wall to transform the space from a bedroom to a living area.
Features
This ranch bedroom not only makes clever use of built-in cupboards and shelves for storage, it also features a built-in bed that disappears into the wall to transform the space from a bedroom to a living area.
22. Location: Lennox Head, NSW
Designer: PRG Architects
Features
Running the same pale-stone tiles from floors and walls to the built-in seating and barbecue area gives this area a sophisticated feel.
Designer: PRG Architects
Features
Running the same pale-stone tiles from floors and walls to the built-in seating and barbecue area gives this area a sophisticated feel.
23. Location: Paris, France
Features
In a small home, every centimetre of space counts. Here, the under-stairs area has been transformed into a complex desk-and-storage set-up that provides a space for everything.
Take a look at these under-stair planning and decorating ideas
Features
In a small home, every centimetre of space counts. Here, the under-stairs area has been transformed into a complex desk-and-storage set-up that provides a space for everything.
Take a look at these under-stair planning and decorating ideas
24. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Watershed Design
Features
A trio of tubs that are perfectly sized to fit the wall niche make for easy-to-use storage for this room’s young inhabitants. The set-up is versatile too; when the kids are older, the tubs can be replaced with a desk for homework.
Designer: Watershed Design
Features
A trio of tubs that are perfectly sized to fit the wall niche make for easy-to-use storage for this room’s young inhabitants. The set-up is versatile too; when the kids are older, the tubs can be replaced with a desk for homework.
25. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Northbourne Architecture + Design
Features
Space-efficient, built-in cupboards run right the full height and width of this wall… and even include a charming niche in contrasting, raw plywood to put the sofa.
Designer: Northbourne Architecture + Design
Features
Space-efficient, built-in cupboards run right the full height and width of this wall… and even include a charming niche in contrasting, raw plywood to put the sofa.
…here’s a closer peek at that gorgeous niche.
26. Location: Toronto, Canada
Features
Cherry-red upholstery creates a striking contrast against the grey-blues in this kitchen and ensures that the built-in seat is the star of the show.
Features
Cherry-red upholstery creates a striking contrast against the grey-blues in this kitchen and ensures that the built-in seat is the star of the show.
27. Location: Los Angeles, USA
Features
A cosy under-the-stairs reading nook that, quite frankly, we’d find impossible to resist curling up in. It even comes with reading material tucked in the base.
Features
A cosy under-the-stairs reading nook that, quite frankly, we’d find impossible to resist curling up in. It even comes with reading material tucked in the base.
28. Location: Drummoyne, NSW
Designer: Woods & Warner
Features
A built-in bench in hardy materials that will withstand weather exposure – a practical, space-efficient solution for a small alfresco area.
Designer: Woods & Warner
Features
A built-in bench in hardy materials that will withstand weather exposure – a practical, space-efficient solution for a small alfresco area.
29. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Atticus & Milo
Features
The sleek, savvy and space-saving design of this built-in desk and shelves keep their profile to a minimum while packing a punch.
Designer: Atticus & Milo
Features
The sleek, savvy and space-saving design of this built-in desk and shelves keep their profile to a minimum while packing a punch.
30. Location: Geelong, Melbourne
Designer: Bower Architecture
Features
Honey-hued timber in the form of a built-in storage unit and wall panelling adds much-needed warmth to the medley of greys here.
Tell us:
Which built-in did you like the best? Tell us in the Comments below.
Designer: Bower Architecture
Features
Honey-hued timber in the form of a built-in storage unit and wall panelling adds much-needed warmth to the medley of greys here.
Tell us:
Which built-in did you like the best? Tell us in the Comments below.
Designer: Vitale Design
Features
Caramel leather, mid-tone timber and coastal blues. A dreamy casual dining set-up.