Step-by-step directions for giving an old cherry bookcase a farmhouse fab makeover.
Affiliate links have been used in the post. See my full disclosure HERE.
I usually don’t put an exclamation mark in my blog post title, but y’all – I am so stinkin’ thrilled with the bookcase makeover for our home office! A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I was working on the bookcases and was concerned with how they were going to turn out. Thankfully, I’m in love with the end result and find myself stopping often just to stare at them!
Did you notice that the dining room is striped bare of all its fall finery? That’s because Christmas is in the house! LOL I’ll be sharing my Christmas dining room soon!
To fully appreciate the change in the bookcases, take a look at the before. These are cheap-o bookcases that had a waxy, fake looking cherry stain on them. Their most redeeming quality is that the shelves are solid wood, so they don’t sag under the weight of a lot of books.
Here they are today, after giving them a couple of coats of primer paint (to completely cover the red’ish stain) and brushing on gray stain. I used one of those cheap chip brushes to apply the stain and allowed it to dry without wiping any of the stain off. Primer paint used: Kilz 2 Latex Primer in Gray. Stain used: Rustoleum Ultimate Wood Stain in Weathered Gray.
This closeup shows the weathered looking finish that was created by brushing the stain on top of the wood and allowing it to dry without wiping it off.
I know that the gray of the door and gray of the bookcases doesn’t match, but I think that it makes the door look more authentic.
You might wonder why I chose to cover half of the bookcases with a sliding barn door. Well, it’s because I needed more storage space, not more space to display tchotchkes. The shelves behind the sliding door are filled with boxes that hold all sorts of home office paraphernalia. This side of the bookcases is only open when we need access to something in one of those boxes.
I was a little scared of the door, because I was convinced that installing the sliding door hardware was going to be complicated. Nothing could have been further from the truth! After much research and shopping around, we ordered the hardware from Home Depot. CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE SAME HARDWARE.
The smallest size available was a few inches longer than what we needed, so the hubs used our Dremel to cut the slider bar down to the correct length. I touched the end up with a black magic marker and now you’d never know that it had been cut.
We built the barn door out of pre-painted rustic lumber which is sold at Home Depot. Each piece of lumber was 8′ long and had a rabbited edge on each side. One rabbited edge faces the front and other faces in the back.
I was unable to find the lumber online, but our store had it in stock the last time that we were there.
Having those rabbited edges made building the door a dream! First, we determined how wide we wanted our door to be. Then the hubs laid the lumber out on the floor of our garage, using wood glue along each rabbited edge, and allowed it to thoroughly dry. No nails or screws were used in this part of building the door.
After the glue had dried, the door was cut to the length that we wanted and other boards were cut down to be used to frame out the top, sides and for a middle brace. Those boards were attached with wood glue and wood screws.
Thankfully, Home Depot had a label on the backside of each of the pieces of lumber with the paint formula that was used to paint the wood. I had a small container of that mixed at the store and used it to touch up the few places that needed it after the construction was completed. A wrought iron gate handle, also from Home Depot, finished the door off.
Unless I come up with something else, this office makeover only has one project left to do and that’s getting some artwork up on that wall behind the desk chair! You can catch up on all of the projects that have gone into this makeover, from start to finish, HERE. UPDATE! CHECK OUT THE FULL BEFORE AND AFTER OFFICE REVEAL HERE!
NEED BOOKCASE MAKEOVER INSPIRATION? SAVE IT FOR LATER.
Michelle says
That is totally amazing! What a great idea and your husband’s craftsmanship is beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
Katherine says
Wow, what a great idea!! I have 2 bookcases that I was going to get rid of .
Thanks for the great details and inspiration!
mattsgramma says
Looks amazing!
Lori Wheet says
Charming! What a clever makeover. Your husband did a wonderful job. I love the whole room. Well done!
Lisa Kissner Cooper says
Wow! Love the barn door! What I wouldn’t do for a handyman that could build something like this for me!
Susan says
I really like this! I’m redoing my house – on a much smaller scale – but I always get a lot of good ideas. Thank you so much for all the inspiration!
Jennifer says
I love it!
Doreen says
OMG genius! This would be perfect for our office, sewing, art room! Thank you for a great idea and complete detailed instructions. Your office looks amazing. Love the gray stain.
Gina says
That looks great! I love the weathered look.
Shelley Valentine says
You are so clever ! This completely changed the look of the bookcases to a fresh design. What a perfect accent to your office
Betty V says
What a transformation!! You have great ideas – not to mention the energy to complete your tasks!! Good job!
Chrystal says
Love it!!
Jeannie says
Oh my gosh, Suzy. I love, love, LOVE it. I would never have guessed that fabulous bookcase started out looking the way it did. It’s perfect !
Anne@DesignDreams says
Beautiful job! I love love love this look!!
Melanie Winter says
Amazing!!! Absolutely love it! What a transformation!
Patty says
LOVE LOVE LOVE this! Your office has to be a favorite spot in your home. The colors you have chosen for everything are at the top of my list. Just wondering…..do you think finishing the wood with the stain the way you did will help the finish be more durable and resist chipping, even though there is a paint primer under it? I might want to try this technique and wondered if this would be a fun perk.
Suzy says
Hi Patty. To be honest, I’m not sure. It feels durable to the touch and hasn’t chipped or scratched, so far. I’m not sure how it would hold up under heavy use. To be sure, I guess you could apply a coat of polyurethane if you wanted to protect it.
Nancy says
Beautifully done. Love the sliding door idea. Kudos to you and hubby.
Dawn says
I LOVE the barn door on the bookshelves! I’ve been hunting for a place to add a sliding barn door in my home, but all my doorways are arched and I haven’t wanted to loose the arch. I think this could be my opportunity to finally be able to add one. Thank you so much for all your clever ideas.
liz says
This room is wonderful and has such a perfect flow with the rest of your home – something I am trying to achieve in my own home. I absolutely love the bookcases – fantastic idea!!!
Barbara says
Wow! from me too! I love this idea! The creative use of the barn door is perfect for hiding your storage.
Kym says
These bookcases are beautiful! Now I know what to do with the two crummy, cheap bookcases we have to hang on to for storage. The barn door is
stunning-cheers to your Pookie! Home Depot here I (we) come!
loyda coulombe says
We just bought another home and I have the perfect spot for this ! Thx
Phyl says
Beautiful! What a project to take on and with great results. Barn doors are so popular and it is a challenge to know where to use them. Thank you for sharing.
Angela says
Such a neat idea and it turned out amazing!
Carol B Jones says
Just beautiful and the right touch for your office
Lauren@SimplyLKJ says
Suzy, it’s amazing! I adore barn doors, and this is such a unique way to incorporate one.
Brenda Radliff says
That is absolutely beautiful!!!
Tami Sexton says
Absolutely love this!!! I have an entertainment center bookcase that was my mom’s and this would be awesome to do!!!
May have my hubby make a barn door for my pantry as well!!!
Jen D. says
WOW – great job, Suzy!! I love it and you’d never know that is the same bookcase! The room looks so good…I’m looking forward to the final touches.
Carol Elkins says
This is amazing!!! I love it!!! Great job!!!
Julie says
This is one of the best DIY projects I have ever seen! Your office space looks like Joanna Gaines herself did it!
Tonya says
I really love this idea. You have inspired me to try this! Thank you!
Ashley ~ 3 Little Greenwoods says
We have a hand-me-down set of cheap bookcase that are in desperate need of a makeover. I love how your’s turned out. Thanks for the inspiration!
Michelle says
Love how it turned out. I love the barn door. What a transformation from outdated to farmhouse .
Linda at Mixed Kreations says
I Love your bookshelf, it is absolutely gorgeous. The colors perfect, and the sliding door I Love. You probably have the only bookshelf with a sliding barn door. Fantastic job!
Bonnie says
Oh WOW! Your bookshelves look so nice with that sliding barn door and the gray finish.
Linda Owens says
That is so beautiful and looks perfect in your office.
Linda
Donnamae says
What a cool idea! Love the bookcase! 😉
Freda Barbree says
Brilliant idea for redoing ordinary bookcases and making them unique, beautiful and add storage at the same time. Thanks for all the wonderful ideas you pass on to us.
Nancy Carroll says
Oh girl, this turned out fabulous!!! ??? Reminds me of the expensive one we drooled over at Arhaus. I was excited when I saw this wood at Home Depot when we were researching building the barn door headboard for the Destin condo. It is fantastic and the perfect weathered look! Thank goodness we finally found someone on Etsy to build ours because as you know I don’t have a talented Pookie LOL. Great job, both of you! You’re so clever! Oh, curious….did you attach the headboards with a strip of wood at the top, then attach the hardware to it??? Also sent you a text yesterday regarding a local upholsterer.
Suzy says
Hey GF. Yes, we added a strip of wood to the top of the bookcases to attach the rail to. It spans the length of both bookcases, ties them together and gives them more stability. So glad you like them! I didn’t get a text from you????
Kathy Robers says
Truly amazing. You are so creative! I knew you redid the dining table, but somehow I missed the desk redo. The whole room is truly transformed. I liked the before, but the after is so much warmer and more welcoming. Really great job, Suzy.
Laurie Carpenter says
Just fabulous Suzy! What a transformation! May I ask how the track maintains it’s stability? Is it screwed down into the top of the bookcase?
Suzy says
Hi Laurie. We added a strip of wood to the top of the bookcases (with screws) and painted/stained it to match. The wood is long enough to span the length of both bookcases, which ties them together and adds stability. The track is attached to the wood that we added.
Kat says
Oh my goodness it looks absolutely GORGEOUS! Love the color and the door – I can’t believe it’s the same set of shelves!K
Judy says
They look great. What a transformation! Love the new look.
carol johnson says
Love the new look of the bookcases and the door. I think you should keep Pookie,
he does a great job as well.
Katie @ The Rustic Boxwood says
Wow! I love this makeover! Great job! 😉
Pamela says
SO CLEVER!
classic•casual•home says
This is brilliant…but your “bad” side looks so good too…way better than the shelves in my office. Great job!
Mary Ann
creativejewishmom/sara says
Gorgeous makeover, really fabulous! Thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!
Mary Beth says
Wow! This is absolutely beautiful! I can’t figure out where to do this in my house but I think I need to find a way.
Robin says
The bookcase is really beautiful, what a transformation.
Patricia says
The entire office makeover is a stunner! Love the changes to the bookcase. I have a similar set and you have motivated me to be brave and try the same! Thanks!
Holly says
Hi Suzy – Oh my goodness, this is GORGEOUS! Hugs, Holly
Heather from Centsiblechateau.com says
OMGoodess this is amazing! I don’t even know how you thought of it. So creative!
Andrea Webb says
Absolutely love this. I have 3 bookshelves I purchased some years ago from Target for $99 each that my daughter keeps telling me to get rid of because they are outdated. Now I know how to update them! Perfect. Also, what is the type of wood and finish on your floors? It is such a perfect color I love it.
Suzy says
Hi Andrea. Our floors are white oak hardwood stained with Minwax Special Walnut. Have fun with your bookcases!
Sabrina says
Your farmhouse bookcase is just beyond beautiful Suzy!! I love it so much!!
Antonella | White House Crafts says
This turned out so beautiful. I love the colour! I am inviting you to share it with us at The Crafty Corner link party if you wish. A new party started today 🙂
Hope says
Love, love, love this! I wish I had seen this before I bought my bookcases!
Julie B. says
I am more than impressed!
Nancy Csrroll says
Everything looks SO nice and coordinated!! Love it!
BonBon says
Thanks for sharing your beautiful Bookcase Makeover at Inspire Me Monday. I am featuring you as one of my favorite picks this week. I hope you will stop by http://www.farmhouse40.com/inspire-me-monday-108
Tianna says
how cute is this! I love the unique barn door idea – it came out so cool!
Penny says
That bookcase project is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! I’m saving this for a project this
coming year as I have a built-in bookcase where this would be a great improvement.
Thanks.
Michelle Scott says
Adding the barn door is genius!
Dana says
Super gorgeous! Couldn’t be any classier.
Jessica says
This is just brilliant! I have so many dark, ugly bookshelves. I love the idea of having some private storage! I am so stealing this idea!
Terry says
The book case is gorgeous, what a great idea to add a barn door. I wondered how you added the slide bar to the top because it was narrow but I see that is answered in another’s comment. Thanks for sharing this tutorial, you did a fabulous job with the stain and the barn door, it is truly an inspiration!
Beth Stansell says
You have inspired me!! I have some tired looking cherry bookcases that desperately need some updating!! I am so trying the prime/stain technique on them. Thank you for sharing all of your ideas with us–your blog is one of my very favorites!
Linda Manuel says
This bookcase makeover just keeps drawing me back, again and again. I will steal this idea for sure! LOVE it!
Catherine Pope says
Love the Bookcase door and color. Maybe I can talk my husband into a makeover for my Bookcase.
Catherine Pope says
Love The door and the color.
Janis Hill says
Brilliant. I have a simple set of bookcases that could do with an update and now I know exactly what I am going to do!
Thank you.
Beth says
What a great idea, to add a barn door to bookshelves! Thanks for the tutorial!
Debbie A says
that is Awesome!!! Gonna have to get the Hubby to do it to our bookcases!!!
Ronda Manager says
Fabulous makeover. Giving me some ideas…. thank you!
Candy Walsh says
I LOVE your bookshelf makeover! How original and creative!! You did an amazingly job and I love the color!
Tracy says
That is a wonderful change. I love when you can do something so cool and it does not cost that much money but has such a big impact.
Becky Jancosko says
Just wondering, since these are bookcases, does the rail for the barn door attach to the top of the book cases? I love the idea! You did a great job. Thanks for the information.
Suzy says
Hi Becky. I would have liked to attach the rail to the bookcases, but there is a small crown moulding at the top of them that was in the way. So, my husband added a piece of wood to the top and to the sides and that is what the rail is attached to. I then painted/stained the pieces of wood so that they would match the bookcases.
loyda says
We downsized and now I have no office.. What I do have in the family room is an 8 foot inset on one wall. This will be my new mini office. I need 2 bookcases and a desk. Have been searching and searching for a desk that I can close.. I really like what you did with the book cases.. My wheels are churning now. May see about doing this but having my DH build them but make them deeper so I can incorporate a desk in the center with the bookcases flanking the desk. Hmmmm Thx!
Robyn says
Best bookcase makeover I’ve seen!
Cathy says
I love this, it is so beautiful and just want I am looking for. Wish my hubby we as talented as yours!
Larkin says
I absolutely LOVE the barn door bookcase! Can you share what grey exactly is on the actual door? I would love to try to make something similar!
Suzy says
Hi Larkin. If you’ll send an email to worthingcourblog@gmail.com, I’ll send you a photo of the paint label that has the formula on it.
Lisa says
Hello, I also love the grey on the barn door! Would you mind sending me a picture of the paint label as well?
Thank you!!!
Suzy says
Hi Lisa. Please send me a request to my email: worthingcourtblog@gmail.com and I’ll send it to you. I can’t post a picture in the comments.
Linda Manuel says
Absolutely one of the very best ideas on the internet! LOVE THAT Barn Door look on the shelving!! Stunning.
Sally says
This is the most incredible makeover I believe I have ever seen! The before and after would be unrecognizable is I had not seen the photos. You have inspired me and many others. Beautiful!
kandice says
OMG I don’t know which I love more – the farmhouse doors or that desk!! Gorgeous
Shelley says
Love the bookcase makeover! I actually have a cherry bookcase in my den that looks very similar to yours. It matches my desk so I’d have to do that over too.
Julie says
This is really pretty! I love the three plants on display on the top shelf. May I ask…where did you find them?
Suzy says
Hi Julie. All three of those plants came from Ikea and were only $5 each. I bought a bunch of them and use them all over my house! If you don’t have an Ikea near you, you can order them online. Here are links to some of the ones that I have in my house: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10375159/ AND http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90375155/ AND http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90382113/
Joanne says
Hi Suzy – I’m loving your office chair!! It looks like you have somehow upholstered a modern chair and made it look old. May I ask how you did that?
Suzy says
Hi Joanne. Actually, I haven’t done anything to the chair. It’s a very inexpensive chair that I ordered a couple of years ago – from Amazon, I think. It’s covered with an off white faux leather. Maybe it’s the nailheads that make it look old???
Joanne says
Thank you so much for getting back to me. Ahh very nice. It actually inspired me to do a search and I found some great ideas on how to upcycle office chairs to make them look old. Thanks again for your help. Jo
Cabby says
Hi Suzy,
I just found your blog and have to say what a beautiful room. Everything turned out amazing. I especially love you remodeled bookcase. What a great idea. It’s my favorite.
I signed up to receive future newsletters and look forward to your decorative ideas and special touches.
I’ve recently started transforming my house to French County. But being retired it’s a slow process. Being on a set income. Thanks so much for sharing.
Reagan Bates says
Did you cover books in something to give them all the same feel or did you just turn them around?
Elaine ford says
This is one of the most fabulous ideas I have ever seen for those old dreary looking cherry bookcases I have!
Susan says
I just spotted this on Pinterest-looks amazing! I have a couple of questions: does the weight of the barn door require you to secure the unit to the wall in fear of it tipping forward? Also, do you put the bottom of the door on a track or is that free-floating? Thanks!
Suzy says
Hi Susan. Yes, we added small angle irons that are attached to the top of the bookcases and to the wall to keep them secure. And no – with this type of door hardware, the door is just free floating. Hope this helps and I’m sorry for the delay in responding!
Stephanie says
This is so beautiful!!! Thank you for sharing how you did it. I’m not sure I’m brave enough to try it but I’ll give it some serious though bc I’m in love!!! Great job!!
Susan Lindsey says
I love your office and your desk! Just purchased a desk that is almost identical. Can you share the paint type and colors that you used?
Suzy says
Thank you so much, Susan! I painted my desk the with the same product that I used for the base of my dining room table. You can read all about it in this post: https://www.worthingcourtblog.com/dining-room-finishing-touches/
Adrianna says
Hi Susan !not sure how old this post is as I couldn’t find a date but hopefully you’ll get to see it! I’m about to start a project like this and just as your bookcase mine doesn’t have much clearance on the top and everyone is telling me that a barn door tracking can’t be installed and your proof that they are wrong!!! Can you please share how exactly did you install it without having as I said much room on top of your bookcase!? Thanks and what an inspiration you are! I was about to give up and resale the cabinet I just bought precisely for this project I have had in mind for a while and suddenly I came upon your post!
Suzy says
Hi Adrianna. We added a 2×4 that’s as long as the bookcases are wide and painted it to match the bookcase. The door hardware is attached to that. 😀