Homeowners can carve out hidden storage with double-duty bookcase

A bookcase that isn't used to its capacity can solve the never-ending dilemma of finding more storage for homeowners.

Better Homes and Gardens magazine suggests adding hinged doors to hide away some of the shelves, while keeping others open to display books and decorative accessories. Another technique would be to add a rod to hold a curtain that will cover the bottom half of the bookcase.

Another idea from the magazine is to hide away clutter by installing some simple hardware on the inside of the bookcase frame. Attach a window shade or blind that can be raised for easy access to whatever is stored away.

Wood blinds would be a good choice to attach to the bookcase, because they can be matched in wood tones of other pieces of furniture in the room. Blinds Chalet's inventory of wood blinds come in stains that include oak, honey birch, mahogany, cherry, chestnut and shades of white and off-white.

Adding shutters to some of the shelves lends a cottage makeover to a bookcase, which can be painted white or cream on the frame and shelves. The back of the unit can be covered in traditional cottage patterns such as floral, toile or damask patterns.