Easy installations give built-in look to shelving and storage units

Homeowners who don't have the space or money to splurge on built-in shelving can still have the look and storage that built-ins bring to a room.

Freestanding furniture pieces such as bookcases can be modified with wood trim to give the illusion of a permanent installation. Adding hinged doors to hide away some of the shelves, while keeping others open to display books and decorative accessories, is another approach.

An even easier installation includes a rod to hold either a curtain or a roller shade that can be drawn to cover the bottom half of a shelving unit, according to Better Homes and Gardens magazine. It can be raised for easy access to items stored away or drawn for a clean, uncluttered façade. The shade pull can also be decorated with a finial or tassel.

Attaching shutters to a set of shelves or a bookcase creates a cottage style unit that would fit well into shabby chic or bungalow décor. For a true cottage look, the unit should be painted white or cream on the frame and shelves with the interior covered in traditional cottage patterns such as floral, toile or damask patterns.