This Furniture Flip Creates A Stunning Bookcase—you'd Never Guess It's Upside Down

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While the average American generally owns no more than 100 books, for true bibliophiles, there's no real end to the number of good reads owned. They accumulate over a lifetime, filling shelves and forming little unread stacks on any surface they come across. Of course, finding storage for all your favorite page turners becomes a problem after a while, and buying a new bookcase every time one gets full is expensive. This is where having a good eye for a DIY furniture flip is an asset. There are plenty of creative ways you can repurpose your old furniture, and this one makes a pretty stunning accent piece along with novel organizing.

The surprising secret star of this hack is a hutch. Yes, that retro piece hanging out on top of the dining room buffet or living room credenza. Many of these units come in two pieces, and the top can easily be separated. The shape usually provides a kind of alcove over the desk-like surface, and shelves are stacked above it. By flipping it over, you get a floor unit with an extended decorative top, which is the perfect shape for showing off your favorite novels or placing a few decorative ornaments. If you're looking for DIY bookshelf ideas that will inspire any reader, this hutch flip is a great place to start. It's affordable, fairly easy for any experience level, and super customizable.

Take a look at your local thrift store or check out an estate sale to find a hutch if you don't have one to start. These pieces were widely popular in the 1990s but are now common at garage sales. To complete this project, you'll also need sandpaper, paint, and anything else you want to spruce up your flip. Tape like the SmaringRobot Premium Blue Painter's Tape is helpful if you want to mark out designs or avoid coloring certain areas. Affordable furniture feet are also available at shops like Home Depot or Amazon, such as the $13 Btibpse Set of 4 Unfinished Bun Feet, which are ready to be customized. Once you've got all these elements, you're ready to flip your hutch — literally.

The top portion of the buffet or credenza should come off easily. If it's not already in two pieces, you may need to unscrew it from underneath. Take it off and sand it down. Then, add the feet, and give it a coat of paint. Once it's dry, flip it over. Depending on your personal taste and the style of the furniture, this may be all you want to do. If it has cupboard doors, you may take some time to swap out the hardware. If there are glass panes in the doors, try adding a crisscross pattern with the same paint and painter's tape as a guide. Who knows, maybe this is the time to learn how to distress outdated wood furniture without sanding, or find a peel-and-stick contact paper to personalize the shelves. The important thing is that you've got a gorgeous new bookshelf made by breathing new life into old furniture.