I tackled reclaimed shelves myself and let me tell you, my walls looked like Swiss cheese at first... but nothing a little spackle couldn't fix, haha. Honestly, if you're decent with a drill and have patience (and maybe a stud finder), you'll be fine. About lighting—fairy lights alone felt cozy but a bit dim for my taste. I added some hidden LED strips behind the shelves, and it made a huge difference. Highly recommend that combo if you want ambiance without stumbling around in semi-darkness.
"Honestly, if you're decent with a drill and have patience (and maybe a stud finder), you'll be fine."
Haha, patience is key for sure—I learned that the hard way hanging antique sconces in my old place. Curious though, did you hide the LED strips completely or leave them slightly visible?
I totally feel you on the patience thing—I thought I'd breeze through installing shelves in my first apartment, and let's just say my walls ended up looking like Swiss cheese before I finally got it right. About the LED strips, I actually left mine slightly visible. At first, I worried it'd look messy, but honestly, the soft glow kind of added to the whole cozy fantasy vibe I was going for. Plus, it made it way easier to adjust or replace them later on.
Are you planning to use any special materials to give your ceiling that fantasy feel? I've been thinking about trying something similar, maybe using some faux wood beams or fabric drapes...but I'm still a bit unsure how complicated that might get.
Good points on the LED strips, but personally, I'd lean toward hiding them completely—especially if you're going for a fantasy vibe. A visible strip can sometimes break the immersion, even if the glow is nice. A good alternative might be using channels or diffusers to soften the light without showing the actual strip.
As for faux wood beams, they're definitely doable, but keep in mind the weight and installation hassle. If your basement ceiling isn't super high, beams might make the space feel cramped. Fabric drapes are easier to manage, but dust and maintenance can become an issue over time.
Another option could be textured ceiling tiles or lightweight foam panels painted to look like stone or wood. They're easy to handle, pretty forgiving if you mess up placement, and won't compromise ceiling height. Just something else to consider...
I like the foam panel idea, hadn't thought of that. I'm a bit worried they'd look cheap up close though... anyone tried them and can confirm they hold up visually?
