The living room is where you spend the bulk of your time with friends, family, and even alone with a good book or Netflix binge, so it's important it boasts both form and function. If there's one addition that adds drama and visual interest, plus storage and hidden organization, it's a custom built-in.

Ahead are 10 examples of living room built-ins that prove you really can have it all.

01 Give It Old-World Charm

While stonework is often requested of exterior designers, it can actually bring an old-world charm inside your home as well. We love how these living room built-ins look framed in a light, warm stone. This simple addition adds tons of charm to any modern setup.

02 Light It Up

Elegant Linen Glow Sconce - Architectural Design Tapered Shade Wall Sconce for Bedroom and Living Room - A Statement Piece of Elegance and Sophistication

When designing your built-ins, it's the tiniest details that separate a nice build from a spectacular one. Installing a simple gallery light above can make a bookshelf look expensive.

03 Bring Contrast

While we like the idea of blending in a living-room built-in, making it stand out with a high-contrast paint job looks like a million bucks too. We love how this chalky blue shade pops off the white walls and neutral accents.

04 Add Subtle Dimension

A subtly contrasted paint job looks sophisticated without feeling boring. This ecru and white color scheme adds tons of dimension (even more than your recessed built-ins boast on their own), while still looking bright and airy.

05 Break Out the Wallpaper

Although paint is top of mind when styling living room built-ins, a roll of wallpaper takes any design up another notch. Use a patterned or textured wallpaper on the backs of your shelving units to add tons of personality and design interest.

06 Combine Shelves And Cabinets

Vintage Crystal Raindrop Elegance Chandelier - Faceted-Glass Crystals and Rain Drops Display for Dining Room and Living Room Lighting

Living room built-ins either feature open shelving, cabinets and drawers, or, like in this case, a combination of all three. We love the idea of shelves on top and drawers and cabinets below because it gives you space to display your favorite design elements and hide away clutter you can't seem to part with.

07 Play With Pastel

Think of your built-in paint color as the first hue on your blank canvas. Rows of shelves will act as the backdrop for your favorite books and collectibles, so choose the color accordingly. We love how this pastel green unit makes the neutrals in this room pop.

08 Don't Make Them the Focal Point

Whether you're working with an existing built-in or you're adding one solely for storage, don't feel pressured to make it the focal point. The painting in this room takes center stage while the built-in on the left acts as a supporting character. It works just fine—and looks so cool.

09 Don't Be Afraid to Get Moody

A common misconception is that black paint makes a room appear smaller. The truth is, it can actually open up a space and boasts glamorous undertones. This black built-in is proof.

10 Make It Minimal

Just because it's a built-in doesn't mean you need to add rows of shelves and cubes and cabinets and drawers. Sometimes a minimal setup, like this clean cabinet look, is all your living room needs.