Affordable Wood Bookshelves That Look Custom. One of my favorite tricks for making affordable furniture look more expensive: repetition. I placed a few of these budget-friendly wood bookshelves side by side to create the look of a custom built-in without the custom price tag. The dark wood adds so much warmth and character, especially paired with moody brown walls and layered neutral decor. Such an easy way to get an elevated, collected look on a budget. LTKHome