How to Build a Bookshelf Part 2

Next comes my favorite part. The wood putty, wood putty is like a band-aid...it makes everything better. Without the wood putty the molding in the corners did not match up at all. So here we go...

1. Put wood putty on all corners of molding and holes where the finishing nails are. Let Dry.
2. Sand wood putty down so that it matches the curves and looks like a corner.
3. Measure out the distances you want your shelves to be (the heights) than measure how long each shelf should be in its SPECIFIC spot *This is where we ran into a problem we measured the width in only the middle of the column and used that as our length, then when we went to put them in realized our bookshelf got skinny towards the top (yes the poor girl is bottom heavy) so we had to saw down the edges which was a pain, just ask my husband. 
4. Go to home depot or your hardware store of choice (home depot will cut everything for you, lowes...not so much) and have your mdf shelves cut to your specifications.
5. This is where i put beadboard wall paper on the sides to make it pretty, you could do that to the back OR a cute wallpaper would look pretty peaking behind your books. I suggest Graham and Brown wallpaper, Martha Stewart's is the same price but thinner!
6. Paint everything. The back boards, the molding the shelves EVERYTHING.
7. Drill holes where you want the shelves to be. I did 2 on each side.
8. insert metal shelf holders.
9. Insert shelves
10. Fill up with books and pretty things!

How to Build a Bookshelf Part 1

First we measure! Decide on... 
1. how big you want the overall bookcase to be
2. how many columns
3. how many shelves
4. and draw up your diagram. 


Here are my measurements, mine is 5.5 feet by 6.75 feet, so it is pretty big, I would not go any longer than 30" between columns as your shelves will start to sag. 


MATERIALS

• 3 Vertical pieces of MDF cut to size (side, middle and side)
• 2 horizontal pieces of MDF cut to size (top and bottom)
• # of shelves (only purchase and cut these after you have put EVERYTHING together so that you get the perfect fit.)
• 2 large flat pieces of wood (it is the flexible wood that you will put on the back of the book case.
• Base Boards
• Crown Molding
• Miter Saw (we bought this little yellow box with a hand saw that lets you cut the molding at an angle)
• Metal Shelve holders? (the little metal things that go in the holes to hold the shelf up.
• 2x4s cut to size for the base (4 pieces)
• paint and varnish
• wood putty
• sandpaper
• drill 
• screws
• finishing nails

You start with the base than go from there. Download my step by step instructions HERE.

Your bookshelf should look like this after part 1.

Please excuse the awful picture!

You can buy...

This week I will show you how to build your own custom bookcase! It is easier than you might think, the hard part is just making sure all your measurements are correct. To get started find the space in your home that you want to put your bookcase and decide how big you want it to be. Next we make a list of everything you need to buy.