Tips for Making Unique DIY Bookshelves
To make your unique DIY bookshelf look its best, careful planning and construction is required. Take a look at these tips to help you achieve a clean finish for your bookshelf.
Planning
Creating the perfect design and planning your bookshelf appropriately can make all the difference in the bookcase idea you choose. Start by selecting a location for your bookshelf, whether you want to place it in your bedroom, living room or study.
Measure the space where you intend to place your bookshelf and create a sketch of the kind of design you want. Make sure to consider the materials since you need something sturdy to hold the weight of all your books. Wooden bookshelves are a popular choice since they’re durable and strong enough to hold heavy weight.
Construction
Creating a sturdy base is the most important step to make a freestanding bookshelf. Grab all the screws and nails you might need for the DIY project and choose ones that are the right size and type. Wood screws, drywall screws or countersunk screws are typically used for assembling furniture. You can also use finish nails to attach the back panel or trims. Typically, for furniture, wood screws, drywall screws or countersunk screws are preferred. When you add shelves, support them with corner braces or L-brackets to prevent sagging. Sand any edges and surfaces to smoothen them out for a smooth and clean finish.
Be careful while constructing the handmade bookshelf; handle wood carefully to avoid splinters.
Finishing
Once you’re done with the construction, the finish is what completes the whole project. Choose from stain, paint or wax and seal the finish with a sealant to prevent wear and tear. Applying multiple coats can offer a durable and long-lasting finish.
Handmade Bookshelf Ideas
While a store-bought bookshelf does its job just fine, making it yourself gives you full reign to customize it as per your needs. Whether you want a tall one or a short one, whether you need more sections or large sections, it’s all up to you. These eight handmade bookshelf ideas are versatile and you can change them based on your requirements.
Floating Bookshelves
Perfect for hallways and living rooms, floating shelves can liven up your bare walls. This wall bookshelf idea can also be placed in your home office above your desk to provide easy access. Ideal for smaller spaces, you can keep them organized and display art and photographs along with your books. You can cover the shelves in can webbing to make them look more appealing. These affordable wall-mounted shelves can provide book storage in any nook and cranny around your home.
Choose from materials like wood, metal or glass based on the look you want to create but ensure that it can bear the weight of your books. When attaching the shelves to your wall, use a level to make sure they’re aligned appropriately and use hidden brackets or support for a seamless look.
Boldly Painted Bookshelves
If you have a bookshelf in good condition and just want to spruce it up to enhance its look, you might not need to do much. This bookcase idea requires you to paint your existing bookshelf in vibrant and bold colors to liven up your space. This can look great in playrooms, kids' rooms or homes that like to make a statement.
You can paint them in contrasting colors to add a pop of color to your room and upgrade your bookshelf. You can create attractive designs by painting the lower portion of your bookshelf in accent patterns or painting the bottom of each shelf in a different color.
Under-the-Stairs Bookshelf
Utilize unused and overlooked spaces in your home with this handmade bookshelf idea. The space under your stairs is a great location for a custom bookcase to create an eye-catching display. You can use the bookshelf to hold books, DVDs, games and decorative items that you might want to display. This idea requires you to carefully measure the space available and consider the angle of the stairs to create an ideal design.
Using sturdy wood is recommended since it’s versatile and durable enough to create a bookcase. Determine the number of shelves you need and the spacing between them based on your needs. Adding lighting and painting to your bookcase can make it a conversation starter for your guests and relatives.
Hanging Rope and Wood Bookshelf
A bookshelf with planks of wood and rope anchored to the ceiling can create an eye-catching visual effect. This unique DIY bookshelf offers a rustic or bohemian feel to your home and is a creative idea that reflects your personality. The basic concept is to suspend sturdy ropes or chains from your ceiling attached to a wooden frame. This space-saving hack is great for living rooms or study rooms and can be customized based on which wood, rope and hardware you choose.
Make sure your ceiling is high enough for this idea and the wooden planks can bear the weight of the items you place on it. You can display your favorite books, houseplants, radios, clocks and other prized possessions on this handmade hanging bookshelf.
Follow appropriate safety precautions when drilling into your ceiling and attaching the bookshelf.
Wooden Crates Bookshelf
This wall bookshelf idea is perfect to complement homes with a rustic ambiance. Using wooden crates or pallets, you can create a unique space to hold your books, magazines and other decorative items. Perfect for larger spaces like living rooms, a wooden crate bookshelf can become a centerpiece in your home.
Hang these crates onto your walls by drilling pilot holes and attaching wall anchors to hold the crates securely. You can paint the bookshelf in any color to match or contrast your home décor.
Above-the-Door Bookshelf
Attaching floating shelves to the space above your door frames can make optimal use of every space available in your home. This inconspicuous space can become an ideal storage solution for books and magazines.
This bookcase idea is particularly useful if you want to keep your prized books away from pets or children. You can make this work if you have a high ceiling and want to attract attention to your ceiling moldings. An above-the-door bookshelf can also make your space appear larger and your bookshelves stand out.
DIY Rolling Bookshelf
A mobile bookshelf or book cart allows you to place your bookshelf wherever you need, giving you a portable solution to hold all your books. Better than a fixed bookshelf, it’s ideal for homes with limited space and for people who keep reorganizing their collection. The easiest way to make this idea come to life is to get a pre-made rolling cart and attach wooden shelves to it.
Leaning Ladder Bookshelf
This budget-friendly bookcase idea is perfect for minimalist and modern homes. All you need is a ladder with wide rungs to house your books, plants and other small objects. Since they don’t take up much floor space, they’re ideal for compact areas.
Make sure the ladder you use is sturdy and can support the weight of your items. Attach the ladder to your wall to ensure it doesn’t tip overusing nails and screws. Attach shelves to the rungs of your ladder and secure them with brackets.