DIY White Bookshelves for Kids

Remove the dividers from wine crates and use them to make a wooden bookcase.

When you are outfitting a child’s room, more shelving gives all the children’s possessions a permanent place to go. Make a small bookshelf for your child out of wooden crates. Wooden crates are tall enough to hold oversized children’s books, and white wooden bookshelves can be refinished or updated over the years as your child grows. Use two wooden crates to make a short, child-sized storage space for books.

Things You'll Need

• Dropcloth or newspaper
• 100-grit sandpaper
• 2 wooden crates
• Paint
• Paintbrush
• Spray acrylic
• Brackets
• Screws
• Electric drill
• Nail
• Hammer

Instructions

1. Lay down a dropcloth a layer of newspaper to protect your working area.

2. Sand two wooden crates with 100-grit sandpaper to remove any splinters or rough spots.

3. Paint the wooden crates white with house paint or acrylic paint and allow the paint to dry. For an opaque white finish, allow the paint to dry and apply another layer.

4. Spray the wooden crates with spray acrylic to give it a smooth finish.

5. Lay one crate on its long side and put the other crate on top of it. Make sure that the openings are facing the same way.

6. Attach the crates to one another by screwing two brackets to each side using an electric drill. Place the brackets close to the corners for a secure attachment.

7. Turn the bookshelf so it faces you.

8. Hammer two nails into the bottom edge of the top box, securing it to the upper edge of the bottom box. At this point, the bookshelf is ready to be used.

References

• OhDeedOh: How to Make Shelves Out of Fruit Crates