How to Build a Built-In Bookcase Using Cabinets

Turn old cabinets into built-in bookcases.

Constructing your own built-in bookcases is a relatively straightforward project, but you can make it even simpler by using old cabinets. Rather than taking the time to frame the walls and construct the shelves yourself, you can save time by repurposing a few cabinets. The key to making your cabinets look like built-in bookcases and not just old cabinets screwed to the walls is to take the time to make all of the cabinets look uniform. If you are able to find identical cabinets for your bookcases, no one will be able to tell the difference.

Things You'll Need

• Cabinets
• Measuring tape
• Screwdriver
• Wood filler
• Fine-grain sandpaper
• Electric sander (optional)
• Chemical paint stripper (optional)
• Putty knife
• Stud finder
• Pencil
• 3-inch wood screws
• Paint or stain

Instructions

1. Select a few cabinets to use in constructing your built-in bookcases. If possible, choose cabinets that are identical in size and design. If you cannot find matching cabinets, select a few that are as close in size as possible and do not have any ornate details.

2. Use a measuring tape to measure the dimensions of the cabinets you selected as well as the space where you intend to install them. Make sure the cabinets are not too wide for the space and make sure that once you stack the cabinets they will not be too high.

3. Remove any doors from the cabinets by unscrewing the hinges with a screwdriver. Fill the screw holes with wood filler and allow it to dry completely. Sand the wood filler smooth with fine-grain sandpaper.

4. Strip any existing paint or wood stain from the cabinets. You can sand away the existing finish by hand with sandpaper or with an electric sander. Or you can apply a thick layer of chemical paint stripper to painted cabinets. Follow the instructions on the paint stripper and scrape it away using a putty knife after it begins to bubble.

5. Select a cabinet for the base of your bookcase. If your cabinets are not all identical, choose the largest cabinet to go on the bottom of the stack. Refer to the measurements you took of the rest of the cabinets to determine which one you will stack on top of the base and whether you have space for a third cabinet on top.

6. Locate the studs in the wall using a stud finder. Mark the positions of the wall studs lightly on the wall in pencil.

7. Slide the base cabinet into place against the wall. Secure it in place by driving 3-inch wood screws through the back of the cabinet into the wall studs.

8. Have a friend help you lift the second cabinet and place it on top of the base cabinet. If the two cabinets are identical in size, align the outside edges. If the cabinets vary slightly in size, center the second cabinet on top of the base.

9. Attach the second cabinet to the base cabinet by driving wood screws through the bottom of the upper cabinet into the top of the lower cabinet. The size of the wood screws you need will be determined by the thickness of the cabinet panels. Measure the thickness of the surfaces you will be drilling into and use a wood screw that's a half inch shorter.

10. Drive 3-inch wood screws through the back of the upper cabinet into the wall studs to secure it in place.

11. Install a third cabinet on top of the second by following the same procedure. Unless the cabinets you have chosen are fairly small, you will most likely not have room to install a third cabinet.

12. Paint or stain your completed built-in bookcase to match the existing decor of your room. By removing the existing finish from your cabinets and painting or staining them all in the same color, it will be less noticeable that your bookcases are actually constructed from individual cabinets.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you have finished building your bookcases, you can further customize them to suit your needs. Rearrange the shelves inside the cabinets or install a frame of decorative wood trim along the outside of the bookcase.

• Test the strength of the shelves in your bookcase before you begin stacking books on them. If you find a shelf that is not stable, tighten the screws or drive nails from a nail gun through the side panels of the cabinet into the shelves for extra support.