DIY Recessed Bookcase With Lighting

Building a recessed bookshelf is a simple way to increase the available storage in your home without using up a great deal of floor space. DIY recessed bookshelves are a project that most homeowners can complete themselves, and there are many options for customization. Not only can you build the unit to your desired shape and size, but you can also embellish it with decorative wood trim or add lighting to use your bookshelf as a display for collectibles.

Things You'll Need

• Stud finder
• Pencil
• Blue-prints
• Drywall saw
• Level
• 1/2-inch hardwood
• Circular saw
• Nail gun
• Jigsaw
• Square template
• Paint or wood stain
• Clear varnish or polyurethane
• LED strip lights

Instructions

Framing the Recessed Bookcase

1. Use a stud finder to locate the studs in the wall where you intend to build your recessed bookshelf. Mark the inside edge of two adjacent studs on the wall in pencil. You will cut out the space between these two studs to install your bookshelf.

2. Consult the blue-prints for your home to be sure there are no pipes or wires running through the wall between the studs you have chosen. If you do not have access to the blue-prints, cut a small panel from the wall using a drywall saw to look inside.

3. Draw two vertical lines in pencil along the wall from floor to ceiling, extending the marks you made to designate the position of the two studs. Use a level to keep your lines straight.

4. Align the tip of a drywall saw with one of the two lines you drew near the center. Gently tap the handle of the saw to drive the tip of the blade into the drywall, then use a slow sawing motion to cut through the drywall. Cut along both vertical lines using the drywall saw, then cut horizontally through the drywall along the floor and ceiling between the two lines.

5. Remove the drywall panel you just cut out and use a measuring tape to measure the exposed wall space. The width, depth and height dimensions of the space will serve as the dimensions for your recessed bookcase.

6. Cut two pieces of 1/2-inch hardwood to the width and depth of the wall space using a circular saw. These boards will serve as the top and bottom panels for your bookcase. Cut two more pieces of 1/2-inch hardwood to the depth of the space and the height, minus 1 inch to accommodate the thickness of the top and bottom panels.

7. Insert the top and bottom panels horizontally into the wall space. Position the top panel so it is flush with the top of the wall space and the bottom panel so it is flat against the bottom. Drive nails from a nail gun through the edges of the two panels into the wall studs to secure them.

8. Slide the two side panels vertically into place between the ends of the top and bottom panels you just installed. The widest edge of each side panel should be flush with one of the wall studs. Drive nails from the nail gun through the side panels into the studs and into the top and bottom panels.

9. Measure and mark the desired position of your shelves along the side panels in pencil. Cut the shelves out of 1/2-inch hardwood using the depth measurement of the wall space and the width measurement, minus 1 inch to accommodate the thickness of the side panels.

10. Cut a 1-inch square section from the back right corner of each shelf using a jigsaw. You can use a square template to trace a 1-inch square on the wood prior to cutting, or you can choose to simply eyeball the cuts. You will thread the power cords from your light strips through these holes to keep them concealed.

11. Install the shelves horizontally between the two side panels where you made the pencil marks. Position the shelves so the cut corner is in the back right corner of the bookcase. Drive nails from the nail gun through the edges of the shelves at an angle into the side panels and the back of the wall space to attach them.

Finishing the Bookcase and Installing the Lighting

1. Paint or stain the completed bookcase frame to match the decor scheme in your room. If you desire, apply a coat of clear varnish or polyurethane to protect the surface of the bookcase from minor wear and water damage.

2. Remove one of the LED strip lights from the package and hold it flat against the underside of one of the shelves installed in the bookcase. Center the light strip under the shelf.

3. Secure the light strip in place using the materials provided with the kit, following the manufacturer's instructions. Most kits will provide metal brackets that can be mounted over the strip light and screwed into the underside of the shelf. Other kits may include tape or other adhesives to attach the light strip.

4. Attach as many light strips as you desire. Thread the cords from each strip through the holes you cut one corner of each shelf. Plug the power cord for your light strips into the nearest wall outlet to test the strips.

Tips & Warnings

• If there is baseboard or trim attached to the wall where you intend to install your bookcase you will need to remove it before beginning the project. Pry the baseboard or trim away from the wall using a pry bar or the curved end of a hammer, working slowly to avoid damaging the wall.

• Always wear protective gear and exercise caution when operating power tools like the circular saw and nail gun.