How to Build a Shoji Style Bookshelf

The traditional Japanese Shoji style is aesthetically beautiful and timeless. The translucent rice paper adds warmth to any room and to nearly any piece of furniture. Here is a plan for an easy to build shoji-inspired bookshelf that will anchor your office or living room and give you a little zen in the process.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• (6) 8 foot long 2x4s
• (10) 8 foot long 6 inch x 3/4 inch whitewood planks
• Tape measure
• Circular saw
• Pocket screw jig/plugs
• Sander
• Drill
• Wood screws
• Wood filler
• Golden Oak stain
• Black Stain or paint
• Lacquer
• 2 pairs of external hinges
• (4) pieces of 8 1/2 inches x 11 inches rice paper
• 2 door pulls
• latch or magnets
• Tacks or staples

1. Make cuts and sand all pieces.
   Cuts:
   2x4s: 6 pieces @ 72 inches
   4 pieces @ 5 inches
   2 pieces @ 20 inches
   6 inch boards: 6 pieces @ 5 inches wide x 63 inches long
   12 pieces @ 5 1/4 inches wide x 27 inches long
   4 pieces @ 2 1/2 inches wide x 22 inches long
   4 pieces @ 2 1/2 inches wide x 10 inches long
   2 pieces @ 1 inch wide x 10 inches long
   2 pieces @ 1 inch wide x 20 inches long
2. side Build the sides. Span two 72-inch long 2x4s with a 5-inch 2x4 flush with the top. Center a 5-inch wide 3/4 inch plank butted up against the top 5-inch 2x4 and the inside of the 72 inch 2x4s. Attach using pocket screws. Attach a second 5 inch 2x4 at the bottom of the plank. When finished it will be 2 inches from the bottom of the 72 inch 2x4s. See image.
3. Build the back. It's the same process as the sides but you span using 20 inch 2x4s and you use three 5-inch planks side by side. On the exterior side, span an additional two 20 inch long x 1 inch wide whitewood pieces for reinforcement.
4. Build the shelves, top and bottom. All pieces are identical. Attach two 5 1/4 inch x 27 inch whitewood pieces together side by side. Make sure you are flush on both ends and on top and bottom.
5. Build the doors. For each door build a square using two 22 inch x 2 1/2 inch pieces and (2) 10 inch x 2 1/2 pieces. Center a 10 inch x 1 inch piece between the top and bottom.
6. Attach sides to back. The sides go on the outside of the back so that the width will be 30 inches.
7. Attach top and bottom. Both go inside the sides. The top should be flush with the top of the sides. The bottom will be 2 inches off the ground (flush with the bottom of the 5 inch 2x4s).
8. Attach shelves. Fix one shelf so that there are 20 1/2 inches between its underside and the top of the bottom. The placement of the other shelves is up to your discretion.
9. Attach doors. Attach hinges to the doors and sides so that the bottom of the door is 2 inches off the ground. When closed the doors will cover both the bottom and the shelf 20 1/2 inches above it.
10. Cover all screw holes with plugs or wood filler. Sand smooth.
11. Stain or paint. To give your bookshelves a great look, stain (or paint) the 2x4s black and the whitewood golden oak. The only exception is you also should stain (or paint) the doors black. Follow staining by applying two or three coats of lacquer sanding lightly in between each coat.
12. Attach door pulls and the latch or magnets so that you can open and close the doors.
13. Attach rice paper. Trim the paper so that it overhangs the opening in the doors by 1/4 inch on all sides (there will be four openings). Attach using tacks or staples.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep extra rice paper on hand.
• You may want to add additional support below the bottom shelf. You will have 2x4 scrap left over with which to create more 2 inch feet.
• Never paint or stain without ventilation.

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