How to Build a Corner Shelf for: TV, Video, Books, Decorations

Building a corner shelf for your home is an excellent Do It Your Self project that will have many uses for your family. We are planning on using ours for our exercise room for our TV and DVD player. But it can have many other uses: Books, Decorations, Coat Rack (just mount hooks to the lower panels), to name a few.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2' x 8' x 1/2" thick panel of plywood finish grade on at least one side.
• 2" x 4" x 30" long
• Table Saw
• Skill Saw
• Pencil
• Measuring tape
• Straight Edge for cutting
• Regular Clamps (to hold straight edge)
• Corner Clamps (2)
• Finish Screws
• Drill
• 1/16" Drill Bit

1. 
    
   Full Drawing Set, Showing all views and cut layout on plywood

   Review the plan for the finished corner shelf. The drawing shows all the views and dimensions. The finished shelf is 24" x 24" on the back edges with an almost 24" diagonal depth.

2. 
    
   Drawing of Shelf Pieces Layout on the 2' x 8' Sheet of Plywood

   Taking the layout drawing for the corner shelf using the pencil, tape measure and straight edge layout each part of the shelf on the back side (non-finished grade side) of the plywood sheet. By cutting from the back side of the material the skill saw will cause less splinters on the finished side of the material.

3. 
    
   Plywood with Straight Edge in Position for Cutting with Skill Saw

   Using your straight edge and clamps line up each cut adding the offset for the saw to place the cut on the marked line. Take extra care in cutting out each piece of the shelf. The assembly and finished shelf depends on your careful work.

4. 
    
   Part layout on plywood after cutting.

   Picture below shows each part in position on the material.

5. 
    
   Cutting corner braces from the 2 x 4

   Using the 2"x4" cut the length of the board on a 45 degree angle forming a 1-1/2 in wide strip. This will be the corner braces and the spacers for the lower shelf section.

6. 
    
   Cutting the corner braces to to length

   Clamp and cut the corner braces evenly on one end and saw them all together at the 10" length. This will insure that they are all exactly the same length.

7. 
    
   Back panels joined with clamps and ready to be connected with screws.

   Using the 2 corner clamps ling up the two back panels using the longer panel to from the overlap. Drill 4 holes with the 1/16" drill (one on each end and space the others evenly over the seam), and connect with 4 of the finishing screws. The height of the back panel must be identical. If needed trim the panels to size.

8. 
    
   Side panel clamped into position ready to be connected with screws.

   Line up each side panels with the back panels and even with the top edge using the corner clamps. Drill three holes and connect with screws.

9. 
    
   Corner braces installed even with the top of the shelf

   Install corner braces in the back corner and at each of the side panes corners making sure the top of the panels and the braces are even with the top of the of the shelf.

10. 
     
    Lower shelf installed in unit resting against the corner braces.

    Placing the shelf down on the top edge install the lower shelf locating it against the corner braces and drill and attach in each location. Also locate the front edge on the side panels and the shelf and secure with a screw on each side.

11. 
     
    Top of shelf installed on unit and attached with screws.

    Carefully locate the top of the shelf on the unit making sure that the back edges are even and the spacing at each side panel is even. Attach carefully by drilling and screwing at each corner and at each front edge of the side panels.

12. 
     
    Completed shelfing unit ready for finishing and installing.

    Well done. You have completed the fabrication of the corner shelf and now have a project ready for finishing and installing in your home.

Tips & Warnings

• Mark out and cut the plywood on the non finished side. Your cuts will be cleaner and have less burrs by doing this.
• I used finish screws by GRK Fasteners (GRKFasteners.com) Fin/Trim trim head screws. Size: 8 x 1-1/2" long. You will need a #10 bit to drive the screws.
• When assembling the shelf make sure that you install the finished side of the material towards finished viewing angle.
• Power tools can be dangerous, be very careful to avoid injury.

[billips]

on 4/26/2009 Very nice article - the instructions are really clear - corners are generally wasted so this would really be a boon - 5* - B.

[Foxility]

on 4/23/2009 That takes some time and effort but great instructions.

[scleveland]

on 4/17/2009 Great idea for building a cost savings valuable piece of furniture.

[kaytay]

on 4/17/2009 this corner shelf for tv's ect. is really a great idea

[achieve42]

on 4/12/2009 One additional comment for all. Using the trim head screws allows for adjustments to each of the panels just by removing the screws, and if you assemble a panel backwards all you need to do is take the screws our the assemble correctly! Try that with nails!