How to Build a Recessed Bookcase
A recessed bookcase not only adds architectural interest to a room but also removes an awkward niche. With storage in many homes at a premium, built-ins can be valuable sales advantages, providing storage without adding furniture. With a few basic tools, constructing the bookcase is easy. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- 1-inch thick wood stock
- Primer paint
- 4-inch foam roller
- Roller pan
- Table saw
- Carpenter's glue
- Drill
- Power screwdriver
- Screws
- Damp rag
- 1/4-inch plywood
- Finish nailer
- Orbital sander
- Trim
- Miter saw
- Wood filler
- Caulk
- Paint
- 2-inch paint brush
Instructions
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Measure your wall opening's top, bottom, sides and depth, from the face of your drywall or non-recessed wall surface. Let's say your opening is 2 feet wide, 4 feet high and 6 inches deep.
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Use dimensional lumber for the shelving. Dimensional lumber sizes are nominal-only (a so-called 1-by-6 is actually three-quarters of an inch deep and 5 1/2 inches wide). Since the shelving material should be at least a quarter-inch shallower than your niche, use 1-by-6 material, a half-inch shallower. With a table saw, cut top and bottom boards as wide as the niche but cut side boards 1 1/2 inches less than the opening's height.
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3
Prime your wood, including plywood and trim. Use white primer for a white bookcase or a tinted primer for non-white. Apply the primer with a 4-inch roller and pan, then give it 24 hours to dry.
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Lay two side boards lengthwise on their edge. Align them with the top board. Drill pilot holes for at least three screws through the top board and into the top of the side boards. Apply a bead of carpenter's glue along the top edge of the side boards. Power-sink the three screws through the top board. Repeat for the second side. Wipe away any excess glue with a damp rag.
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5
Similarly, align your bottom board with the side boards, drill pilot holes, apply glue to the side boards and sink the three screws. Wipe away excess glue.
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6
Measure, mark and, using the table saw, cut 1/4-inch plywood to fit the back measurements of the bookcase.
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Lay the bookcase face down and use a power finish nailer to attach the plywood to the back of the side, top and bottom boards. The nails, 6 to 8 inches apart, should not split the wood.
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8
Test-fit your bookcase in the recess. The front edge should be flush with the forward (non-recessed) wall. With a pencil, mark the stud locations. Remove the bookcase.
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9
Cut shelves to fit the inside the bookcase where you want to mount the shelves. Drill pilot holes through the sides of the bookcase into the end of each shelf. Apply a bead of carpenter's glue to the ends of the shelves and insert wood screws. Wipe off excess glue.
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10
Sand your bookcase with an orbital sander, removing some primer but smoothing the shelves and edges.
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Insert your bookcase into the recess and screw it into the studs you marked earlier.
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12
With a miter saw and finish nailer, add molding to trim the bookcase. Put wood fill in holes and clean up any gaps with paintable caulk. Paint your bookcase with the 4-inch roller and a 2-inch paint brush.
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Tips & Warnings
• Recesses that extend all the way to the floor may look awkward. Consider adding a cabinet-style kick plate and elevate your bookcase 3 to 4 inches to improve the look.
