Measurements & Design Plans for Building a Bookshelf

Series Summary

Sometimes, you just can't find the right piece of furniture. Your walls may be too small or too long. A window may be too low or too high. Also, a simple trip to a furniture store may be enough to make your money belt tighten. Finding the right piece of furniture can be exasperating and financially depressing. However, there is another option. What if you could make the perfect piece of furniture for your home? Now, it sounds terrifying, but with some simple instruction, you might be surprised with what you can create.

If you have been having some trouble finding the right bookshelf, Expert Village has a solution for you. Our expert, Jon Olson, teaches you how to build your own wooden bookshelf. He takes you through all the stages: planning, measuring, cutting, and gluing. With his help, you can make a stylish bookcase with doors. Not only will you have a sense of pride in your creation, you budget will approve as well. Learn how to add trim and magnets to your bookshelf. So, take some time and learn how you can make your own bookcase today!

Video Transcript

"Hi! This is Jon on behalf of Expert Village. In this video clip, we will be formulating a plan. In the room where our bookshelf is going to go, we have a window and below the window we are going to have our bookshelf in it. Now the width of our unit is going to be the exact same as the width of the window and our height is going to go right up to the bottom of the window. Our overall measurements are 31inches to the bottom of that window and 70 inches is how wide that window is and I've chose a 10 inch depth because most books are less than 10 inches when you set them on a self. Now you will notice that there is some doors down here which we are going to use as a storage area for printer paper or other papers. Now having that 10 inch depth, our paper would have to sit sideways. If we went with a 12 inch depth, it would sit the long way. There would just be way too much room behind those books and they could get pushed back. In addition, it would use a lot of extra lumber when all is said and done. On this unit, we are going to have 8 shelves. There is going to be 3 shelves on each side. There is going to be 1 shelf in the top and there is going to be another shelf behind these doors. "