When my sister-in-law told us she was having a baby, we immediately started dreaming up all things nursery decor. One of my favorite nursery decor items are wall shelves for books, so that was our first DIY for the newest member of our family.
Alright, let’s dive in and build some DIY bookshelves for a nursery!
How to Build a Bookshelf
Recommended Tools:
- Miter Shears or Miter Saw
- Jigsaw
- Brad Nailer
- Drill with 5/16” Forstner bit
- Clamps
- Measuring Tape (new to DIY? Be sure to check out this post with measuring tips)
- Safety Equipment
Shopping List:
The following shopping list makes both of the shelves that we have pictured. One is 25” wide and the other is 37” wide
- (1) ½” x 2 x 2 (we used select pine from Lowe’s)
- (1) ½” x 2 x 3
- (1) ½” x 3 x 2
- (1) ½” x 3 x 3
- (1) ½” x 6 x 2
- (1) ½” x 6 x 3
- (1) ½” x 4 x 2
- (2) 5/16” x 48” round dowels (we used poplar)
- 1” nails
- Wood glue (this is our favorite type)
- Spackle or Wood Filler
- Caulk (if painting)
- Paint – we used Sherwin Williams Emerald Trim Enamel in Snowbound and Upward
- Sandpaper (180, and 220 grit)
STEP 1: MAKE THE CUTS
This project requires just a few cuts. Stack your 1⁄2” x 2, ½” x 6, and ½” x 3 boards on top of one another to ensure they are all the same length. If so, no need to make any cuts on those. If they are slightly off, trim the ones that are a bit longer until they match the smaller ones.
Grab your ½” x 4 boards. Start by marking a curve. I placed a paint can on the edge to trace the curve, but this doesn’t have to be specific. You can use a different round object (or freehand) to create your curve.
Cut the curve with the jigsaw and then mark 5.5” from the top of the curve. Cut your piece here to create your side piece. Once the first one is cut, you can use it as a template to trace where to cut the remaining pieces. You’ll need 4 of these pieces to complete the two shelves.
The last cut to make is for the dowels. The longer dowel will be 36.5” and the dowel for the smaller shelf will be 24.5”. Err on the side of making these dowels slightly smaller than then lengths rather than longer. Miter shears are super handy for this.
Since the dowels are so small they tend to want to snap under the force of the miter saw. If using the miter saw, be sure to take the extra steps to prep the saw for cutting small pieces!
STEP 2: DRILL HOLE FOR DOWEL
Mark ⅜” from the front of the side pieces and 2.5” from the bottom. We like to use our multi-mark tool for this.
This is where you’ll place the center of your Forstner bit to drill for the dowel. Drill approximately ¼” into each of the side pieces.
STEP 3: SAND
Sand all of your pieces with 180 and 220 grit sandpaper. We also decided to prime our wood and paint the dowel before assembling.
STEP 4: ASSEMBLE
Secure the ½ x 2 board to the ½ x 3 board using glue and 1” nails.
Then secure the ½ x 6 board to the back side of the ½ x 3 using glue and 1” nails.
Attach the first side using glue and 1” nails.
Insert the dowel and then position the second side. Secure with glue and 1” nails.
STEP 5: PREP + PAINT
If painting, fill all the nail holes with wood filler or spackle and then caulk where the boards meet on the inside of the shelf.
If you’re staining, fill the nail holes with wood filler, but skip the caulking.
Paint or stain with your desired finish.
STEP 6: HANG IT UP
To install your shelf, you can use heavy-duty command strips or secure the shelves to the wall by adding a few screws through the back of the shelves and into the studs. Yes, you’ll be able to see the screw heads if there are no books on the shelves, but your shelves will be flush with the wall.
There you have it! Now you know how to make your very own wall shelves that are perfect for nursery books!
