Laundry
Upscale Bookshelf
Add organization to any room with a pre-assembled bookshelf outfitted with custom doors, drawers and dividers.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Materials
(2) pre-assembled bookshelf with 13" × 13" cubbies (ours had 8 cubbies per shelf)
(4) 13" × 13" door inserts with attachment hardware
(4) 6½" × 13" drawer inserts (pre-assembled)
Wood-grain patterned contact paper
(2) ring pull sets
Phillips-head screwdriver
Flathead screwdriver
Scissors or box cutter
Drill
3/16" drill bit
(4) 1" × 12" × 3' oak boards
Worktable
Wood stain in desired shade
Dry rag
Tape measure
Pencil
Jigsaw
Circular saw
Adding the Doors
- Place wood-grain patterned contact paper face down on a flat surface. Trace the size of the door insert onto the back of the contact paper and cut, leaving 1½" excess on each side. Repeat for each door
- Peel and stick the contact paper onto the front surface of each door insert, and fold over the edges
- Trim the excess contact paper
- Measure 6" from the top and 1" from the side edge of each door insert. Drill a hole where the ring pull will be added. Attach the ring pull through the drilled hole
- Install the attachment hardware that came with the door inserts
- Match the measurements to the inside of the cubbies where the doors will be added. Attach door pulls to the bookshelf
Design Tip: Cut a diagonal slit at the corners of the contact paper to make it easier to fold over the edges.
Note: Attach the hardware through the precut holes on the doors.
Adding the Drawer Inserts
- Place wood-grain patterned contact paper face down on a flat surface. As you did for the door inserts, trace the size of the drawer insert onto the back of the contact paper and cut, leaving 1½" excess on each side. Repeat for each drawer insert
- Peel and stick the contact paper onto the front surface of each drawer insert, and fold over the edges
- Trim the excess contact paper
- Find the center of each drawer insert and drill a hole. Install a ring pull in each drawer insert
- Slide two drawers into each desired cubby. Repeat for remaining drawers
Adding the “X” Dividers
- Apply wood stain to the four 1" × 12" × 3' wood boards. Wipe away any excess stain with a dry rag or paper towels. Allow to dry
- Measure and cut 1" × 12" × 3' board into two 17½" pieces using a circular saw
- Draw a line down the center of one board horizontally
- Draw a rectangle measuring 6" × 1" from the edge of the board to the center of the board
- Repeat steps 2 through 4 for the remaining 1" × 12" × 3' wood boards
- Use a jigsaw to cut out the drawn rectangle from each board
- Fit the boards together in an “X” formation
- Repeat with remaining boards. Fit the dividers into the desired bookshelf cubbies
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