How to build a bookcase

How to build your own bookcase

Building a bookcase can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. There are many high-quality flat pack bookcases available with detailed instructions on how to put them together.

If you’d like something a bit more bespoke, however, it’s certainly worth building a bookcase from scratch.

If you follow these steps, you’ll soon have the perfect bookcase to house all your reading material.

1. Designing and measuring

Taking accurate measurements is an essential part of creating the perfect bookcase. Firstly, choose the location for your bookcase. Ideally, it should be against a wall and towards the corner of a room.

Next, take accurate measurements of the height, width, and depth of the bookcase. Finally, choose how many shelves you’d like your bookcase to have.

2. Selecting the material

Most bookcases are made from wood. This could be a hardwood, such as mahogany, or teak if you want a premium finish to your bookcase.

More cost-effective woods, such as plywood, are perfectly fine for creating a solid bookcase. They can even be finished with a hardwood veneer to enhance the aesthetic.

You may also wish to consider an alternative material to wood. Bookcases today can be specified in plastic, metal and even glass. These materials are all worth considering, but today’s focus is on wooden bookcases.

3. Cutting the timber

So, you’ve decided on the best material for your bookcase. Now it’s time to cut it to size.

A circular saw or a table saw are the best tools for accurately cutting timber. Always take care when using power tools as they can be dangerous.

First, cut the timber sheets into pieces to function as the sides of your bookcase. Next, cut the pieces for the bottom and shelves.

Finally, cut the top piece of the bookcase. Add rabbet joints so that the top sits neatly on the sides of the bookcase. This should be done so that the grooves are the same width as the bookcase sides.

4. Assembling the bookcase

Once you have all your timber pieces cut and ready, it’s time to start assembling. First, drill pilot holes into the shelf pieces. Also drill matching holes into the inner sides of the bookshelf. These double sets of holes will be fitted with dowels to support the shelves.

When assembling your bookcase, start with the top. Apply PVA wood glue along the length of the rabbet groove and hold in place. You may wish to add screws for extra support.

Next, put the bottom shelf in place. A small amount of glue can be applied to the pilot holes before the dowels are pressed into place.

Finally, add the rest of the dowels to the inner sides of the bookcase. Slide in the shelves and if required add supporting screws through the exterior sides.

Your bookcase is now ready to use. Many bookcases today do not have a back panel. Instead, the books push up against the wall behind the bookcase.

If you want to add a back panel, this can now be cut to size and tacked onto the back of your bookcase.

How to build customised bookcases

There are many ways to customise a bookcase. Most of the steps mentioned above will help you to build any type of bookcase.

For different types of bookcases, here are some things to consider:

• How to build floor to ceiling bookcase

Ensure that you leave enough room for assembly. Floor to ceiling bookcases will usually need to be built in-situ. For the best results they should also be attached to the wall, floor, and ceiling.

• How to build built-in bookcases

Built-in bookcases are similar to floor to ceiling bookcases. If you are building into an alcove, make sure that your measurements are 100% accurate to ensure a high-quality finish.

• How to build bookcase with cabinets

A bookcase with cabinet sections will require the use of doors. You will need to add hinges and handles and also ensure that the cabinet sections are deep enough to warrant their addition.

• How to build bookcase shelves

As mentioned above, bookcase shelves can be supported by the use of dowels. They can also be supported with struts or be nailed or screwed into the side of the bookcase.

Bookcase shelves should always be made from solid pieces of timber or an alternative material that is sufficiently strong. They also need to be accurately cut to ensure that thy fit snugly into the bookcase.

• How to build a small bookcase

Building a small bookcase is a great place to begin. You could use this as a practice project before you tackle a larger bookcase build.

• How to build a sliding bookcase

Adding a sliding door to your bookcase can protect your books from deterioration and create an attractive visual appearance.

A track runner will need to be fitted onto the bottom and top of your bookcase. To do this, you will need sufficient overlap at both ends.

Installing a sliding door onto your bookcase is a highly skilled job. It is probably best at this point to consider hiring a professional carpenter.

The simple way to find an approved tradesperson

If you’re unsure about building a bookcase yourself, it’s always best to hire a professional. Fortunately, you’re in the perfect place!

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Claims are sourced from a survey conducted by Deep Blue Thinking on a nationally representative UK sample in November 2021.