Build A Bookshelf, step by step

We lately shared how we created the wraparound fabric headboard in our son’s room, but today we hoped to tell you about the custom bookcase we constructed at the foot of his bed. It was a strong Hands-on project to fill that space, while also giving him some especially-convenient bedside book storage (plus a secret hidden compartment!). It was a remarkably straightforward build that anyone could do, plus you can customize it your particular space!

Boys bedroom with fabric headboard and built-in bed with bookcase footboard — *twin bed with built-in drawers / frame / fabric baskets* / *brass doorknob*

Why Create Custom Book Storage?

This is the smallest room in our small house and his bed fits nicely against this wall with simply sufficient space at the end for some custom storage. Before building this bookshelf, his book were crammed unceremoniously in some baskets that baaaaaarely fit in the gap. It was hard to reach and certainly did not make the most of the space.

Before photo of boys bedroom with baskets on the floor near foot of bed

He does not have a need for a tall bookcase-worth of storage right now, so we did not want some hulking piece that we simply filled up with unnecessary stuff that he could not reach (or be totally inaccessable below the mattress). Because in retrospect, the built-in bookcases in his last room ended up being mostly decorative – apart from the books he could reach himself on the lowest shelf.

Boys bedroom with built-in floor to ceiling bookcases and dresser drawers in old house

So in order to take advantage of that space below the bed AND not go overkill with storage, we decide to build something custom.

Hands-on Bookshelf Build Materials & Tools

We have built several custom storage shelves and built-in bookcases before, and we enjoy using MDF as a primary material because it is strong and smooth, so it finishes nicely.

1/2″ MDF panels for shelf box
1×2″ boards for finishing edges
Miter saw
Table or Circular Saw
Nail gun
Measuring Tape
Stud finder
Wood glue
Primer
Paint

Step 1: Cut & Dry Fit Your MDF Panels To Size

We used our circular saw to cut the basic MDF pieces to construct our bookshelf. It is in short a single shelf built at mattres level with another box on top. The bottom shelf is supported by a 1×2″ secured to the wall (be sure to screw into studs where possible) and a flat MDF panel that I screwed into the bed’s footboard itself. That also created a solid that will keep books and stuffed animals from slipping under the shelf. The lost stuffed animal struggle is REAL!

MDF frame of built-in bookcase in boys bedroom during Hands-on construction

We will be adding some additional strength when we add the finishing 1×2″s, but you will see that in a second.

Step 2: Prime & Paint Your Pieces

We chose to primed and paint all of the main pieces before constructing it because we knew it would be a pain to paint it in place. So all the MDF you saw above was dry fit in place.

Step 3: Secure Your Bottom Shelf With Glue & Nails

Once everything dried we began assembling it with glue and nails. Nails secure things in place swiftly but the wood glue will add more long term strength. Do not worry about nail holes. You can fill those later when you do your touch-ups. Note how I am simply nailing the shelf into the two support pieces below it.

Painted pieces of MDF being nailed in for bottom shelf of built-in bookcase

Step 4: Add Your Top Shelf & Middle Divider

We brought in a middle divider to assist with the integrity of the bookshelf and better support the top shelf. It’d also assist to keep his books more organized than one big open box would. You can also see how all of these top pieces are a little bit shallower than the bottom shelf. This accounts for the 1×2″ face pieces that we brought in to finish off the raw edges and make everything look more polished and substantial. Again, all of these were nailed in from the top.

Fitting top shelf of built-in bookcase at the foot of boys bed

Step 5: Add Your 1×2″ Finish Pieces

We opted to use 1×2″ boards as both finishing pieces for the raw edges AND as supports on the open end of the shelf. Up until this moment, we debated whether or not this end should be another solid MDF piece. But after cutting pieces of both options, we chose the open-ended design felt better for the room.

Side posts attached to built-in bookcase in boys bedroom with open shelf facing door

Step 6: Caulk Seams, Fill Nail Noles & Touch Up Paint

Once everything was secured in place, we caulked all of the seams of our construction and filled the small nail holes with a bit of caulk too. After that dried, we gave everything (well, everything we could reach!) one last coat of paint. And voila!

BONUS STEP: Add A Secret Compartment

Since we did not want the space under the bookshelf to go to waste, we created some secret bonus storage. Instead of nailing in a solid piece to cover that hole, we cut carefully to fit snugly but still pop out when you push on the right spot in the right way. We nailed in a couple of scrap 1×2″s along the inside lip so that the removable piece has something to rest again too.

Bottom compartment for secret storage in boys bedroom with built-in daybed custom storage

Right now it is hiding some spare picture frames because our son does not have any need for additional storage (remember he also has a closet, a dresser, and those two large drawers under his bed). But as he grows if he does have a need for it, we are glad to hand it over. We could even add a handle to pop the door off a little more easily anytime he wants to access things down there.

The Wrapped up Hands-on Bookshelf

As you can see from the photo below, we built the bookshelf to the exact height of the upholstered headboard we made so that it all reads as one sort of wraparound unit that cozies up his bed on all three sides. We debated painting it to match the blue-gray headboard (and at one point were both leaning that way) but once it all came together we thought it was pleasant for it to blend in with the walls.

After photo of built-in bookcase at foot of bed with books and stuffed animals

So yeah, this room is far from done, but I cannot express how strong it has been to have all of our nighttime reading books RIGHT THERE when it is time to pick out a bedtime story. He’s also glad to have a spot for those baskets which each house some quite precious collections (like Pokemon cards). It is crucial to have those nearby in case there is a middle-of-the-night Pokemon emergency, amiright?

View of final bookcase built-in to the foot of boys custom daybed

How Much Did Our Hands-on Bookshelf Cost?

Our grand total for both this and the fabric headboard was less than $135 (it broke down to about $35 for MDF, $30 for the 1×2″ face pieces, and $70 for the fabric & batting). We even had sufficient extra fabric to complete an entirely separate headboard in another room!

Boys bedroom with Hands-on fabric upholstered headboard and custom built-in bookcase footboard

Boy’s Room Update

This is simply what the room looked like about 8 weeks into living here. But you can see how we have brought in even more built-in storage to this space along with a colorful planked wall treatment right around this custom bookshelf.

Boys bedroom with colorful planked wall treatment and built-in Hands-on bedside bookshelf — light | striped wall walkthrough | closet baskets | toy baskets | brass shelf | piggy banks | quilt

P.S. To follow along with our whole reno of this house, you can see every single update we have made right here in this FL House archive.

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