Examples of creating bookcases with your own hands at home. DIY bookcase: features and varieties DIY bookcase made of chipboard

If books are overflowing your desk, stacked on your living room floor, or stuffed into plastic bags, it's time to take care of your bookcase. High-end furniture projects allow you to dream, don’t you agree? But, having experience to rely on, it is not difficult to turn your dream into reality.

Not every item needs to be a museum piece; often a simple design works just as well. The experience gained during the creative process helps make the next project even better.

Top 5 inspiring ideas

Thanks to the installed furniture, the apartment becomes an artistic space. Wardrobes play a key role in a room that should feel “comfortable”. Models include a wide variety of styles and sizes. Before deciding what the closet will be like, look for best place for him in space. Functional model should provide the ability to easily classify and find a book without problems.

Using drywall

The advantage of a plasterboard stand with wood elements is that its dimensions and shape are completely adapted to individual needs and preferences. The “body” of such furniture is steel profiles, which are screwed to the floor and to the wall with dowels. In those places where the shelf is located, additional profiles are used to strengthen the structure.

Ceramics as an interesting alternative

Bookshelf can be created by combining two materials: ceramics and wood. The design of this model is based on brick racks that are attached to the wall. Wooden bookshelves theoretically do not require fixation, since the protruding parts of the brick provide fairly stable support. It is preferable that wood boards had a thickness of about 3 cm (shelf 25×50 -70 cm).

Application of furniture boards

The most famous and popular material for bookcase – furniture OSB boards and MDF. Craftsmen often order pre-cut elements. To ensure stability, the extreme corners should be further reinforced metal brackets. Such shelves can be finished by painting or varnished in the chosen color. If the bookcase was made from OSB panels, it must be properly primed.

Why are boxes needed?

Decorative plywood boxes with beautiful small details inspire a nod to the spirit of Cubism! From boxes various shapes It's easy to create an irregularly shaped cabinet. To ensure its stability, the drawers are held together with simple black metal clips. Some of the boxes are painted inside with muted pastels, applying two coats of paint water based. Bright plywood stands out beautifully in contrasting color.

New life for an old staircase

Is the old staircase that has been lying in the attic for the last three decades no longer needed? It can be done with minimal costs and turn it into a neat bookcase with minimal effort. It is placed in the corner of the room or used against the wall; it is suitable for magazines and children's books.

What will you need?

List of required materials:

• old wooden staircase;
• wooden elements to strengthen the shelves;
• metal supports in the shape of “L”;
• sandpaper;
• paint/wood oil.

Tools:

• wood saw;
• drill;
• grinding machine(optional);
• screwdriver;
• ruler.

Depending on the type of staircase, they show ingenuity. The main tool for such projects is “improvisation”. When making such a bookcase with your own hands, the drawings are made after measuring the existing staircase in the house.

Depending on which basis is chosen, it will be possible to additional use bookcase. A smaller type of ladder will help create a sort of cabinet shelf. The tall model will serve as a full-size piece of furniture, for example, in the living room.

If the staircase is old and dilapidated, it should be cleaned using sandpaper or a sanding device, removing all stains, discoloring and smoothing out uneven areas until the wood has a satisfactory uniform appearance.

The staircase is then shaped into a bookcase, creating space to display books. For this purpose, find out at what level the shelves will be located. Mounting brackets are used to secure them.

Instead of buying new furniture, which a neighbor has, there is an opportunity to do something unusual with his own hands. Having studied the tips on how to make a bookcase with your own hands, you can develop your own model that will successfully satisfy your individual needs. Furniture made by yourself is unique and inexpensive. It is important that it can fit perfectly into the size of the room, and also accommodate the required number of books, taking into account their size.

Design and Measurement

First, a place for the bookcase is selected and the size is determined. the best way meets needs. This helps determine the dimensions of each part of the structure.

The cabinet is precisely adjusted to fit a specific space in the house or a standard model is created so that it can be installed in different places.

• Measure the room where the model will stand.
• Decide what cabinet height is acceptable.
• Will the cabinet shelves be open or closed?
• Determine the proportions of the structure.
• Is there a back wall planned for the furniture?
• Decide whether you will use the cabinet to store paperbacks, magazines, or hardcover volumes.

The cabinet may have glass or opaque doors. If there is no back wall, then the books rest on or touch the wall behind the bookshelf. For maximum versatility, adjustable shelving is used to accommodate any book size.

Bookcases have two, three, five shelves, but you can make as many shelves as planned.

All dimensions of the height of the rack are planned, the width and depth are calculated, and the distances between the shelves and their number are determined. The depth of the cabinet should be at least 25 cm, preferably 28-33 cm, and the distance between shelves should be at least 30 cm, which will allow free placement of books up to A4 format (210x297 mm). All elements must be carefully calculated to calculate the amount of materials that are applied.

Material selection

The wood that is chosen will significantly affect not only appearance products, but also on cost and durability. Since solid wood can be expensive, plywood with hardwood veneer is most often used.

The plywood model, which is distinguished by its simple design, is a worthy and useful addition to a room in the house. You can make such a simple and inexpensive bookcase with your own hands in one or two days. It is important to determine how many shelves you can make from a sheet of plywood.

Veneer selection:

• Birch is suitable for painting.
• Maple is suitable for coating with various mastics.
• Walnut and cherry, like other types of painterly grain plywood, require a clear finish.

Working with plywood is difficult, so it's important to set yourself up for success. For cutting boards use regular or circular saw. A circular saw is chosen with a carbide blade for plywood.

Proper sanding is critical to creating the final look. finished surface, the coloring process depends on it. If the surface is not sanded well, it will turn out dark and mottled.

To remove all roughness after general processing, use sanding paper №150.

The entire surface must be leveled without relying on the eye. The only areas you shouldn't sand are the areas that don't look nice.

Protective covering

Finishing touch– application protective coating to a new bookshelf. This could be paint or a clear finish.

• Painting. A primer is applied under the paint. It helps the wood absorb paint more evenly. After applying the primer coat, the surface is allowed to dry. Next, the surface is thoroughly sanded again and the dust is removed. Then a layer of paint is applied. Wait for the first layer to dry, then the surface is sanded again, dust is removed, and the final coating is applied.

Unable to purchase a primer tinted to match your paint shade? Buy a primer white, if the selected paint is light. Choose a gray shade if the paint is dark.

• Varnishing. For expensive wood, a transparent varnish is purchased to highlight the natural and unique beauty of the texture. First, apply the first layer and wait for it to dry completely. Then sanding is done with fine-grained sandpaper. Remove dust with gauze, a brush or a soft cloth. Next, apply the second layer. It is also allowed to dry before sanding. The third layer of coating is the last.

Instructions for creating a cabinet from birch plywood

Tools:

• level,
• roulette,
• saw,
• hammer.

Materials:

• wood glue,
• plywood.

Production time – 2 days.

1. The dimensions of the future cabinet are determined.
2. After calculating the dimensions, cut out the top, side and inner shelves from plywood. Since plywood is supplied in sheets, they use hand saw to shorten the sheets to the desired width.
3. The plywood is cut to length using a miter saw to create the top, side panels and interior shelves to the desired dimensions. A miter saw will make a cleaner, more controlled cut that is best choice for small parts. If the cabinet dimensions are too large for miter saw, a table saw is used.
4. The wooden parts are fastened together using a drill. Installation of shelves in a bookcase is done at the joints using glue. Screws are screwed into the outside of the structure to hold the shelves in place. You can secure the shelves with corners.
5. Adding finishing touches. Chips and uneven areas are filled with wooden putty. Then the surface is sanded.

Today it is becoming very popular self-production furniture. One of the popular style trends is loft. It preserves furniture, rooms and entire houses.

Loft style room

The loft style in the interior combines bohemianism and simplicity, is unusual, and includes numerous postmodern design ideas.

The style is popular, it originated from the poverty of the American population, but has become a fad of the rich. Taking into account the main points of the direction, beautiful and original items furniture, rooms and entire houses are decorated. Photos of interiors decorated in loft style look impressive and original.

The main features that distinguish rooms created in the loft style from rooms decorated in classic style in the interior are:

• absence of partitions made of plasterboard or other material in the premises;
• built-in big window, it has no curtains or blinds;
• the wall is left as is; bricks without finishing are visible;
• concrete floors, may have wooden flooring;
• fireplaces, stoves, and plasterboard furniture fit harmoniously into the interior of the room;
• there are beams on the ceilings;
• the room is illuminated with modern lamps;
• pieces of furniture finished “antique” are widely used (with cracked boletus, peeling paint; widespread use of old cabinets and shelves is allowed);
• characterized by predominance in the interior design ideas, restoration of old things is undesirable.

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Old pieces of furniture will look great both in the interior of the living room and in the hallway. In the same vein, you can design the bathroom and toilet. The style creates bookcases from plasterboard and metal, chairs, tables, chests of drawers and other furniture.

Loft is distinguished:

• bohemian (there are antique items that are of particular value);
• glamorous (the interior contains bright details);
• industrial (involves a minimum of furniture and decorative details).

How to make a loft style wardrobe with your own hands

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Loft style implies the presence of concrete or brick rough walls, rough drywall. The predominant shades are dark, without the presence of bright elements. Unlike furniture made in the classical style, furniture in the loft style can be made from any available material; furniture of this style does not even require restoration; aging the furniture, giving it signs of a bygone era, will be more valuable here.

Corner bookcase

You can assemble a corner bookcase yourself without much difficulty. For this you need to prepare everything necessary materials, tools and strictly follow the instructions, you can use ready-made diagrams DIY bookcase, drawings indicating specific dimensions. You can change the settings. The design of bookcases can be different.

To assemble a bookcase with your own hands, you need to follow certain rules:

• draw a detailed model of the cabinet; the layout of the shelving should reflect their width, the distance between the shelves, the width of the shelves in the future cabinet, the material from which they will be made (in the interior of a loft, structures made of wood and metal look better);
• a frame is made (a corner or profile pipe, which are connected into a single structure);
• are being prepared wooden boards under shelves in bookcases; we restore them or leave them as they are;
• assembly is completed by installing shelves in an already made cabinet;
• We install the assembled cabinet in a specific part of the room.

Bookcases in a loft interior can also have different kind: the cabinet can be built-in or free-standing. Unlike the light and airy designs in the Provence style, the loft wardrobe is heavy and rough, simple, but this is where it lies main feature and exclusivity.

A large and massive loft wardrobe will fit perfectly into an interior designed in general style. And here is a small, compact and discreet cabinet made from metal pipes and small boards, can in an original way complement the minimal furniture of a bedroom or child’s room.

If you are going to make a bookcase in a loft style, then:

• collect as much information as possible about the direction of this style in the interior;
• inspect ready-made options and photos of pieces of furniture made in a more convenient manner;
• choose an example that is suitable specifically for you, or come up with your own;
• watch the video tutorial or read the instructions on how to make a bookcase with your own hands to understand all the assembly nuances.

Bookcase drawing Cabinet diagram

The loft style is perfect for those who value minimalism in the interior, do not accept clutter of furniture, and strive for simplicity and comfort. This trend will be especially appreciated by those who readily perceive everything new, love avant-garde and unusual things, and appreciate antiquity and sophistication.

But those who, on the contrary, strive for classics, love and appreciate the usual comfort and beauty in details, should choose something completely different for their home.

A bookcase is furniture you can’t do without. Books create coziness in a special way and give the home warm atmosphere. Most people prefer paper counterparts to e-books, and rightly so. It’s always nice to take a volume of poems by your favorite poet from the shelf, and feel its weight in your hands, listen to the rustle of the pages. Therefore, it is very important to keep books in order. The bookcase will become reliable assistant in this case.

Advantages of making a cabinet with your own hands

Nowadays, there is no piece of furniture that cannot be bought, however, when it comes to buying, it turns out that something is wrong: the dimensions of the furniture are not suitable, the model does not fit into the interior, or simply you don’t like any of the cabinets so much so that you want to buy it right away. In this case, you can make a bookcase yourself, saving a considerable amount. In addition, there are a number of advantages to a handmade product:

• you will make the design strictly according to the dimensions that you need;
• the product will fit perfectly into the interior;
• your creation will be unique because it will be made by hand and taking into account all the nuances regarding the design of your home;
• furniture self made lasts longer than the factory one, because the owner does not skimp on the quality of material and fittings.

IMPORTANT! First of all, you need to think about what kind of bookcase model you want, think about its location and size, and only after that start working.

There are 2 types of this furniture: open and closed. The closed bookcase has doors that protect books from dust and sun. The open model does not have such doors.

Types of bookcases

To make a cabinet that is most suitable in size and style, you need to understand the types of such furniture. It is divided by type of assembly and method of use.

Table: types of bookcases

Drawing for making a cabinet

If you decide to make a bookcase yourself, you need to prepare a drawing. First, decide what shape the model will have, where it will be located, and what material it will be made of. Remember that it is best to place a bookcase in a study, living room, or other spacious room.

IMPORTANT! When drawing up a drawing, you need to take into account not only the height and width of the product, but also the number of book blocks. All this should be reflected in the drawing.

Before drawing, check how horizontal the floor is. This is easy to do using a level. If we omit this moment, ready product may be performed with errors, and the shelves will become at an angle to the surface. If you still see that the floor is slightly sloped, decide what is easier to do: level the surface, or design the cabinet in such a way that it will subsequently stand firmly on the floor. All these nuances should be displayed in the drawing.

In order to get the maximum correct drawing, you need to take into account the depth of the bookshelf. A standard book is 20 cm wide, larger volumes are 30 cm, this must be shown in the drawing. The thickness of the bookshelf should be at least 2 cm. If the apartment has skirting boards, then the distance from it should be slightly more than 3 cm. It is also worth indicating the presence of sockets and the possibility of lighting the cabinet.

Cabinet making process

A drawing or diagram is an integral part of the manufacturing process. Therefore, drawing up a drawing must be approached with all responsibility. Next, you need to select the material and check the availability of all the tools.

When making a cabinet, you will need to mill the ends. This process is not labor-intensive, but it is worth devoting time to:

1. You need to choose the right milling cutters that will help you create the perfect relief.
2. The departure is set as clearly as possible.
3. Milling equipment must be modern and of high quality.

There are milling features that must be taken into account:

1. The router must be securely fastened.
2. The workpiece should not deviate to the sides during milling.
3. You should not rush during the process, as the result may be bad.
4. The slats are processed after the optimal size is set.
5. After all work, the parts should be treated with sandpaper to smooth out all irregularities.

For back wall For a cabinet, you can use a sheet of chipboard; as a rule, this part of the furniture is not visible, and a simpler material is used for its manufacture.

IMPORTANT! The back wall must be fixed very firmly and evenly; this determines how reliable the structure will be.

If the cabinet is designed for a large number of books, good material laminated chipboard will serve as the back wall. It is easy to attach and can withstand a lot of weight.

Required tools and materials

The materials for making a bookcase are selected in accordance with the chosen project and the interior of the entire home. If you want the product to last long years, use an array natural wood: alder, cherry, oak, maple. The tree is non-toxic, so it costs a lot of money. More budget option There may be furniture made of chipboard and MDF. In this case, the texture and color scheme are quite varied.

The following materials may be needed for work:

• slats;
• curbs;
• metal inserts;
• glass with or without coating.

Wood blocks can be used as legs.

Tools should also be at hand, they need to be collected even before you get ready to make the cabinet. You will need:

• electric drill with various attachments;
• screwdriver;
• milling machine;
• Sander.

In progress finishing works It's worth stocking up on this set:

• Ruler and pencil;
• tape measure and level;
• knives and jigsaw;
• screws, washers, nails and hammer;
• brushes and paints and varnishes.

This list may vary slightly, depending on the selected model.

Preparatory work

All of the above points can be attributed to preparatory work. If you do not have a machine for cutting chipboard, then it is better to order cutting from a specialist, since this is a rather complex process that requires a lot of attention and experience. When making a standard rectangular product, the ends are covered with veneer, or oak slats are prepared in advance and glued to the cabinet panels.

It is better to use MDF for shelves and sides; prepare the material in advance. Also available should be an MDF edge 2 cm wide, 8 mm thick, do not forget about the slats.

When all preparatory work finished, you can start assembling the product.

Cabinet assembly

The structure must be assembled on a flat surface to avoid possible distortions. The whole process is divided into several stages:

Finally, the back wall should be installed and secured to the overall frame.

IMPORTANT! Experts do not recommend using removable shelves for a bookcase.

You can use a wide variety of fasteners: nails, screws, construction stapler. It all depends on the materials and configuration of the product.

You rarely see large libraries in apartments these days. Therefore, the choice of bookcases in furniture stores, frankly speaking, is small. And even if you are lucky enough to find suitable model, there is no guarantee that the shelves will last for at least several years. Making your own bookcase is not that difficult, and this design can be very durable. Our article will discuss the types of furniture for books and the features of their manufacture.

What kind of wardrobe do you need?

Before you make a bookcase with your own hands, it is very important to decide on its type. You might like:

• classical;
• angular;
• built-in;
• rack.

Classics of the genre

This is the most ordinary rectangular cabinet. It can be either with or without glazed doors.

Important! Before choosing a model, try to soberly assess your strengths. A model with open shelves is much easier to make than one with glazing.

The classic wardrobe is suitable for both large and small spaces. It can be made from one section or from several. The multi-section design takes up a significant amount of space. But in a large living room, study or even a home library, such furniture looks simply luxurious.

Angular

Main advantage corner furniture is that it allows you to use all the free corners, thereby freeing up space along the walls and in the center.

Important! It is very convenient and practical option, but if you don’t yet have experience in making furniture, it’s better to give it up. This is the most complex design.

Built-in

Built-in wardrobes vary greatly in both design and manufacturing complexity. Its main feature is that all elements are attached to load-bearing structures the house itself - the floor, ceiling and walls. So the furniture is held securely, and the shelves almost never fall off.

Important! The main disadvantage is that in a room where there is no niche, such a cabinet takes up quite a lot of space. But if there is a niche, better option can't imagine.

Rack

If you are starting to make furniture for the first time, it is better to start with shelving. The simplest version of a do-it-yourself bookcase, or any other, because you can store not only books in it, but also dishes, winter supplies, clothes and much more. It all depends on what room it is in.

Important! You can choose a model that can be assembled in fifteen minutes and lasts for decades.

A few words about tools

To make a bookcase with your own hands, you will need a regular set of carpentry tools:

• jigsaw - electric or manual;
• wood saws;
• drill;
• a set of drills, including a confirmed one;
• confirmation bat;
• bit for screws;
• roulette;
• pencil;
• skin with large and small grains;
• stain.

You need to take care of what you will use to connect the elements of the rack to each other and attach them to the walls:

• confirmations;
• self-tapping screws;
• thrust bearings.

Important! Some elements can be glued together. To do this, of course, you will need a special composition - wood glue, which can be bought at any hardware store.

The simplest rack

If you're lucky enough to get your hands on a few old-style bookshelves, half the job is done. They are long rectangular boxes that have:

• top part;
• Bottom part;
• 2 sidewalls;
• back wall.

Important! Sometimes such shelves were made glazed, you can leave it that way. But if this option does not suit you, remove the windows and plastic tapes, into the grooves of which they were inserted.

Assembling the rack

A rack of such boxes can be assembled in about ten minutes:

• It has no back wall.
• The structure is supported by four long slats 20x45x2000 mm.
• You will only need three shelves, but you can be content with two if you make several shelves simply from boards.
• No drawings are needed for this design.

Important! The advantage of such a cabinet is not only its ease of manufacture. If all the details are correctly marked, the plinth will not interfere, that is, the structure can be placed close to the wall.

Here is a step-by-step procedure for assembling such a bookcase with your own hands:

1. Choose a place near the wall, make a marking - the width of the rack is equal to the length of the bookshelf, plus 4 cm (twice the thickness of the slats).
2. Measure the width of the baseboard.
3. Sand the slats first with coarse sandpaper, then with fine sandpaper.
4. Saturate the slats with stain - this will give them a beautiful color and, in addition, protect them from excess moisture.
5. Mark the side of the shelf - set aside the width of the plinth from the back wall and draw a line parallel to the edge between the back and side walls.
6. Step back 5-7 cm from the front edge and draw a line parallel to the first one.
7. Mark the second side panel in the same way, and then the other shelves.
8. From the upper end of one of the slats, set aside the height of the shelf, then 20-40 cm, again the height of the shelf, another 20-40 cm, and another height of the shelf.
9. Do the same with the rest of the slats.
10. Place one of the shelves on the sides so that the open edges are parallel to each other.
11. Move the shelves apart so that the distances between them correspond to the marks on the slats.
12. Place one of the slats on this structure (preferably the one closest to the wall).
13. Screw the shelf to the rail with two self-tapping screws.
14. Screw the remaining shelves to the same rail in the same way.
15. Place the second rail and screw it in place as well.
16. Turn the structure over and do the same operations on the other side.
17. Screw the bearings to the topmost shelf on both sides: one side should lie on the upper plane of the shelf itself, the other should be adjacent to the wall.
18. Lift the rack and move it to the designated area.
19. Attach it to the wall in any convenient way (this depends on the material from which the house is built).

Important! Such racks should not be attached to plasterboard partitions.

Rack of rectangular shelves

This design can be made both on slats and on boards. You need boards or chipboards 16 mm thick:

• 2 long boards for sidewalls measuring 400x2000 mm;
• top board 400x800 mm;
• 5 shelves 400x768 mm;
• 2 vertical pads 5x2000;
• 2 horizontal pads 100x700 mm;
• 3 mm fiberboard sheet for the back wall – 800x2000 mm.

Preparation

Before making a bookcase, prepare the elements, then assembly will not take much time:

• Start by processing the boards - cut them to size.
• Remove any rough edges.
• Sand the surfaces.

Important! Sand especially carefully the cuts where the shelves and parts of the box will connect to each other.

• If necessary, saturate the parts with stain or varnish.
• Mark the sides for the shelves, which should be positioned strictly horizontally.
• Attach the top board to the upper parts using corners.
• Cut out the back wall from fiberboard and attach it to the sides and top board, for example, with nails or self-tapping screws, but you can also glue it.
• According to the markings, attach the second shelf from the top, and then all subsequent ones.
• Place the cabinet in the designated space.
• If necessary, cut recesses for the baseboard.
• Glue the horizontal and vertical overlays.

Classic wardrobe

To make a bookcase with your own hands, drawings are not necessary if the design is simple enough, like shelving. But if you want a classic or built-in wardrobe, and even more so a corner one, it is better to find suitable diagrams or make them yourself, for which there is a program such as AutoCad.

It’s not difficult to figure it out, but all novice masters usually forget one simple thing– take into account the width of the plinth. In addition to the method indicated in the case of a rack made of slats, there are two more ways to deal with baseboards:

• clean the place where the cabinet will be;
• make bevels of vertical ribs.

Deciding on the sizes

A closet is a large item and needs a lot of space. Therefore, it is very important to determine exactly what space it will occupy. You need to know:

• the height of the entire structure;
• width;
• shelf depth;
• distance between shelves.

The dimensions of the cabinet itself depend on the space you can allocate for it and the number of books. As for the depth, it will be as follows:

• for standard books – 20 cm;
• for large format books -30 cm.

It is also necessary to take into account the weight of the books, which determines the thickness of the shelves. They should not sag. Therefore for the closet meter width It’s best to take boards 2.5 cm thick. As for the species, there are enough in hardware stores big choice boards of various qualities. Classic furniture species are suitable:

• ebony;
• alder;
• coniferous species.

Important! You can also take chipboard - it will be much cheaper, and it can be finished to match any species, even the most exotic.

Preparing the details

So, you found or made drawings. It's time to get to work. A DIY bookcase made of wood is an activity that requires a certain space, so take care of your furniture workshop in advance, even if it’s temporary.

Important! The first question that arises is: is it possible to cut the parts yourself? Of course it is possible, but there is more simple options– order at a workshop or pick up suitable ones at a hardware store. If you decide to do it yourself, try to saw it so that there are no chips. This is especially important if you are working with chipboard.

Progress:

1. Remove any rough edges.
2. Sand the boards for the box
3. If you are not satisfied with the rectangular ends, cover them with veneer.
4. Adjust the boards to size - this is best done using a template that fits under the board.
5. Sand the slats on which the shelves will be placed. They must be level, and when installed in a cabinet, parallel to each other.
6. Mark the sides for the shelves.
7. Glue or screw the slats so that they run strictly horizontally.

Final assembly

It needs to be done on the most flat surface possible:

1. Attach top part to the sides so that the corners are strictly straight.
2. Drill holes for the fasteners - the drill should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the fasteners (it is best to use confirmed ones).
3. Connect the parts with fasteners and tighten.
4. Attach the bottom part in the same way.
5. Install the shelves by attaching them with confirmations to the already installed slats.
6. Install the back wall last - using nails, screws or even a stapler.

There are many bookcase designs. If you wish, you can come up with your own. But it is important to remember that books have a lot of weight, and a home-made cabinet should not only be beautiful, but first of all, durable and safe!

Books are not only a source of knowledge that teaches life, relationships and communication culture. For people who are passionate about literature, a book is an object of reverent worship, a friend and comrade.

And despite the fact that the modern world offers many opportunities to have many books in in electronic format, which is much more convenient and accessible than the paper version, every home should still have a library. It may be small, but filled with classical and modern literature in a traditional, familiar way.

Of course, we know that it is best to store books in cabinets specifically designed for this purpose. But if you are a young family, have recently bought a home and have not yet acquired the necessary furniture, then the bookcase will probably stand on last place on the shopping list. However, there is a great way out - making a cabinet with your own hands.

Types of bookcases in the interior, their advantages

Now designers offer many solutions for the interior: unusual bookshelves. There are many options, and often among them there are simply unimaginable, but surprisingly simple to implement. Let's look at the simplest, but at the same time beautiful and interesting option a bookcase that is easy to make yourself.

Traditionally, bookcases come in two types: open and closed.

1. Closed cabinet more convenient for storage paper books because it doesn't allow sunlight, moisture and dust can penetrate inside. The disadvantage of books is that they absorb dust and moisture very strongly, which causes them to deteriorate, which subsequently negatively affects human health. On the other hand, a bookcase closed with solid doors has a rather bulky appearance, and small room it doesn't look very nice. This can be avoided if the doors are made of glass. Shaded glass will protect books from the harmful effects of sunlight.
2. Open bookcases They look light and airy, they fit well into a room with a small square footage. Usually they are narrower than closed cabinets and are intended, in addition to storing books, for things and objects that play a role in interior design. If you choose an open bookcase, then you will need to constantly maintain a certain climate in the apartment: humidity , temperature, level of cleanliness. But such a cabinet gives easy access to books, which is very important if you like to read. In addition, open cabinets are very easy to assemble and can be easily modeled as your imagination dictates.

Bookcases are also made in horizontal and vertical versions, and in shape - rectangular, corner or shelving. Before choosing the cabinet that suits you, take into account factors such as the available space in the room, its size and interior style.

The most popular and widespread cabinets designed for storing books and other things are cabinet ones. Such cabinets are available in a wide range of models, and you can easily choose how it will look according to your preferences: without doors or with doors of any kind - hinged, sliding, accordion, glass or solid.

The modular design of the bookcase allows for various combinations of elements. This way you can get a cabinet of any configuration, width and height. This type of bookcase is universal, since different variations can be easily adjusted to any room - both large and small.

The built-in bookcase is a unique system sliding doors. All parts of such a cabinet are attached to the walls, ceiling and floor. There are a lot of design options, but the most common are side partitions without a lid or bottom and the walls of the room as boundaries.

If you have small apartment, and there are a lot of books, then the corner cabinet will become optimal solution. This design is very roomy, compact and fits well into any type of interior.

We make the cabinet ourselves: necessary materials and tools

There are now a lot of materials used to make furniture, and they will determine the cost of your cabinet. Exclusive models are made from expensive materials, such as natural wood, solid wood or veneer. But for more affordable cabinets, materials such as chipboard or MDF with laminate, polymer or melamine coating are used. MDF – more modern material, it is characterized by increased strength and environmental friendliness. Produced in the form of slabs by dry pressing of small chips when exposed to high pressure and temperature.

So, to make a cabinet with your own hands you will need:

• Milling machine;
• Sander;
• Sandpaper;
• Hacksaw, drill and screwdriver;
• Hammer;
• Nails and screws with washers;
• Tape measure and pencil;
• Wood glue;
• Varnish and stain;
• Shelf blanks made from furniture panels;
• Sheets of plywood for the posts, support covers and back wall;
• Natural wood beams for legs.

What to consider when drawing a cabinet drawing

1. First of all, decide on the model of the cabinet and the place in which it will stand. Break the cabinet drawing into several components, carefully drawing every detail. The following specialized specialists will be good helpers in this matter: computer programs, like “Basis-furniture maker” or “AutoCad”. When creating drawings, take into account any little things, even the baseboard on the floor of the room, which can easily eat up about five centimeters from the closet, and, moreover, will not allow you to move it to the wall. In this case, bevelling the vertical ribs from the baseboard side will help. You can also remove the baseboard completely.
2. Now define exact dimensions closet This means not only the width and height, but also the number of shelves, as well as the distance between them. The minimum depth of a shelf for books is 20 cm, for deeper shelves - 30 cm. The thickness of the shelf should be at least 2.5 cm with a length of 1 m, this will help to avoid sagging.
3. Be sure to decide on the color of the furniture in advance. There will be no problems with this, since modern industry offers a large selection of colors and shades.

Preparing cabinet parts

Once all the drawings are prepared, begin preparing the cabinet parts. Sawing parts is a rather difficult job, so it is better to entrust it to specialists. A machine for sawing chipboard is quite expensive, and it makes no sense to buy it for the sake of making one piece of furniture. You can use a jigsaw, but the work will, firstly, take a very long time, and, secondly, it will not be of sufficient quality. Best to order cutting chipboard at the place of purchase.

Let's take a standard rectangular cabinet as a basis for production. open type. For it we will use oak-veneered chipboard and oak itself. You can cover the rectangular ends of the panels with veneer, or prepare oak slats in advance, which will be glued to the ends and rounded off towards the end of the work.

1. Take 30 cm wide and 3 m long, and cut them into pieces 1.6 m long. After this, you need to adjust them to the size of the slats. Here you will need a template for leveling the board, a sawing machine and a guide. The dimensions of the template are as follows: length 1500 mm, thickness – 20 mm, width – 250 mm. When cutting, place the template under the board.
2. Prepare the required number of slats. They will need to be passed through planer, be careful: both sides must be parallel to each other and absolutely even. The slats should also be sanded so that the surface is perfectly smooth.
3. The slats are completely ready, and now they need to be attached to the chipboard using glue. At this stage you will need a clamp. To prevent the workpiece from being pressed when clamping the clamp, place a piece of plywood of suitable thickness under it. When glue comes out from the seams of parts when clamped, carefully wipe it with a rag, or remove it with a chisel after drying. The slats should be joined at an angle of 45 degrees.

Milling the ends and back wall for the cabinet

End milling is not difficult and long work, but still requires accuracy and thoroughness. You should choose the right cutters for the relief and clearly set the desired offset; When feeding the workpiece into the router, you must maintain smooth movements and avoid deviation to the sides.

Before starting work, check the functionality of the cutter on the excess trim. Once the desired size is set, begin processing the slats.

When milling is completed, check the contact of the workpiece with the working part. If there are gaps or crotches between them, remove them using 150-grit sandpaper. Such differences will be noticeable after you open the finished cabinet with varnish, so they need to be eliminated immediately.

The back wall of the cabinet is an inconspicuous side, so it does not require special processing and finishing. But how well you install it determines the overall reliability of the entire structure. The back wall is the connector of the entire cabinet, onto which all other parts are attached.

Most often, sheets or pieces of plywood are used for the back wall of furniture. This material is very easy to process, and its installation will not take much time. Using a saw or jigsaw, cut the pieces the right size, and remove the chamfer from the cut areas with sandpaper.

If you need a more reliable, strong back wall with high wear resistance, make it from chipboard, which is much heavier in weight. But remember that such material is much more difficult to process and requires both special fasteners and certain fastening methods.

Let's start assembling the cabinet

Now you have all the necessary parts ready, and you can start directly assembling your bookcase. It must be done on the most flat surface possible to prevent distortions.

Attach the side walls to the top, to do this, use a corner to prevent uneven corners at the joints. Drill holes for fastening; use a drill with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the connecting element. Now tighten the parts together using fasteners. Very a good option– confirmed, it is easy to use and practical. When you buy it, you also get a hex wrench that will make the clamping easier.

Once you have secured the top of the cabinet, move on to the bottom, remembering to use the angle iron when adjusting the joints. Having connected all these parts, start installing the shelves. Take your time to attach the back wall; without it, installing shelves will be much easier and more convenient. Since bookcase shelves are constantly exposed to loads, they should not be made removable. It’s easier to fix them with the same confirmation, and it’s best to make 3-4 fasteners on each of the side walls. This way, not only the shelves, but the whole thing will receive additional stability and reliability.

So, we have come to the final stage - installing the back wall. In the event that you have chosen chipboard, as fastening elements You will need a construction stapler, screws or nails.

Video about assembling a bookcase with your own hands

Well, now you have an original bookcase in your apartment that you assembled yourself. As you can see, this work is not only simple, but also does not require large financial costs. Now you have an exclusive piece of furniture in your interior, which cost you much less than store-bought counterparts. And if you have any questions, you can ask them in the comments, we will be happy to answer them.