In my quest to create a play nook for the Trikester, I decided to build him a Montessori style toy shelf. I looked at a lot of ready-made options, but since I enjoy building things, I figured this would be a perfect nap time carpentry project. Here’s the finished product:
Shelf #1 for a play zone in the living room.
Shelf #2 for the dining room play nook.
I love to build stuff. In my opinion, the best off-registry wedding present we received was a contractor grade power drill. For the last few years, I’ve been all about building furniture. I’ve made deck chairs, a buffet, floating shelves, and a mantle.
DIY deck chairs were my very first project.
Building furniture is so satisfying because the things I create have a permanence and usefulness that’s difficult to match with my other creative pursuits. I like saving tons of money by building name-brand knock offs (check out Ana White for amazing inspiration), and I like creating a quality product of real wood and customizing finishes, etc., to match our décor. It’s also fun to have a hobby that’s traditionally seen as a “guy thing.”
I understand that this kind of DIY may seem out of your wheelhouse – but trust me, it’s not that hard! If you’ve never built anything before, these shelves are a great place to start. The techniques are all suitable for beginners and the shelves can be adapted to your needs by changing the dimensions. If you’re up for the challenge, here’s how to build two of these simple toddler-height shelves.
Materials
The first thing you’ll need to do is buy your materials. You can use a soft wood like pine, or a harder wood like oak. You should choose your wood based on the type of finish you want to apply. This site provides great examples of stain and paint treatments. Also, when selecting your boards, it is so important to ensure that they aren’t warped. To check your lumber, hold it on its edge and look down the length of it at eye level — if it’s not straight, put it back and look for a better one. Here’s a list of the supplies you’ll need:
- 1 – 8” x 8’ board
- 3 – 8” x 6’ boards
- 2 – 4’ x 2’ luan project panels
- Box of 1 ¼” Kreg jig screws (coarse if you’re using a soft wood like pine, fine if you’re using a hard wood like oak)
- Small box of 1” finishing nails or brads
- 400 grit sand paper
- Wood glue
- Paint or stain
You’ll need to have your lumber cut for you. Most home improvement stores will do it for you for free. At my Lowes, there’s a sign posted saying cuts are $.25 each, but they always do it for free. Here’s the cut diagram for the lumber:
You will need some basic tools to complete this project. In my mind, everyone should own a power drill – I think it’s the most useful tool in the universe. I put my shelves together with a technique called “pocket joinery” using a Kreg jig. A Kreg jig is kind of like the chevron of the DIY furniture world. Here’s the list of tools:
- Power drill
- Kreg Jig (this is the one I have, but there are 4 or 5 different kits that more or less do the same thing)
- Hammer
- Clamps (at least one)
Building the Shelves
Step #1: Sand all sides and faces of each board with a fine grit sandpaper.
Step #2: Lay out your boards on the floor to form each of the two shelves (see image one above). Take care to “hide” the less attractive boards – ones with knots, big dings, etc – on the bottom or interior of the shelf. Using a pencil, mark each board so you know which is the “good” side, making it easy to drill and re-assemble.
Step #3: Mark the locations for future screws. You’ll be drilling into the top and bottom of the left and right boards and the left and right underside of the middle shelf board (see image two above).
Step #4: After adjusting your drill and Kreg jig for your boards (see the directions that come with the jig), use the jig and a clamp to drill the pocket holes in the locations you marked in Step #3 (see image three above). This video provides a good tutorial on using a Kreg jig. Basically, the jig is a metal tunnel that guides your drill bit into the wood at a special angle and to a specific depth based on the thickness of your board.
Step #5: After drilling all your holes, it’s time to start assembling the shelf. This is the MOST satisfying part! Begin by attaching the left side to the bottom of the shelf (see image four above). You’ll want to apply a very thinline of wood glue to the bottom of the left side board before putting it into position. Make sure to wipe off any glue that oozes out because it’s almost impossible to sand off when it’s dried. Using the Kreg screw bit and the Kreg screws, screw together the two boards using the holes you drilled with the jig. Note: When you attach two boards, they may not be flush – that is, one board might seem wider than another. If this happens, make all the boards equal at the front of the shelf, and don’t worry if they aren’t flush at the back. After attaching the left side, attach the right side to the bottom board. Next, attach the top of the shelf (note, you’ll have to apply glue to both “tops” of the left and right board before you start screwing in the top of the shelf).
Step 6: Now that you’ve built a cube, it’s time to decide on the height for the middle shelf. Mine is about 11 inches from the underside of the top board. Measure down from the underside of the top shelf, and mark level lines on the interior of both the left and right shelf boards. Insert your middle shelf (you won’t be able to glue this one) and tap it into place so it aligns with the lines you’ve just drawn. Screw this shelf into place.
Step 7: Stand back and admire! You’ve just built a shelf! Before attaching the back, you’ll want to apply a finish to your shelves. I used a food grade oil stain for one (like you’d apply to a cutting board), and a regular furniture stain for another. You’ll also want to paint one side of the luan panels. Apply as many coats of paint and stain as needed to achieve your desired look.
Attach the luan panel to the back of the shelf with small brads or finishing nails.
Step 8: Once everything is dry, it’s time to attach the back panel to the shelf. Flip the shelf onto its face, and center the luan panel over the back of the shelf with the painted side facing down. Using your finishing nails or brads, nail around the edge of the luan panel every 8” or so to attach it to the shelf (see image above).
Step 9: You’ll need to find a way to secure the shelf to the wall so it doesn’t tip over if your toddler uses it to pull-up. I haven’t done this step yet, but I plan to use these Safety-First Furniture Wall Straps.
Have you ever built anything?
grapefruit / 4923 posts
holy sh*t you made those chairs?? wow! and the shelf looks awesome. trikester is such a cutie!
blogger / persimmon / 1398 posts
I love love love this post! You *know* I’m coming back to it to read more in depth on the subject. Hey, maybe Pint-Size will have something “mama made” in his room when he gets here!
Thank you for this. You. Amaze. Me.
cherry / 110 posts
Wow! I’m impressed. Looks lovely.
blogger / pomegranate / 3491 posts
This is so impressive!! Great job!!
pineapple / 12053 posts
nice! where did you get those stackable rings from? i’m assuming they are wooden!
blogger / pear / 1964 posts
@birdofafeather: yup, they’re made of wood. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00031XXAU/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1374853422&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX110_SY190
blogger / pear / 1964 posts
@Mrs. Paintbrush: I can’t wait to see what you build! I’m sure it will have your awesome graphic designer touch, and I’m pretty sure mini would be impressed to watch you wield the power tools, though, then again, we might not want to give him any crazy ideas.
guest
this shelf is TOO cute! Love love love! Def need to try this one
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
WOW! You are so talented!!!
cherry / 175 posts
This is awesome! Good for you! You’ve made some beautiful furniture!
pineapple / 12053 posts
@Mrs. Tricycle: thanks!! Ps those adirondack chairs are pretty sweet! Way to go!
cherry / 190 posts
Great build! And looooove me some Ana. I recognized those chairs immediately as an Ana plan I love building for our home. Not only is it satisfying, but you can save loads of money and fill your home with lasting, solid wood pieces that are just right for your space and skip out on the chemical-laden pressed wood junk that falls apart in two years
blogger / pear / 1964 posts
@Killer b: yippie for another Ana fan!
blogger / pear / 1563 posts
Woa! I’m SUPER impressed! We got our shelves at a garage sale. I can’t imagine building them. Good for you!
pear / 1895 posts
Okay, you’ve convinced me that I can do this! Thank you!
blogger / nectarine / 2010 posts
So I know this post is about a bookshelf, but OMG can you stand how cute the model is in the first pic? I die!
guest
Please, please add some inexpensive hardware to the back of those shelves that will allow you to fasten them to a stud securely. That’s a common practice in earthquake country, but pediatricians are reporting an extremely high number of children being injured by items falling from shelving. TV sets are the worst offender, but the shelves themselves are very dangerous to toddlers. When they start to climb on them, and they will, they will topple them, causing anything from broken bones to lacerations requiring stitches. That’s why all free standing cook stoves have to be also be fastened to the back wall; it’s illegal not to in most states.
blogger / pear / 1964 posts
@Barbara, R.N. – I realize this is an old post, but I was going back through and just noticed this comment. I should have added it to the original, but I did add hook and eyes to the back of my shelves. On one end they’re screwed in to the shelf, and on the other end they’re screwed into the wall studs — I can unhook them to dig toys out from the back, but they’re definitely not a tip hazard. Thanks for pointing out how important this step is!!