How to Make Children’s Book Shelves for a Book Nook

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Oh my goodness, I’m so in love with our new book nook in our homeschool room! This empty little space went from being super awkward, to warm and inviting. But books do that don’t they? Instantly add a level of cozy to any spot. And friends, these children’s bookshelves were so easy to make! I’ll share the simple instructions below!

Easy to make childrens book shelves. These simple plans will have books displayed beautifully, encouraging kids to grab a book more often!

Kids are so visual I wanted to make these children’s bookshelves partly for decor and to soften that wall and corner, and also to make it very easy for the kids to have eyes on their favorite books. I plan to rotate them out each season, keeping this area fresh and relevant.

What the spot looked like before:

Easy to make childrens book shelves. These simple plans will have books displayed beautifully, encouraging kids to grab a book more often!

Such a difference right? Okay let’s get to it!

Making the shelves:

These shelves are super easy to assemble! Just cut to the correct length, glue and clamp, and then nail together.

We will be using the 1×6 as the back, the 1×4 as the bottom, and the 1×3 as the front.

Easy to make childrens book shelves. These simple plans will have books displayed beautifully, encouraging kids to grab a book more often!

Decide where you want your shelving and then what length will work best visually and book storage wise. Using the chop saw, cut all boards to the desired length of the shelves.

Easy to make childrens book shelves. These simple plans will have books displayed beautifully, encouraging kids to grab a book more often!

Using glue and wood clamps attach the boards together. We went with laying the backboard down, then placing glue on the bottom edge, securing the bottom board over that, adding glue to the other edge, and applying the front board. Clamp together and wipe away excess glue quickly.

Easy to make childrens book shelves. These simple plans will have books displayed beautifully, encouraging kids to grab a book more often!
Easy to make childrens book shelves. These simple plans will have books displayed beautifully, encouraging kids to grab a book more often!

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    While glue is still wet use your air nailer to secure the boards, ensuring a good fit.

    Easy to make childrens book shelves. These simple plans will have books displayed beautifully, encouraging kids to grab a book more often!

    We decided to make these corner shelves. If you also want to do that, you will need to cut the matching ends at a 90-degree angle, or the angle of the wall you’ll be placing it on.

    How to secure to the wall:

    To secure these shelves to walls, you’ll need a stud finder.

    After you find the studs, mark your shelves and drill pre-drill holes with a drill bit. Then, using a level, secure them to the wall. Placing the shelves into a wall stud ensures the best holding power.

    Easy to make childrens book shelves. These simple plans will have books displayed beautifully, encouraging kids to grab a book more often!
    Easy to make childrens book shelves. These simple plans will have books displayed beautifully, encouraging kids to grab a book more often!

    If you have to, you can use studless wall mounts, but be cautious with how much weight you place on those.

    And that’s it!

    Easy to make childrens book shelves. These simple plans will have books displayed beautifully, encouraging kids to grab a book more often!

    Easy to make childrens book shelves. These simple plans will have books displayed beautifully, encouraging kids to grab a book more often!

    What you’ll need:

    Keep up with all our DIY, homeschooling, and other lifestyle fun by following over on Instagram. It’s my favorite place to hang out! Also, for more info on our homeschooling journey, check out these posts!

    Another fun addition to our schoolroom recently was our painting easel! Find out how to make that easy DIY!

    Kids Book Shelves

    Kids Book Shelves

    Yield: 2 to 4 shelves
    Prep Time: 1 hour
    Active Time: 3 hours
    Additional Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 5 hours
    Difficulty: Beginner

    Visible shelving for children that serves as both a great way to display book and also looks visually appealing.

    Materials

    • 1 - 1 IN. X 6 IN. X 10 FT. common board
    • 1 -1 IN. X 6 IN. X 8 FT. common board
    • 2 - 1 IN. X 4 IN. X 10 FT. common board
    • 3 - 1 IN. X 3 IN. X 8 FT. common boards

    Tools

    • Air nailer
    • Clamps
    • Wood glue
    • Hand Saw
    • Chop Saw

    Instructions

    Making the shelves:

    These shelves are super easy to assemble! Just cut to the correct length, glue and clamp, and then nail together.

    Decide where you want your shelving and then what length will work best visually and book storage wise. Using the chop saw, cut all boards to the desired length of the shelfs.

    We will be using the 1x6 as the back, the 1x4 as the bottom, and the 1x3 as the front.

    Using glue and wood clamps attatch the boards together. We went with laying the back board down, then placing glue on the bottom edge, securing the bottom board over that, adding glue to the other edge, and applying the front board. Clamp together and whipe away excess glue quickly.

    While glue is still wet use your air nailer to secure the boards, ensuring a good fit.

    We dicided to make these corner shelves. If you also want to do that, you will need to cut the matching ends at a 90 degree angle, or the angle of the wall you'll be placing it on.

    How to secure to wall:

    To secure these shelves to walls, you'll need a stud finder.

    After you find the studs, mark your shelves and drill pre-drill holes with a drill bit. Then, using a level, secure them to the wall. Placing the shelves into a wall stud insures the best holding power.

    If you have to, you can use studless wall mounts, but be caution with how much weight you palce on those.

    And that's it!

    Did you make this project?

    Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

    Share away friends!

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    5 Comments

      1. It’s a little over 12 inches, but if I could do it again, I’d place them a little closer together. We had a light switch in the way so we were limited on how we could place them. 🙂

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