Bedtime stories are part of the daily routine in our house. But with our recent move, we quickly realized that the space in our daughter’s new bedroom was a bit cramped for her old bookshelf. After a month or so of picking up books piled high on the floor, we knew we needed to come up with a better solution!

We designed this bookshelf with our little one in mind. It's easy to reach, and with the books facing forward, she can pick out exactly what bedtime story she wants. (She's quite picky!) The best part about this book storage, is the slim design allows you to utilize an otherwise empty wall and save on space!

To build this bookshelf, we started by cutting all the wood with a miter saw to the dimensions specified in the project plans. The profile at the top can be cut out with a jig saw or band saw using the supplied template. The notch at the bottom will also need to be cut out to allow the bookshelf to fit around the existing trim. I also added a curve to the bottom rail of each shelf for added detail. This can be traced using anything stiff and straight that you can find and flex to create the arc.

Then, the 1x4 frame gets glued and nailed together using 1-1/4” brad nails. Next, the baseboard trim will get cut to size on the miter saw, mitering the corners at 45 degrees. The key to cutting trim is to cut it on the longer side and check the fit. Then you can always trim it back a little more. If you cut it too short, you can’t add back the wood!

After, gluing and nailing the trim and mounting rails in place, the entire frame should get painted along with the remaining rails. When I paint furniture, I like to apply at least 2-3 thin coats, making sure to sand with a fine grit sandpaper between each one. This will give you a great even color when you are done. Make sure to allow ample time for each coat to dry before sanding and remove any dust with a tack cloth before the next application of paint. Finally, hammer the rails in place and fill the holes with wood filler. Once dry, sand the wood filler smooth and touch up with paint as required.

THE KEY TO CUTTING TRIM

Make sure to cut it on the longer side then check the fit. You can always trim it back a little more but if you cut it too short, you can't add back the wood!

THE BIG REVEAL

If you have children, then you know that organization needs to be a priority. But it doesn’t have to be ugly or hidden. In fact, you can use it as an opportunity to add some color to a room. This bookshelf has been great for storing books but even better for our little one to pick out her favorites!