DIY Customized Bookshelf Storage with Shelf Assist App

Good storage that matches good is the cornerstone of a tidy, organized, and straightforward to keep up residence.

After a decade of designing furnishings, I spotted that all storage furnishings is basically only a plywood field, trimmed or with doorways/drawers to make up every part from a easy bookshelf to a full kitchen.  The technical time period is case furnishings.  

So if it is only a field with trim.. why is not there an app that allows you to design that field, after which you’ve the construction so as to add the trim too?

That is why I created Shelf Assist a pair years in the past!  It is a FREE app that you need to use to design your personal furnishings with out having to be taught an advanced software program.  On this video, I take advantage of the Shelf Assist app to make this bookshelf – watch it!

Dimensions 

Here is the precise dimensions I used for this undertaking.  

Instruments and Supplies Wanted

You will want a number of instruments and supplies to do that undertaking:

• Measuring tape, pencil, pace sq., listening to safety, eye safety (the fundamentals)
• Drill
• Kreg Pocket Gap Jig (I take advantage of the K5) with 1-1/4″ pocket gap screws
• Brad Nailer (I take advantage of the Ryobi AirStrike cordless brad nailer) with 5/8″ lengthy brad nails
• Plywood carcass equipment from Shelf Assist or minimize your personal utilizing 3/4″ cupboard grade plywood, with entrance edges completed with edge banding
• 1/4″ hardwood plywood for the again
• 1×3 boards for bay helps (board ft wanted = measure the general width of the undertaking instances two)
• Ending provides to incorporate medium and advantageous sandpaper, wooden filler, primer and paint or wooden stain and clear coat

Open Base Bench Plans

The open base was constructed by me a pair weeks prior.  It turned out actually nice and I really like the sizing within the house and for my baskets and bins.  The plans are free and obtainable right here.

Open Shelf Hutch – Designing the Plans

The open cabinets on high I simply completed.  They may very well be made taller and even shorter – actually limitless choices right here for personalisation.  It’s also possible to use them over different cupboards – kitchen cupboards, console cupboards, or as towers on both facet of a television.  I saved a basic toy storage top – good for teenagers having the ability to put their very own toys away, and nonetheless room on high for decor.

I first penciled out what I used to be in search of on scratch paper.

Then I entered the surface dimensions into the Shelf Assist Configurator.

Plywood Items

From there, you need to use the Shelf Assist app create plans for you that embrace a minimize record.  You possibly can minimize your personal plywood – use 3/4″ cupboard grade hardwood plywood.  Minimize with a desk noticed or observe noticed.  End the entrance edges with edge banding.

You possibly can alternatively have the precut items shipped to your entrance door utilizing the Shelf Assist app.

Carcass Meeting

After getting your plywood items in hand, it is time for meeting.  

Mark out on the plans the situation of all pocket holes.  Then drill the pocket holes within the items. For the 11-1/4″ width, I used two pocket holes, however three is also used.

Then assemble the carcass.  I began by attaching the verticals to the underside of the highest.  Then the cabinets to the verticals.

Bay Helps

The plywood carcass on it is personal will not be sufficient to maintain the undertaking inflexible.  Bay helps assist with this.  No less than one on the high again is recommened, pocket holes on high and facet edges. 

A bay assist on the entrance will assist as nicely, and make the undertaking look extra completed.  I solely pocket holed the ends.  Then simply use the 1-1/4″ pocket gap screws like common screws, and screwed by way of the center of the bay assist into the underside of the highest.

Again

I extremely suggest a again for this piece, as it’s at eye degree and can assist comprise the contents of the cabinets.  

Use 1/4″ plywood – for portray, this may very well be absolutely anything.  For staining, match the wooden species of the carcass.

Minimize about 1/4″ general smaller, so the surface edge will not be seen.

Connect to again with glue and 5/8″ brad nails to all again edges.

Ending

To complete, I stuffed any uncovered holes with wooden filler and let dry.

Then I did a lightweight sanding with medium grit sandpaper, adopted by advantageous sandpaper utilizing a hand sanding block.

Then I eliminated all sanding residue with a vacuum with a comfortable bristled brush attachment.

I utilized one coat of primer with a brush and small curler.

Then I utilized two coats of cupboard grade paint in a semigloss sheet with a brush and small curler.

I did frivolously sand in between coats with advantageous sandpaper.

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