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This is a paint-grade bookcase built from a single sheet of 3/4" MDF (or plywood) with a shaped, curvy side profile you cut yourself and a deep storage bin along the bottom. It's designed for paint from the start — the plan is explicit that the exposed plywood/MDF edges are hard to stain and nearly impossible to edge-band on a curve, so don't fight it, prime and paint.
The defining move is cutting the sides. You draw whatever profile you like on the two 60" x 15" MDF blanks and cut it with a jigsaw — a simple gentle taper is easy and looks good, or go fancier if you're confident. The one thing you must do before cutting: mark where each shelf lands, squared across from both sides, so the shelves sit level after the sides are no longer rectangular.
The shelves rest on 1x2 supports screwed to the marked lines — each pair a different length because the case narrows toward the top. Round the front edge of each support so there's no sharp corner at reaching height. The bin bottom sits with a deliberate 1" gap under it and a 3/4" setback from the front. You can screw every shelf fixed, or leave the middle two loose and removable. Fill, prime, and paint. For the back, 1/4" plywood is the minimum — but as the plan drily notes, store-bought furniture uses cardboard, so anything you have beats that.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| MDF or plywood, 3/4 in, 4x8 sheetSides, shelves, bin. Paint-grade. | 1 each |
| Plywood or paneling, 1/4 in, sheetBack — 1/4" is the minimum recommended. | 1 each |
| 1x2, 8 ftShelf supports. | 2 each |
| Wood screws, 2 in | 1 box |
| Wood screws, 1-1/4 in | 1 box |
| Brad nails, 1-1/4 in | 1 box |
| Wood glue | 1 bottle |
| MDF primer and paintPrime MDF before paint or it drinks it. | 1 quart |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Sides3/4 in MDFCut to your chosen shaped profile in step 2. | 2 | 3/4" × 15" × 60" |
| Bin bottom3/4 in MDF | 1 | 3/4" × 14 1/4" × 31 1/2" |
| Bin front3/4 in MDF | 1 | 3/4" × 7 1/2" × 31 1/2" |
| Top support1x2 | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 31 1/2" |
| Bottom shelf3/4 in MDF | 1 | 3/4" × 13" × 31 1/2" |
| 2nd-to-bottom shelf3/4 in MDF | 1 | 3/4" × 11" × 31 1/2" |
| 3rd-to-bottom shelf3/4 in MDF | 1 | 3/4" × 9" × 31 1/2" |
| Top shelf3/4 in MDF | 1 | 3/4" × 7" × 31 1/2" |
| Shelf supports (13")1x2Round the front edge. | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 13" |
| Shelf supports (11")1x2Round the front edge. | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 11" |
| Shelf supports (9")1x2Round the front edge. | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 9" |
| Shelf supports (7")1x2Round the front edge. | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 7" |
| Back1/4 in plywood | 1 | 1/4" × 33" × 60" |
Buy 11 boards at 8 ft.
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Cut the 3/4" MDF pieces from the sheet following an efficient layout, and cut the 33" x 60" back from 1/4" plywood or paneling. A quarter inch is the minimum for the back — if you have thicker scrap, use it, it only adds rigidity.
Draw your desired side profile on the two 60" x 15" blanks — a simple gentle taper is easy to cut and looks clean, or go more elaborate if you're comfortable with a jigsaw. Before you cut, mark where each shelf lands and square those marks across from both sides, so the shelves end up level once the sides are no longer rectangular. Then cut the profiles.
Screw the 1x2 shelf supports to the marked lines with 1-1/4" screws, three per support. Each pair is a different length because the case narrows going up — match them to their level. Round the front edge of each support so there's no sharp corner where a hand reaches in.
Attach the bin bottom to the sides with glue and 2" screws, keeping the back edge flush. Leave a 1" gap between the bin bottom and the bottom of the bookcase, and set it back 3/4" from the front. Then attach the top support by screwing through the sides into its end edges, two 2" screws each side.
Nail the back panel to the case with 1-1/4" nails. Then add the shelves onto their supports, screwing them down with 1-1/4" screws — or fix only the top and middle shelves and leave the others removable if you want adjustable spacing.
Fill all nail and screw holes with putty, sand smooth, and fair the cut curves on the sides. Prime — MDF especially needs a primer coat or it soaks up paint unevenly — then paint your color. This bookcase was designed to be painted, so don't try to stain the exposed sheet-good edges.
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Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →