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A sheet-goods bookcase with a lower storage bin and shaped sides you cut yourself. Built from MDF, designed for paint — the shelf supports set every level.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sides Cut to your chosen shaped profile in step 2. | 2 | 3/4" × 15" × 60" | 3/4 in MDF | ☐ |
| Bin bottom | 1 | 3/4" × 14 1/4" × 31 1/2" | 3/4 in MDF | ☐ |
| Bin front | 1 | 3/4" × 7 1/2" × 31 1/2" | 3/4 in MDF | ☐ |
| Top support | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 31 1/2" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Bottom shelf | 1 | 3/4" × 13" × 31 1/2" | 3/4 in MDF | ☐ |
| 2nd-to-bottom shelf | 1 | 3/4" × 11" × 31 1/2" | 3/4 in MDF | ☐ |
| 3rd-to-bottom shelf | 1 | 3/4" × 9" × 31 1/2" | 3/4 in MDF | ☐ |
| Top shelf | 1 | 3/4" × 7" × 31 1/2" | 3/4 in MDF | ☐ |
| Shelf supports (13") Round the front edge. | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 13" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Shelf supports (11") Round the front edge. | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 11" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Shelf supports (9") Round the front edge. | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 9" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Shelf supports (7") Round the front edge. | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 7" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Back | 1 | 1/4" × 33" × 60" | 1/4 in plywood | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| MDF or plywood, 3/4 in, 4x8 sheet Sides, shelves, bin. Paint-grade. | 1 each | ☐ |
| Plywood or paneling, 1/4 in, sheet Back — 1/4" is the minimum recommended. | 1 each | ☐ |
| 1x2, 8 ft Shelf 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 paint Prime MDF before paint or it drinks it. | 1 quart | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Circular Saw. Materials: MDF or plywood, 3/4 in, 4x8 sheet, Plywood or paneling, 1/4 in, sheet
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.
Tools: Jigsaw, Speed Square. Materials: MDF or plywood, 3/4 in, 4x8 sheet
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.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Random Orbit Sander. Materials: 1x2, 8 ft, Wood screws, 1-1/4 in
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.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: MDF or plywood, 3/4 in, 4x8 sheet, 1x2, 8 ft, Wood screws, 2 in, Wood glue
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.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Drill / Driver. Materials: MDF or plywood, 3/4 in, 4x8 sheet, Plywood or paneling, 1/4 in, sheet, Wood screws, 1-1/4 in, Brad nails, 1-1/4 in
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.
Tools: Random Orbit Sander. Materials: MDF primer and paint
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.