Frameless Office Open Shelf Base

There's more to cutting plywood than a chalk line and a circular saw. Consider the direction of the wood grain across the visible parts, and get clean cuts — with no face frame, a ragged edge shows. Plan your layout on the sheet before ripping.

Assemble the cabinet with the pocket-hole jig: 1-1/4" pocket screws set for 3/4" stock, plus glue. Keep it square as you go.

Adjust the cabinet for square, then attach the 1/4" back — nailing into the shelves as well as the sides so the back actually stiffens the box.

For the base, either rip a 1-1/2"-wide strip from scrap plywood, or build it from 1x2s — your call. Attach it under the cabinet.

Apply edge banding to every exposed plywood edge per the manufacturer's instructions — it's easy and it's what completes the frameless furniture look. Trim, sand, and finish.