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DIY Bookcase / Librero

 

diy bookcase

It’s been 5 years since we move from Belgium to Mexico, and there are still unopened boxes! I have to admit that was easier when we change home two years ago, but it’s time to deal with this problem! I like to take time to find the right place for every item, so it’s kind of a long process. Obviously the perfect solution would be an all-inclusive interior design service, like Boss Design Center McLean VA. We have only a few furniture. So we have to buy or build exactly what we need, which is good as we avoid being cluttered with objects that don’t work in our house. For now, we are moving at our own pace, one small project at a time.

Getting back to our unopened moving boxes, most of them contain books and comics, so a bookshelf was needed! I’ve always loved this Bookcase created by Charlotte Perriand, so I took some inspiration for it. The original is better, but it doesn’t fit in my budget!

Hace 5 años que nos mudamos desde Bélgica hasta México, y aún hay cajas sin abrir! Bueno fue mas fácil cuando nos cambiamos de casa hace dos años, pero ha llegado el momento de resolver el problema!
La mayoría de las cajas contienen libros y cómics, por lo que se necesitaba una biblioteca ! Siempre me ha gustado esta biblioteca creada por Charlotte Perriand, entonces la tomé como inspiration. El original es mejor, pero no cabe dentro de mi presupuesto!

building a bookshelf

How to build a bookcase

I did cut the plywood boards with a carpenter, at the following dimensions:
Shelves:
A/ 16 pieces of 10″ x 10″
B/ 4 pieces of 10″ x 63″
Back:
C/ 1 piece of 10″ x 36.5″
Base:
D/ 4 pieces of 5 “x 10″
E/ 1 piece of 5″ x 36.5”

Mande a cortar los paneles de triplay con un carpintero, con las siguientes dimensiones: 

Repisas:
A/ 16 piezas de 25 cm x 25 cm
B/ 4 piezas de 25 cm x 160 cm
Fondo:
C/ 1 pieza de 25 cm x 93 cm
Base:
D/ 4 piezas de 12 cm x 25 cm
E/ 1 pieza de 12cm x 93 cm 

A small sketch to make it clear:

diy bookcase plan

The first step was to glue two by two the “A” pieces, to make the vertical parts. I used wood glue and clamps to hold them together until it was well stuck.
I did the same with the D pieces to make the base.
I sanded all the pieces, flat and edges (booooring part). I stained shelves in chocolate color and applied transparent varnish on the other pieces. I like the contrast between the two colors, this can work with any other colors combinations, give it a try.


El primer paso consistió en pegar de dos en dos las piezas “A”, para hacer las partes verticales.
He utilizado pegamento para madera y abrazaderas para sujetar las juntas el tiempo que se seque el pegamento.
Hice lo mismo con las piezas D para hace la base.
Lijé todas las piezas, bordes y planos (aburriiiiiiiiido). He teñido los estantes color chocolate y apliqué un barniz transparente sobre las otras piezas.

building the book storage

I assembled the D and E pieces to make the base of the bookcase. You have to put the D pieces perpendicular to the E piece, put some glue between the pieces and then fasten with two screws on each side.

Armé las partes D y E para hacer la base de la biblioteca. Tiene que poner las piezas D perpendicular a la pieza E, poner un poco de pegamento entre las piezas y luego fijar con dos tornillos en cada lado.
 
building the shelf
Then I did the same with the C piece and two A pieces (after gluing them 2 by 2) to make the back of the bookcase.

Luego hice lo mismo con la pieza C y de dos piezas A (después de pegarlas 2 por 2) para hacer la parte de atrás del librero.
 

assembling the bookshelf

After, I assemble three A pieces with a B shelve. I put glue on the shelf and lay the A above, be sure they are verticals. I did it twice.

Después, ensamblé tres piezas A con un estante B. Puse pegamento en el estante y coloque la pieza A encima, fijense que sean verticales. Lo hice dos veces.

diy plywood bookshelf

 Almost done, we can start to assemble the shelves, put the base on the floor ad some glue and put a shelve on top. Use clamps or weights (books or toolbox) to have good adherence. Then add glue and put the other part on top, and so on….until the last shelf!

Ya casi terminamos, podemos empezar a armar la partes, colocar la base en el piso, poner un poco de pegamento y poner un estante en la parte superior. Utilice abrazaderas o pesos (libros o caja de heramientas) para presionar y tener una buena adherencia. A continuación, agregue pegamento y colocar la otra repisa en la parte superior, y así sucesivamente …. Hasta el último estante

homemade bookcase

I hope you like it, and that the explanations will allow you to build your own one! Don’t hesitate to leave a comment if you have any questions or doubts!

Espero que les gusta, y que las explicaciones las ayudaran a realisar uno! Preguntan me si les queda duda!

 
You will find all the tutorials featured in the video on my “Best DIY” page.
Amaryllis

Tom

Saturday 2nd of April 2022

Great post! Love the bookcase! Nice craftwork! Check out some of our carpentry work

justin

Tuesday 16th of April 2019

i love the stuff you build because I'm building one of your projects. the project I'm doing is bookcase

amaryllis

Wednesday 17th of April 2019

Thanks Justin. I would love to see how your bookcase turns out once you finish it. You can drop me a email, or tag me on IG @ohoh.deco or FB @ohohdeco

RaoulDuke

Tuesday 5th of March 2019

Just finished this project! Thanks for the idea it looks really good.

I stretched the dimensions around to make it fit my space and made it 52x60, ended up fitting into 2 sheets of plywood. Made the shelves a little taller, cut the supports an inch more than the shelves so it would overhang, and double stacked it.

https://imgur.com/a/ginLuij

amaryllis

Thursday 7th of March 2019

Thanks for sending a pic of your bookshelf! I love your tall version!

Unknown

Monday 31st of July 2017

The black ones are plywood 16 mm too?

Unknown

Thursday 6th of July 2017

Hi Ama,

What kind of paint and primer did you use? Thanks!