So you’re interested in building a cute little corner bookcase of your own, eh? Well, you’ve come to the right place my friend. Let me give you some quick but helpful tips that will get you started in the process of constructing your own one of a kind corner bookcase. You’ll feel good once you’ve finished and it’s a great piece to show off to friends (if you do a good job that is) and it’s not as difficult as it sounds.

First let me say that it would be prudent to speak directly to an expert artisan or carpenter before beginning any sort of job like this. This is one of the few simple woodworking projects but unless you are an expert yourself, there is always something a master can teach you. So, be safe and seek additional assistance.

Let’s begin by spelling out some of the necessary tools and supplies you’ll need to acquire before embarking on this hobby corner bookcase project.

Minimum Tools Required:

•    Hammer and Nails (nail size depends on the thickness of the wood) •    Screwdrivers and some Screws/Brads (flat head and Phillips would be ideal) •    Power drill with assorted drill bits

Minimum Supplies Required: •    At least 3 pieces of lumber •    Some L brackets •    Plywood or a similar thin hardwood •    Wood stain or paint •    Sand Paper

Once you’ve gone out and purchased all of those supplies at your local hardware store it is time to start thinking about placement and design. There are many varieties of corner bookcases and all of them when made by hand will have a charming homemade look that will be hard to find anywhere else. If it is your first time building one of these bookcases I would recommend starting with something small and simple. That way you can get the hang of the construction work and create much nicer pieces in the future.

Some example styles are: •    29” Corner Bookcase: this is a nice one for beginnings. It is small and compact and it has a simple covered design with just one shelf in the middle.

•    Angel Front Base Bookcase Cabinet: a bit more complicated but similar to the basic 29” corner bookcase. This one adds a few more shelves and also a glass door in front.

•    Wireframe corner bookcase: these are modern concept corner bookcases. Very minimalist as the shelves is wide open and exposed. Nice for those rooms with tight corners.

Now that you’ve selected your style you can decide which corner in your house would be the prime location for your one of a kind corner bookcase. I like to put my corner bookcase in the bedroom or the den. . . . → Read More: How to Build a Corner Bookcase?]]>

So you’re interested in building a cute little corner bookcase of your own, eh? Well, you’ve come to the right place my friend. Let me give you some quick but helpful tips that will get you started in the process of constructing your own one of a kind corner bookcase. You’ll feel good once you’ve finished and it’s a great piece to show off to friends (if you do a good job that is) and it’s not as difficult as it sounds.

First let me say that it would be prudent to speak directly to an expert artisan or carpenter before beginning any sort of job like this. This is one of the few simple woodworking projects but unless you are an expert yourself, there is always something a master can teach you. So, be safe and seek additional assistance.

Let’s begin by spelling out some of the necessary tools and supplies you’ll need to acquire before embarking on this hobby corner bookcase project.

Minimum Tools Required:

•    Hammer and Nails (nail size depends on the thickness of the wood)
•    Screwdrivers and some Screws/Brads (flat head and Phillips would be ideal)
•    Power drill with assorted drill bits

Minimum Supplies Required:
•    At least 3 pieces of lumber
•    Some L brackets
•    Plywood or a similar thin hardwood
•    Wood stain or paint
•    Sand Paper

Once you’ve gone out and purchased all of those supplies at your local hardware store it is time to start thinking about placement and design. There are many varieties of corner bookcases and all of them when made by hand will have a charming homemade look that will be hard to find anywhere else. If it is your first time building one of these bookcases I would recommend starting with something small and simple. That way you can get the hang of the construction work and create much nicer pieces in the future.

Some example styles are:
•    29” Corner Bookcase: this is a nice one for beginnings. It is small and compact and it has a simple covered design with just one shelf in the middle.

•    Angel Front Base Bookcase Cabinet: a bit more complicated but similar to the basic 29” corner bookcase. This one adds a few more shelves and also a glass door in front.

•    Wireframe corner bookcase: these are modern concept corner bookcases. Very minimalist as the shelves is wide open and exposed. Nice for those rooms with tight corners.

Now that you’ve selected your style you can decide which corner in your house would be the prime location for your one of a kind corner bookcase. I like to put my corner bookcase in the bedroom or the den. It’s important to choose a room that doesn’t have a television in it because we want the bookcase to be filled with books and not dvds or video games. The whole point of this project is to have more of an excuse to read your favorite books anyway, right?

Time to start building; just follow these basic steps:
1.    Lay out all of your tools and supplies so that you will have easy access to them. A work bench or patio is great for this. You want to make it as comfortable an environment as you can because you’ll be working there for a few hours at least.

2.    Drill holes in the plywood or hardwood for the screws to fit into. Careful not to use too large of a drill bit. It will only cause problems and another trip back to the hardware store. You’ll want a hole in each of the four corners of the wood.

3.    Measure and cut the lumber to make the bottom piece, top piece, and shelving units of the corner bookcase. Keep in mind that these are the most important pieces in your bookcase. They will need to carry the weight of the design and fit snug in the corner you chose. I like to cut them to look like the silhouette of an ice cream cone, a triangle with a smooth circular front.

4.    Sand the wood. Sanding all of the edge off the wood is one of the most important steps. If you sand the wood properly you will notice when you get to staining it. It will look so much more professional.

5.    Stain or paint the wood and L brackets. You’ll want to choose a color that matches the décor of the room the bookcase will be sitting in. If most of your furniture is a dark wood, stain the pieces you cut out to match that. Or, go crazy and paint it like an artist. It’s completely up to you.

6.    Draw some spacing on the sides of your bookcase and attach the L brackets according to shelf heights. The L brackets will be holding up the shelves inside the bookcase so you want to make sure to space them enough that you’ll be able to fit some books in there. 3 inches from the back and 3 inches from the front is usually a safe bet.

7.    Assemble the bookcase. Put all of the pieces together and give yourself a pat on the back. You just finished making a beautiful piece of custom furniture.

I hope this little guide helps you in creating a custom corner bookcase for your home. You can find all sorts of other information about it online or just ask your neighborhood hardware store’s wood clerk and he’ll be able to give you some tips as well. Good luck!