Placing shelves in your kids' bedrooms can help keep them organized.
Installing shelving in your bedroom can provide needed space for books, pictures or items that you want to display. Using adjustable shelving units allows you to change the layout of the shelving to meet your changing needs, without having to replace the shelves or install new shelves. Building adjustable shelving is a basic home improvement project that can be done by someone with novice construction skills.
Instructions
1. Determine where in the bedroom you want to put the shelving unit, and measure the height, width and depth of the space. When choosing the location, do not put the shelving in a spot that will block electrical outlets, switches or vents, and make sure that there is plenty of clearance to open the closet door, bathroom door and bedroom door.
2. Cut panels for the top, bottom and sides of the shelving unit out of three-quarter inch plywood. The side panels should be the height of the shelving unit, and the top panel should be the width of the shelving unit. When cutting the bottom panel, cut it 1 1/2 inches shorter than the top panel, because it will be nailed in between the side panels, and not on the edge like the top panel will be.
3. Mark the locations for holes for the dowel pins on the inside edges of the side panels. The dowel pins fit be inserted into the holes, and the shelves will be placed on top of them for support. Place two lines of holes on each panel, one near the front edge and one near the back edge. Position the holes an inch away from the front and back edges, and six inches away from the top and bottom edges. Space the holes an inch apart. Make sure the holes on each set are perfectly level with each other.
4. Drill holes into the side panels at the marks with a half-inch drill bit. Drill the holes a half-inch deep.
5. Run a bead of carpenter's glue along the top edge of one of the side panels. Position the edge of the top panel on the side panel and nail the two pieces together by driving three nails that are evenly spaced through the top panel and into the side panel. Repeat this step to install the other side panel. When connecting the panels, make sure that the holes on the side panels are facing inward.
6. Run a bead of carpenter's glue along the side edges of the bottom panel, and slide it in between the two side panels along the bottom edge. Hammer three nails (evenly spaced) through the side panels and into the bottom panel on each side.
7. Cut a sheet of one-eighth inch tempered hardwood to fit the back of the shelving unit.
8. Lay the on the ground with the back edge facing up, and apply carpenter's glue to the back edge of the panels. Set the tempered hardware onto the shelving unit, centering it. Attach the hardwood to the panels with five-eighths inch brads, using one brad every 12 inches. Stand the shelving unit up on the bottom edge.
9. Measure the distance between the two side panels to determine the width of the shelving. Determine the depth of the shelving by measuring the distance from the front edge of the unit to the tempered hardwood and subtracting a half-inch. This allows the shelves to sit back from the front edge. Cut pieces of three-quarter inch plywood for the shelves that fit these dimensions.
10. Cut pieces of pine casing to fit along the front edges of the shelving unit frame and each shelf. Nail the casing in place with finishing nails.
11. Paint or stain the shelving unit and shelves to match your other bedroom furniture, and allow them to dry.
12. Insert half-inch dowel pins into the holes in the side panels at the desired shelf heights, and lay the shelves on top of the pins.
Tags: shelving unit, side panels, back edge, between side, between side panels