DIY Four-Sided Bookshelf

This super fun, four-sided bookshelf is so versatile, you can use it in almost any room in your house. It would make a great magazine rack for an office, spice and bookshelf for a kitchen, or even shop storage for paints, stains and craft supplies. It’s easy to build and easy to use! 

Materials Required: 

Wood Products:

Hardware/Supplies:

Parts/Cut List: 

Step 1 (no image)

Cut Out Pieces 

Cut plywood pieces down to size. You need two 2×2 pieces of ¾” plywood, two 22 ½” x 32” or ¾” plywood and one 17” x 32” piece of ¾” plywood. Follow the cut list. 

Step 2 

Drill Pocket Holes in the Middle 

On the 17” x 32” piece, mark on both sides 10 ½” from each end and drill ¾” pocket holes at these locations. Putting the holes here allows you to cover them with shelves later. Make sure they are lined up. 

Step 3 

Attach Middle Sections 

Using 1 ¼” pocket hole screws, attach the two 22 ½” x 32” pieces to the piece from step 2 like shown in the picture. Make sure that the middle piece is centred on the two outside pieces. 

Step 4 

Add Shelf Top and Bottom 

Attach the 2×2 pieces to the top and bottom of the piece from step 3 using 1 ¼” wood screws. If you wish, you can attach using pocket holes and screws instead. Make sure that everything is square and centred before you attach. There should be ¾” overhang on both sides of the 22 ½” piece and a 2 ¾” overhang on the other two sides. Once one 2×2 side is attached, flip it over and do the other side. 

Step 5 

Add Shallow Shelf Sides 

Cut the 4 pieces of 1×4 at 32” long and glue and nail on like shown in the picture. These pieces should come flush to the outside of the top and bottom pieces and also cover up the plywood edge of the shelf side. 

Step 6 

Add Shallow Shelves 

Cut the 3 pieces of 1×3 at 22 ½” long and drill ¾” pocket holes into both ends. Using 1 ¼” pocket hole screws, attach between the 1x4s on each side. I attached one shelf on one side and two on the other. You can do more or less if you choose. Make sure you attach evenly so the shelves aren’t slanted. 

Step 7 

Add Shallow Shelf Fronts 

Cut 5 pieces of 1×2 at 22 ½” long. Glue and nail these in above each shelf (including the bottom) to help keep the books from falling out. I attached mine about 1 ½” above the shelves on the side with 3 and about 2 ½” above the shelves on the side with 2. I nailed them in place through the 1×4 board. You could also use screws if you wish. 

Step 8 

Add Deep Shelves 

Cut three pieces of ¾” plywood at 17” wide and 10” deep for the bookshelves. Drill ¾” pocket hole screws into the ends of these pieces. I recommend applying edge banding here if you wish to finish the plywood edges as it will be more difficult to do later. Using 1 ¼” pocket hole screws, attach these shelves making sure they are evenly spaced. This is where you will place your shelves to cover the pocket holes from step 2. I added two shelves on this side and one shelf on the other side. You could add more or less if you wish. 

Step 9 

Finish as desired. Apply edge banding to the top and bottom pieces of plywood and stain or paint as desired. 

Optional: Add Lazy Susan 

Add Lazy Susan hardware to make the bookshelf spin. For details on the hardware used on this project, see the link in the extras tab.  

By Buildsomething.com