Make a bookcase tower

In a smaller home, townhouse or apartment there isn't always space for a bookcase, so easyDIY looked at various options for a stylish yet practical alternative to this and came up with a bookcase tower.

 

Using SupaWood allows you to paint the finished bookshelf in your choice of colour using acrylic or spray paint. We used Rust-Oleum 2X spray paint for our bookshelf.

YOU WILL NEED:

All sections 16mm SupaWood unless otherwise specified

1 of 44 x 44mm x 1.8 metres PAR pine - cut to 1744mm length

1 of 300 x 400mm - bottom support

1 of 290 x 360mm - top support

7 of 200 x 300mm - shelves

8 of 140 x 200mm - upright dividers

Wood glue

2 of 4 x 55mm cut screws

4 x 50mm cut screws

180-grit sandpaper

TOOLS:

Drill / Driver + assorted bits

Jigsaw + clean-cut blade

HERE'S HOW:

1. Although shown in reverse order in the images, add the two bottom supports as the starting point. Use a jigsaw to cut two 44 x 44mm sections along the back edge to allow for fitting the upright. Drill 4mm pilot holes and use wood glue and 5 x 55mm cut screws to secure in place.

 

 

2. Once you have the base supports in place, you can start adding the upright dividers and shelves. Starting at the bottom, drill 3mm pilot holes through the upright and at a depth of 6mm into the upright divider. Secure the upright divider to the upright with 4 x 50mm cut screws.

GOOD TO KNOW
Add a bead of wood glue in a line along the centre of each upright divider and the shelf.

3. Leave a 16mm gap and mount the next upright divider in the same way. You can use a shelf as a guide as you work your way towards the top of the upright.

4. Place a shelf in the 16mm gap and make sure it is centrally aligned before drilling a 3mm pilot hole through the upright and into the shelf. Secure with 4 x 50mm cut screw.

 

 

5. Sand all the rough edges with 180-grit sandpaper until smooth. To reduce absorption along the edges it's a good idea to spread a thin layer of wood glue over the surface after sanding.

6. We painted our Tower Bookshelf with three coats of Rust-Oleum 2X satin heirloom white.