Custom Built-in Shelf DIY – Week 4 of the One Room Challenge

One of the first design decisions I made regarding our basement renovation was to add built-in shelves. I have always loved how they look and how they can be customized to the exact purpose they will serve. In this post, which is the week four update for the One Room Challenge, I share my custom built-in shelf DIY. I’ll describe the materials and tools you will need and the steps needed to construct the shelving unit. At the end of this post, I’m also sharing the rest of the progress I made this week for the One Room Challenge. We are at the halfway point and the final reveal of our basement home office is in just four weeks!

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In case you want to see the progress I made in the first three weeks of the One Room Challenge, you can read my earlier posts here:

Plans for the Serene Basement Home Office

How to Choose Serene Paint Colours for a Home Office

How to Choose Flooring for Your Basement Renovation

Built-In Shelves

Built-In Shelves can be most easily added to an unfinished space, so I recommend considering them if you are planning to finish your basement or if you are planning a new build home. They can also be added to an existing finished home, either by cutting out a portion of drywall and building a shelf between the studs or by building out from the wall and using trim and moulding to make the unit look built into the wall. This post focuses on the first type of built-in shelves. In fact, I started building this shelf unit at the same time we did the framing in the basement.

Supplies for the Custom Built-in Shelf DIY

• Several 2 by 4 boards to build the frame
• Wood Screws
• Two sheets of 1/2″ thick Baltic Birch plywood (5′ by 5′ sheets) for sides, top, and base (Back: cut to 45 1/2″ by 5′, Base and Top: cut to 13 7/8″ by 42″, Sides: cut to 13 7/8″ by 54 1/2″)
• Two sheets of 3/8″ thick Baltic Birch plywood for shelves (cut 6 pieces 13 1/8″ by 41″)
• 1 by 2’s for the interior shelf supports (15 pieces cut to 13 1/8″ lengths)
• Wood glue
• Drywall, drywall screws, drywall mud
• Trim for shelf fronts (I used 3/8″ thick, 1.5″ wide trim, three 41″ long pieces)
• Trim for around the shelf (I used 1/2″ thick, 2 1/8″ wide trim, total length needed is about 18′)
• Primer designed for raw wood
• Wood filler
• Semi-gloss paint or cabinet paint
• Paintable white caulking

Tools Needed for the Custom Built-in Shelf DIY

• Measuring tape, pencil, paper
• Circular saw or compound mitre saw
• Drill and drill bits
• Level
• Square
• Table saw or have your plywood cut at the wood shop (I did this since we don’t own a table saw)
• Clamps
• Drywall putty knives
• Brad nailer and brad nails
• Caulking gun
• Paintbrush, mini roller, painting tray

Directions for the Custom Built-in Shelf DIY

Design your shelving unit and determine the dimensions

Make sure to determine the optimum width, height, depth, and position on the wall when planning your shelf unit. Will you be displaying books? If so, don’t forget to consider different book heights and widths. Will you be using storage bins or baskets? If so, measure the bins you will use and leave at least a quarter inch of space between and above baskets for ease of movement. Consider placing the heaviest items on the bottom shelf with smaller, lighter objects on top.

I designed the dimensions of my shelf to fit 13″ by 13″ storage bins and IKEA magazine storage containers. And I designed the bottom three shelves to be equal in height. I wanted a shorter shelf on top for smaller items such as books or decorative items. I recommend either making all your shelves the same height or using the principle that larger heights be reserved for the lowermost shelves graduating to smaller heights for upper shelves.

The inner dimensions of my shelf unit are 41″ wide by 54 1/2″ high. It has four shelf openings with the lower three being 13 1/4″ high and the upper shelf measuring 10 1/4″ high. The depth of all the shelves is 13 1/8″. When the trim is added the finished depth is actually 13 1/2″.

Purchase your materials

I recommend purchasing your materials in two waves. On the first shopping trip, I recommend buying everything except for the Baltic Birch plywood. I purchased these supplies from Home Depot. Once you have built the frame, revisit your desired plywood dimensions and adjust if necessary. Then I recommend ordering the plywood from a reputable wood shop that carries Baltic Birch or a similar high-quality plywood. The wood shop will require a detailed cut list and cut diagram.

Build the 2 by 4 frame for your shelves

If you are framing your own walls, then you will likely be familiar with framing construction. Therefore, I’m not going into detail about how to frame basement interior walls. The inner dimensions for the shelf opening should be 42″ wide by 55 1/2″ high. You will extend the side pieces to the floor and up to the ceiling with standard stud spacing above and below the shelf opening.

Construct two frame pieces for your shelf unit using wood screws. The front frame piece extends from floor to ceiling and the back piece extends from floor to the top of the shelf, like the one shown in the photo below.

You will then connect these pieces using shorter lengths of 2 by 4’s. Ensure that the connecting pieces make the finished depth of the shelf half an inch shorter than the plywood frame pieces as you want the plywood to extend a 1/2″ past the framing. When you later add the drywall it should be flush with the front of the shelf frame.

Attach the plywood backing of the shelf unit using wood screws and glue. Next, add the top and bottom pieces with wood screws and glue. Finally, add the sides. Clamping throughout this process makes everything easier and more secure.

Build the shelves

Attach five pieces of the 1 by 2’s (evenly spaced) to three of the shelf pieces using wood glue and clamps.

Mark the placement of the shelves within the opening of the shelf unit. Use a level to make sure these lines are level.

Attach the shelf bottoms using screws coming from the outside of the shelf unit.

Next, attach the shelf tops using wood glue and clamps. This structure will create firm shelves that will be sturdy and resistant to sagging even with heavy objects on the shelves.

Apply drywall to the area around the shelving unit and attach trim pieces to the fronts of the shelves using a brad nailer.

Finishing up the custom built-in shelf DIY

Fill brad nail holes and cracks with paintable wood filler. Allow the filler to dry, then sand it smooth with fine-grit sandpaper.

Apply the trim around the shelving unit with “No More Nails” adhesive and brad nails.

Prime and paint the entire unit. I used one coat of primer and two coats of semi-gloss paint.

Styling the Custom Built-in Shelf DIY

My storage bins arrived just in time for this blog post! If you’re in the US, these are the comparable bins. I love how they fit the unit so perfectly. For the bottom shelf, I will be storing my magazine containers to store favourite issues of print magazines and my piano resources (I’m also a piano teacher!).

This is the light fixture I ordered this week for above the shelf unit. It’s a picture light and comes in different finishes and sizes.

IKEA doesn’t sell these wooden magazine holders any more, but they do have a good selection of fabric and cardboard ones. Amazon has a few lovely options, including these bamboo and cane magazine holders and these rattan holders.

What Else Did I Accomplish this Week

This week, my time was divided among several projects. Initially, I had planned to build a reading bench and feature it in this week’s post, but I ran into some challenges and decided to save it for next week. I also finished assembling all the IKEA furniture and placed the pieces that will be part of the custom desk on the wall. This was done to ensure that everything would fit together properly (it will!) and order any trim pieces and desk hardware to have on hand for weeks 6 and 7 of the challenge. I also ordered the lighting this week as time is running out and I didn’t want to be disappointed by delays.

Progress on the Project List for the Home Office

Here’s my updated project list for the One Room Challenge Spring 2024 edition:

• Plan an optimal layout for the space ✔
• Clean up the space- remove everything, sweep, and wipe every surface clean ✔
• Construct window jamb extensions and frame the window ✔
• Prime and paint walls and ceiling ✔
• Install vinyl plank flooring ✔
• Design and construct a reading bench Started
• Plan and construct built-in shelves ✔
• Design and construct a two-desk wall unit with storage Started
• Apply feature wall behind desk unit
• Prime and paint desk unit
• Apply and paint trim
• Install lighting
• Make a cover for the reading bench and choose/make pillows
• Decorate with rugs, cushions, plants, and accessories

Plans for the Coming Week

My goal for the coming week is to finish building the reading bench and paint the entire unit. I will also be purchasing a cushion and making a cover for it. I hope to make a little progress on the desk unit too as this is such a large-scale project.

Summary

I hope you have learned a bit about building a custom built-in shelf. What would you store on your custom shelf- books, craft supplies, or something else? Thank you for joining me this week! I’m looking forward to sharing my progress during the final four weeks with you. The big reveal is May 22, so please stay tuned! I’d love it if you would wander over to the One Room Challenge site to check out the posts by the other participants here.