Bookcase With Toy Storage

1. First of all, we have to draw a template to mark the holes. We do this in order to avoid measuring each mark a number of times. In the end we receive three marks: 2 on the edges and 1 right in the middle. We’re going to drill the holes for dowels and screw according to these marks.

We’re marking the spots for the dowels

2. We use the marks to drill two holes for screw in every corner of the construction. Then we have to screw the screws into these holes.

We’re drilling holes for the screws

We’re torqueing the screws

3. We use a corner clamp to fix the box consisting of 4 longest parts during the installation of the shelves. We have to do this in order to make a construction stiff, to prevent it from falling apart and to guarantee the right angle.

We’ve fixed the main details of the shelving

4. We’ve chosen the drill, which diameter suits the dowels. Now we have to use the template to mark the holes. We create cavities with a help of a core and then we drill holes. The length of a dowel is 35 mm and so we have to create the holes with the depth of 25 mm (and 10 mm in the planes).

We choose the drill of a right size

We mark the holes for the dowels

We mark the places for drilling

We choose the depth of a drilling

We drill holes for the dowels

5. We put the dowel markers instead of the dowels into the holes we’ve drilled. And then we use these markers to put marks on a second detail. This is necessary, because you have to match the centers of a two holes (in which a dowel will be placed). Then you have to drill holes for the dowels, using the fresh marks.

We put the dowel markers into the holes

We use the shelf as a template

Then we put marks by hitting the top of a shelf

The marks can be easily seen in a side light

We make sockets in the marked places

We drill holes for the dowels

6. Then we clog the dowels and insert the detail into its place. We do the entire row using the same principle.

We clog the dowels into the holes

We put a detail into its place

The bottom row is done

7. For the second row we have to drill holes with depth of 46 mm. That’s why we’ve improved a plank that we used to set a drilling depth with a help of a paper ruler. We used a free ruler from the Leroy Merlin store for this

Gadget for measuring the drilling depth

8. We’ve used 2 dowels to connect 3 details. To do so, we’ve drilled a hole with a 25 mm depth in the top detail. We’ve also drilled 2 bottom details simultaneously (24 mm + 22 mm = 46 mm).

Parts connection sample

The second row is done

9. We’ve removed the top detail which is 2 m long to assemble the last row. We’ve drilled all the dowel holes like we did in the first row and then we’ve inserted the dowels into them. We’ve returned the top detail to its place after it.

We’ve drilled 4 holes (2 per shelf) at each end of the shelving for screws, then we’ve torqued the screws to make the whole construction stronger.

Now the shelving is completed

10. Then we prepare for the painting: lay the newspapers, put the details on the jars (to make it easier to paint the ends and to assure that nothing sticks). We paint all details with acrylic paint (Komposit Enamel Profi) and acrylic lacquer (Sadolin Celco Aqua) – they both are non-toxic. We’ve opened all windows to help the paint to dry quickly and to make sure that all evaporations doesn’t stay in the room for long. We’ve covered every detail with 2 layers of paint and 1 layer of lacquer.

Getting ready to paint

Painting the furniture with acrylic paint

Acrylic paint and lacquer

Painting the first layer

All the details are painted

11. Then we have to put already painted details together. To do so, we have to glue the felt pads to the bottom.

Gluing the felt pads to the bottom

12. We attach the back part to the shelving assembled with our own hands. This part will not only make the shelving look completed and beautiful, but also will strengthen it. We put the back part onto two small similar stands to position it correctly.

Back part stand

Fixing the back part with the help of a level

A screw and a shim

13. Now all we have to do is to move our freshly assembled shelving to a place where it belongs – right next to a kids chair, which we’ve remodeled some time ago. And, of course, we have to fill it with our stuff:)

Wheeled gadget for furniture moving

The shelving has taken its place

The shelving is done and filled