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Forward Facing Kids Bookshelves

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Forward Facing Bookshelves - A Tried & True ProjectI know there are a million and one tutorials for Forward Facing Bookshelves but I’ve been sitting on this tutorial for a year now and it seems like such a waste not to add it to the blog so here goes! Also, I should probably add the disclaimer that while the idea to put bookshelves in the wasted space behind the door was mine, my husband actually was the one who designed and fabricated them. A word of caution, though. These are more than sturdy enough for even large books but like most floating shelves, will pull right out if your monkey child decides to climb them. Just letting you know.

One more thing, in an effort to seem more realistic, I added a huge, heaping pile of dust and dirt in the corner just before I took the picture above. What? Who, me? I would never have dirty baseboards! 😉

Forward Facing Bookshelves

Materials:
– aluminum track
– baseboard (one with grooves so that the books will catch)
– screws
– saw
– drill
– tacks
– hammer

Instructions:

01_cut aluminum track and baseboard moulding to desired length1. Cut aluminum track and baseboard to desired length.

02_locate studs or insert wall anchors2. Locate studs or insert wall anchors.

03_mark aluminum track for stud or anchor locations and pre-drill holes3. Mark aluminum track for screws or wall anchors and pre-drill holes.

04_mount track to wall4. Mount track to wall.

05_align moulding and mark screw head locations for notches5. Align moulding and mark screw head locations for notches.

06_cut notches in moulding06b_alt view of notches6. Cut notches in moulding.

07_insert notched baseboard moulding into aluminum track7. Insert notched baseboard moulding into aluminum track.

08_dirll pilot holes for tacks8. Drill pilot holes for tacks.

09_insert tacks to secure moulding9. Insert tacks to secure moulding.

10b10_you're done10. Repeat all processes until desired number of shelves is achieved, fill with wonderful books that your child can reach all by himself!

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Comments

  2. This is brilliant. Love that it's hidden behind the door too! I'm a huge fan of books, but not so crazy about visual clutter, so this is the best of both worlds for me!
    Reply

    • I'm a bit of a freak about buying books for Jack too! He's got books all around the house but this is where we keep rotating the most popular.
      Reply

    • I got the tee from As Small As Me on Etsy. Lovely store! http://www.etsy.com/listing/91268424/read-to-me-organic-t-shirt-or-onesie?utm_source=OpenGraph&utm_medium=ConnectedShop&utm_campaign=Share
      Reply

  4. Great idea - thanks for sharing. I'll have to go investigate what aluminum tracks are available at our local hardware store. My child is 10, but usually has a handful of books going at any given time, this would be a great way to store the "current" books without the big stacks all over the place or the frantic looking for the one currently being read :)
    Reply

  6. i love these! they make a room look awesome. i am putting mine in right now. i got the RIBBA picture ledges at ikea. they are precut, you just have to screw them in. probably more expensive but they are so nice and so easy. thanks for the tips. i wanted to space out how many to use http://www.ikea.com/us/en/search/?query=ledge
    Reply

  7. This is such a great idea! Thank you for the awesome step by step directions! I can't wait to do this in my granddaughters room!
    Reply

  8. i am having a tough time finding these aluminum track, where did you find them? would lowes or home depot have them if so what department... i see the shelfs are made out of some kind of hard wood floor. I just love it, such a great idea!!!!!!! x1,000 !!! LOL thank you for sharing
    Reply

    • I am having the same trouble with finding these aluminum tracks. HomeDepot near me did not have them. I was shocked. I hope to find them soon, since my sons book collection is stacking higher and higher. We love building towers, but these shelves look so clean. Thanks!
      Reply

Trackbacks

  2. [...] Forward Facing Bookshelves – 1 freebie(s)? [...]
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  3. [...] Drill the holes and then insert the tacks to secure everything in place. Repeat the process for each shelf. At the end you’ll get practical shelves that you can use to store books and all sorts of other things. It’s a versatile idea that can be used anywhere in the house. You can use any free space you have and you can also improvise.The full project on gerberadesigns. [...]
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  6. […] Η βιβλιοθήκη αυτή έχει την ιδιαιτερότητα να προβάλλει τα βιβλία οριζόντια, έτσι ώστε το παιδί να κοιτάζει τα εξώφυλλά τους προκειμένου να τα επιλέξει. Για να την φτιάξετε θα χρειαστεί απλά να πάρετε στενές σανίδες (ιδανικά με αυλάκια για να στηρίζονται τα βιβλία και να μην γλιστρούν) και να τις τοποθετήσετε στον τοίχο με αλουμινένια αυλάκια που θα καρφώσετε. Δείτε αναλυτικά πώς θα φτιάξετε την συγκεκριμένη κατασκευή εδώ.Κουκέτα-βιβλιοθήκη […]
    Reply

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