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    Home » Home » Forward Facing Kids Bookshelves

    Forward Facing Kids Bookshelves

    Published: Jan 6, 2012 · Modified: May 15, 2015 · by Vanessa Brady · This post may contain affiliate links and ads · 32 Comments

    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!

    121413

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Adriana says

      January 07, 2012 at 6:16 am

      love love love!

      Reply
      • bumblev says

        January 24, 2012 at 2:46 am

        You’ll have to make more when you move!

        Reply
    2. jackie says

      January 18, 2012 at 9:25 pm

      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
      • bumblev says

        January 24, 2012 at 2:48 am

        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
    3. Jay says

      January 23, 2012 at 11:56 pm

      Love the shelves and LOVE that t-shirt! Where did you get it!!

      Reply
      • bumblev says

        January 24, 2012 at 2:50 am

        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. Emily says

      January 24, 2012 at 12:15 am

      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
      • bumblev says

        January 24, 2012 at 2:51 am

        That’s exactly what we do and it’s worked wonderfully so far!

        Reply
    5. Gwen @SimplyHealthyFamily says

      January 31, 2012 at 12:56 am

      Perfect! I can do this! Thx for sharing!!

      Reply
      • bumblev says

        February 11, 2012 at 2:18 am

        No problem, hope you enjoy them!

        Reply
    6. Marvilla says

      February 01, 2012 at 10:36 pm

      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
      • bumblev says

        February 11, 2012 at 2:19 am

        Great option as well, Marvilla!

        Reply
    7. Loren Warren says

      March 02, 2012 at 12:31 am

      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. kristen says

      April 26, 2012 at 2:11 pm

      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
      • James says

        December 20, 2013 at 5:14 pm

        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
        • Vanessa Brady says

          December 27, 2013 at 6:40 am

          We found them in the hardware section of The Home Depot near the screws and door handles. Hope that helps!

    9. Stacie @ Hometwon Perch says

      February 21, 2013 at 1:10 pm

      I love these! I just might need to make some for an empty loft space that is between my girls’ rooms.

      Reply
    10. Beth @ Whole New Leaf says

      February 24, 2013 at 12:01 am

      Love this idea. What a great way to display/store children’s books and use that wasted space! I also love your gears on the walls, is there a post about that somewhere?

      Reply
      • Vanessa Brady says

        February 25, 2013 at 5:59 am

        I wish there was, Beth, but we painted those just days before my son arrived and didn’t take any pictures of the process. 🙁 Glad you like them though!

        Reply
    11. Kristy (Robb Restyle} says

      January 31, 2014 at 2:34 pm

      Well done! I love how you tucked them behind a door. I’ve seen the gutter version, but I much prefer using wood trim as you have here! Visiting you from the remodelaholics feature!

      Reply
    12. B Hall says

      February 02, 2016 at 7:35 am

      How do you keep the books from sliding off?

      Reply

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    3. DIY forward facing bookshelves for the children’s room says:
      27 April 2012 at 1:40 am

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      18 May 2012 at 4:20 pm

      […] to buy one of everything. Jack wore his “Read To Me” tee in the photo I used for my Forward Facing Bookshelves tutorial and it was quite the hit in the Apartment Therapy […]

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    Hi, I'm Vanessa Brady and I'm a life-long crafter and mother of three kids. I love creating craft tutorials that are quick, easy, and fun to make! More...

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