Corner Bookshelf Turned on it’s Side
- By Joan
- February 8, 2018
- 3 Comments
After I got my dusty corner shelf out from the recesses of my garage for my Thrift Store Retail Therapy post, I decided to actually do something with it before it got buried again (and got even dustier).
My plan all along has been not to use the shelf in the corner as intended, but to turn it on it’s side and use it as a wall shelf.
First step was to cut off and sand the existing legs from the corner shelf.
Cut a piece of thin plywood the width of the shelf and any length you like leaving enough of the plywood as a backer for the shelf.
Use builders adhesive to attach the shelf to the plywood. Once the glue dries you can reinforce the bond with screws.
I had pulled a couple pieces of trim out to frame the chalkboard, but I wasn’t particularly happy with either choice. I had a couple of things to buy at the hardware store so I checked out their trim. They had lots of molding options but I didn’t want to spend $1 to $2 a foot. I needed 5 ft, that would have added $5 to $10 to the cost of this project.
Back home I went. I must have something in my scrap pile that I could use. That’s when I took this picture…when I started ripping everything off my scrap wood pile. But I’m happy to report, my efforts paid off and I found a couple pieces of trim that I had picked up from the salvage yard a few months back.
If you notice the change in backgrounds, that’s because I took my project to the kitchen. For some reason there’s a big pile of wood in the center of my workshop. 🙄
Time to paint the thin plywood with self leveling chalk paint followed by a coat of chalkboard paint.
Cut the trim to fit, mitering the corners like a picture frame.
Paint as desired.
Attach the trim with more builders adhesive…
…and clamp in place. I also added a piece of quarter round to fit in the gap between the chalkboard and shelf.
While the glue is drying is a good time to clean up all that tossed wood.
Finish as desired. Mine has a little touch of shabby chic with the edges sanded.
On my facebook feed, after I showed my “needs a makeover ” corner shelf, Joni Owens showed how she upcycled a corner shelf as a Christmas centerpiece.
Stay inspired.
Saved at DIY Salvaged Junk Projects,
Copyright © 2024
This would look amazing on the wall of your grandson’s room ☺️☺️
This is ingenious!! And I love it so much! I can see this in a big country kitchen with cookbooks and canning jars ~ place to write your grocery list. Absolutely love it!!
Love how this turned out. I couldn’t figure out what you were doing with that plywood and trim! I thought you were putting it on the back to make it more sturdy. I see these corner shelves all the time, but I’ve never liked them very much. I like how you see things in a totally different light. Thanks for sharing!