How to Build a Bookcase in a Doorway
- 1). Measure the height of the doorway. Divide the height by the number of shelves you want on your bookcase. This will give you the distance between each shelf. For example, if you have a 72-inch doorway and want six shelves, each shelf will be 12 inches apart. Measure and mark the shelf distance along both sides of the doorway using a level so you know the lines are straight and horizontal.
- 2). Measure the depth of the doorway sides. Cut 1-by-2-inch lumber into pieces 1-1/2 inches shorter than the depth of the doorway. Cut as many as you have marks on the doorway sides.
- 3). Place each piece of 1-by-2-inch lumber onto one of the lines on the doorway sides and secure it in place with three to four 3-inch screws evenly spaced along the length. There should be as many pairs of 1-by-2-inch lumber as you want shelves. These are the cleats for holding the shelves of the doorway bookcase
- 4). Cut two pieces of 1/2-inch plywood for each pair of cleats. Each piece should measure the width of the doorway by the depth minus 1 1/2 inches. For example, if the door is 36 inches wide and 10 inches deep, each piece of plywood should be 8 1/2 inches by 36 inches.
- 5). Place a piece of plywood on top of the first pair of cleats. The edges of the plywood should be flush with the ends of the cleats. Secure in place with three to four evenly spaced 1-inch screws through the plywood into the cleat.
- 6). Place a second piece of plywood underneath the cleats, so that the cleats are sandwiched between the plywood. Secure the bottom of the shelf in place as you did the top, staggering the screw placement. Repeat for all the cleat pairs.
- 7). Measure the thickness of the shelves from the top of the top pieces of plywood to the bottom of the bottom piece of plywood. Because the 1-by-2 lumber is a little thinner than 1 inch, and the 1/2-inch plywood is often slightly less than 1/2 inch, the total thickness will vary, but should be overall a little less than 2 inches thick.
- 8). Cut two pieces of 1/2-inch plywood to the thickness of the shelves by the length of the shelves. For example, if your shelves are 1 6/8 inch thick by 36 inches, cut two pieces of plywood for each shelf that is 1 6/8 by 36 inches.
- 9). Place a strip on either side of the shelf, covering up the edges of the shelf top and bottom, and completely hiding the cleat within the shelf. Attach the strips with 1-inch screws driven every 3 to 4 inches at the top and bottom of the strips. Repeat on all the shelves, so that the shelves look solid, and all the cleats are hidden.
- 10
Fill the visible screw holes with wood putty and scrape over the top so the putty is flat. Leave to dry before painting the shelves.
