Mom took some wood planks, transformed them into a gorgeous storage solution

Once upon a time, in a magical kingdom, there was a need for a storage solution. Children thrive on make-believe and stories, many accumulating a massive collection at an early age. With those collections comes a huge mess when there isn’t a fun and functional storage solution that children enjoy using. What better way to play into their need for playtime than by a castle-inspired bookshelf?
This adorable space saver and mess buster is exactly what you need. It is a whimsical way to store toys, books, costumes and games – anything your child loves and that you want off the floor. Because it is short enough for young ones, they will be able to easily use this for some self-motivated organizing but could also incorporate it as part of dress-up or playtime. Set this up in a corner with some comfy blankets and pillows to create a quick, cozy reading nook. The statement piece featured below can evolve with your family’s needs.
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Materials
- (2) 2-by-6 planks at least 68 inches each
- (1) 2-by-6 plank at least 96 inches long
- (2) 2-by-4 plank, at least 36 inches long each
- (1) 2-by-2 plank at least 18 inches long
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- T-square
- Jigsaw
- Sanding sponge
- Power sander (optional)
- 1/4-inch shelf pins
- Power drill
- 1/4-inch drill bit
- Screws
- Painter's tape
- Wood glue
- Clamps
- FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Paint in Parisian Gray
- FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Paint in Summer Porch
- Dropcloth
- Medium paintbrush
- Rubber mallet
Instructions
1. Measure 34 inches on a 2-by-6 plank 68 inches long, and mark with a pencil. Draw a line at that mark using the T-square. From that mark, measure another 34 inches and make another mark. Draw a line at that mark using the T-square. Repeat this on the second plank that size.
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2. Cut the planks. We used a jigsaw, but a manual saw would work. You should have four pieces, each 34 inches long and 6 inches wide.
3. On the other 2-by-6 plank, measure 12 inches and mark with the pencil. Draw a line at that mark using the T-square. From that mark, measure another 12 inches and mark. Draw a line at that mark using the T-square. Repeat along the length of the plank.
4. Cut the plank on the marks to create eight pieces, each 12 inches long and 6 inches wide.
5. With the first 2-by-4 plank, measure two 16-inch pieces, mark them, and cut, creating two pieces, each 16 inches long and 4 inches wide.
6. On the second 2-by-4 plank, measure three 12-inch long sections, mark them, and cut. You should have three pieces, each 12 inches long and 4 inches wide.
7. On the 2-by-2 plank, measure and mark six 3-inch sections and cut, giving you six pieces, each 3 inches long and 2 inches wide.
8. Use a sanding sponge to smooth each of the pieces and remove any splinters or rough areas. For the larger pieces, you may want to use a power sander.
Tip: Stop and check to make sure you have the following pieces:
(4) 34-inch 2-by-6 planks
(8) 12-inch 2-by-6 planks
(2) 16-inch 2-by-4 planks
(3) 12-inch 2-by-4 planks
(6) 3-inch 2-by-4 planks
9. On one of the 34-inch pieces, measure and mark 10 to 12 inches apart for holes to place the shelves. At each mark, measure and mark about an inch in from the edge on both sides.
10. Line up a shelf pin next to the end of the drill bit. Wrap a piece of painter's tape around the drill bit at the point where the peg of the shelf pin ends. This lets you know how deep to drill the holes.
11. Where you marked for holes, drill down only to the painters tape. Use a sanding sponge to sand the holes.
12. To make the holes for shelf pins on the second 34-inch piece, line it up with the first and use the T-square to mark the second piece as you did the first. Drill using the same taped drill bit, and sand the holes.
13. Repeat step 12 for the third and fourth 34-inch pieces.
14. Flip over the first two 34-inch pieces so the holes face down. Measure 10 inches from the ends and mark an inch in from each edge. From that point, measure another 12 inches and mark two more marks an inch in on each board. Use the taped drill bit to drill all the marks.
15. Take one of the 34-inch pieces with holes in both sides and one with holes in only one side and set them on their sides facing each other. Between the top of the two boards, position one of the 12-by-6 pieces horizontally, lining up the top edges.
16. Anchor the top board by using a power drill and bit to start a hole and placing a screw in the top corner of one of the outer boards. Use a clutch clamp to hold the pieces firmly together. Drive in three more screws, one on each remaining outer top corner.
17. Repeat steps 15 and 16 with the remaining 34-inch and 16-inch boards.
18. Place the two constructed pieces next to each other. They should mirror each other in the placement of holes. When placed next to one another, you should have two pieces facing each other with matching upper and lower holes. Place a shelf pin in each of these bottom holes.
19. On top of the shelf pins, position a 12-by-6 board and use a clutch clamp to hold it in place. Use one screw on each side to fasten that board to the other two. This will also anchor the two constructed pieces together, making this section the middle of the bookshelf.
20. Repeat steps 18 and 19 on the upper shelf holes of this middle section.
21. Stand the piece up. Position a 12-by-4 board on top of the upper shelf facing out. Secure this piece with wood glue. Use a clutch clamp to keep it in place as it dries.
22. Put the piece down, and apply a layer of gray chalk paint to the whole construction on both sides. Also paint the remaining 12-6 6 board and 12-by-4 boards.
23. Lay out two 16-by-4 boards flat. Position three of the 3-by-2 pieces horizontally and face down along the top each of the longer boards, one on each end and one in the middle. Secure them with wood glue.
24. Apply a layer of yellow chalk paint to those pieces on both sides.
25. Apply a line of wood glue to the top outer edge of a tower and press the yellow section to it, yellow facing out. Center the tower in the middle of the yellow top. The edges will hang over the tower like in a castle. Clamp the pieces together while they dry.
26. Repeat step 25 with the other tower and yellow piece.
27. While the pieces dry, insert shelf pins in the remaining holes inside the towers. Tap them in with a rubber mallet to make sure they are firmly in place.
28. Place the remaining four painted 12-by-6 board on top of the shelf pins.
29. As you did in step 21, stand the remaining 12-by-4 pieces on their side on the very outer edge of each bottom tower shelf. Hold the pieces in place with wood glue. Secure them with clamps to dry.
30. Let the whole piece dry overnight before adding books and toys.
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