DIY Wood Crate Bookshelf Tutorial

One of my favorite sights is to see my kids curled up with a good book. Today I’m sharing the first of a two part project, a DIY Wood Crate Bookshelf Tutorial, to help organize all those books! I’ll be back soon to share a tutorial to make a giant floor pillow that’s perfect for cozy reading! Update: You can find the Giant Floor Pillow Tutorial HERE!

You might remember this wood crate bookshelf I made a couple of years ago. I still love it so much that I wanted a new version for my boys’ room, and this one turned out just as I imagined! Even better, my boys love it just as much as I do – a win-win!

Thanks to pre-finished wood crates and an amazing peel and stick wallpaper line from Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, you’ll have a completely custom bookshelf that didn’t even require a paintbrush to make!

However, if painting is up your alley, check out our DIY herringbone headboard project! It’s definitely at the top of my list of favorite DIY projects ever.

You might even want to use the shelf for LEGO storage with our DIY LEGO table. Here we go!

Wood Crate Bookshelf Supplies:
3 white wash wood crates
NuWallpaper Peel and Stick Wallpaper (I used Birch Tree)
NuWallpaper applicator kit
2 22×28” poster boards
e-6000 glue
wood glue
clamps
36” long 1×4 lumber
¾” screws
sandpaper
rotary cutter and mat
clear tape

*Supplies and compensation for this post provided by Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. All content and photography are my own, and opinions are genuine.

Stack the crates to determine the best order and use wood glue to glue and clamp the horizontal slats together.

Center the 36” long 1×4 on the back of the crates, with the top positioned approximately 1” down from the top of the top crate. From the inside of the crates, screw through the slats and into the 1×4, securing together (it helps to have a buddy help hold everything in place!).

Use sandpaper to smooth any roughness where screws entered slats. Clean debris from sanding.

Use clear tape to attach the two poster boards together along short edges.

Tape the poster boards to a wall and follow manufacturer’s instructions to attach the wallpaper to the boards (at least 40” of wallpaper length). This step can also be done on the floor but gravity will help to reduce wrinkles and will make it easier to attach evenly. Work slowly, removing a small amount of the wallpaper backing at a time, and use the smoother to remove any small wrinkles.

Square off top and one side of wallpaper using rotary cutter and mat. Measure the inside of each crate and cut three pieces of wallpaper to fit perfectly inside each crate back. Be sure to cut wallpaper in direction to allow a continuous pattern when attached to crate backs.

Place bookshelf face up on floor. Use e-6000 glue (in a well vented area) to attach wallpaper pieces to slats on each crate back. The smoother will help to attach corners and edges firmly. Let glue dry completely.

Great job! Now that you’ve made a totally custom bookshelf, we’ll be back soon to show you how to make the floor pillow!