I figure most of you can figure out how to build cube shelving…so I assure you that is not what we are going to do today! I am modifying the “typical” cube shelving so that it might be attached to the wall and trimmed out for decorative purposes. Let’s face it folks… if it isn’t nailed to the wall, it is going to be climbed on and WILL fall over and land on your child…or your cat…or you? We know what you do when we aren’t looking…stop climbing the walls!
This is really easy to build, extremely budget friendly, and because it is broken down into cubes instead of longer sections, you can modify this in any way you like. Add another on top, a second row adjacent to this, maybe even a 3rd? The possibilities are endless, even a pyramid shape will work! The only question is how much storage do you need? and how large is your space? I will provide the buying guide for 1 cube and then for the 3 that I have done in this plan. This will give you the ability to adjust as needed.
$50-$75
- Tape Measure
- Square
- Sander
- Saw – to cut your pieces to size.
- Drill
- Pneumatic Nailer (Nail Gun) or Finish Nail Set and Hammer.
- Wood (MDF): (for 3 cubes)
- 2 – Sheets of MDF at 4′ x 8′
- 5 – 1×2 at 10′
- 1 – 1×2 at 6′
- 2″ Coarse Thread Screws (or drywall screws)
- 1 1/4″ Coarse Thread Screws (or drywall screws)
- 2″ Finish Nails
- Wood Glue
- Wood Filler
- Sandpaper
- Spackle
- Finishing Supplies
1 Cube: (the measurements change considerably for the trim if you do multiple cubes see below)
- 2 – 11/16″ (3/4″ equivalent) MDF at 18 x 18″ (Sides)
- 2 – 11/16″ MDF at 16 1/2 x 18″ (Top and Bottom)
- 2 – 1×2 at 16 1/2″ (Cleats)
- 2 – 1×2 at 15″ (Front Trim)
- 6 – 1×2 at 18″ (Front and Side Trim)
- 4 – 1×2 at 15 3/4″ (Side Trim)
3 Cubes:
- 6 – 11/16″ (3/4″ equivalent) MDF at 18 x 18″ (Sides)
- 6 – 11/16″ MDF at 16 1/2 x 18″ (Top and Bottom)
- 6 – 1×2 at 16 1/2″ (Cleats)
- 4 – 1×2 at 15″ (Front Trim)
- 6- 1×2 at 54″ (Front and Side Trim)
- 8 – 1×2 at 15 3/4″ (Side Trim)
Before beginning to build, always check in on my site to make sure you have the most up to date set of plans, I occasionally update and change the plans to make the building process easier or to allow for less expensive purchasing of materials! Read through the entire set of instructions and all comments before beginning this project. If you print out or save plans, be sure to check in on my site to be sure you have the most up to date set of plans, as I occasionally update things for ease of building or buying. If you are new to building, read through the GETTING STARTED section and other articles found under the BUILD tab in the menu on my site, it has valuable information about how to get started, tools and techniques. If you are unfamiliar with the finishing process, visit my Finishing school for some tips and tricks for painting like a pro and for special finishing practices. Use glue to secure your joints and Consider Painting or Staining individual sections prior to assembling. This makes the paint application virtually flawless. Coat with a spray on Poly or Wipe on Poly to protect your finish and your piece and it will last for ages. Adhere to all safety standards and guidelines, and be sure you follow safety protocol throughout your build. If you are unsure about whether you are building safely, run a quick online search for the tool or technique you are using, or contact me via email or post to the forum before you move ahead. My contact info can be found in the menu of my site.
Build your Cubes: Notice that the sides are the longer pieces and the top and bottom are shorter, this is too allow for less of a seam on the outsides when you are finished stacking. Use 2″ Screws and Glue.
Attach the cleats to the backside. Use 2″ Screws and Glue or your Kreg Jig and 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws.
Stack and attach to each other. Use 1 1/4″ Screws and Glue.
Trim out the Front of your unit: Use 2″ Finish Nails and Glue for the least amount of touch up. You can also build the face frame using your Kreg Jig and 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws and then nail the face frame unit in place as a whole.
Trim out the sides: Use 2″ Finish Nails and Glue or you kreg jig to create a face frame (this means attach the trim pieces together) using 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws and glue and then nail onto the sides as a single trim unit.
Fill any Screw, Nail or Pocket Holes, Sand and Finish as Desired. For Finishing Tips and Tricks visit my Finishing School
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**Disclaimer: Some rights reserved. Private use only. Feel Free to link to any of my plans so long as you provide an adequate link back to the appropriate post! Plans from this page are not to be used for commercial purposes or republished without the express written consent of Rayan Turner, The Design Confidential I hope to provide accurate plans, however, I cannot guarantee each plan for accuracy. Not every plan that I post has been built and tested, so you are building at your own risk. It is recommended that you have a clear understanding of how the project works before beginning any project. Please contact me if you find an error or inaccuracy so that I might fix it.
