How to Design a Bookcase & Header Over a Bed

Measure the width of the bed space and usable wall area. Use these measurements to plan the wall unit on paper. Allow 36-48 inches on both sides of the bed for a bookcase. Plan to build each bookcase 6 feet tall with a top connecting shelf. Build this shelf to reach the entire width of the unit from left to right to unify the structure.

Sketch the bookcase unit with all surrounding bed space on graph paper. Use one square of graph paper to represent 4 inches. Draw bookshelves reaching from top to bottom of each side unit. Plan to space the shelves 12 inches apart on both sides of the bed. Design an additional shelf under the main header shelf to reach across the bed. Create this shelf to hold books or art objects across the bed space itself.

Plan to construct the whole wall unit structure 18 inches deep from front side to the wall. Allow this much room, so books and other items will not tumble out easily. Use 1/2-inch plywood to form a back wall for the entire unit, tying the whole unit together. Cut the plywood, when you are ready to construct the unit, with a circular saw. Buy premade boards to form shelves or cut them from plywood. Use wood screws installed with an electric screwdriver to fasten the plywood back to all shelving.

Glue wood trim across shelving front edges. Cover rough edges of plywood in this manner, if plywood is used for actual shelves. Install wood trim on shelves to form a small lip to keep books or art objects from tumbling out the front. Plan to install wood trim or crown molding across the very top edge of the wall unit.

Paint or stain the unit. Paint the entire structure to match the wall, or stain it to match the other wood furniture in the room. Use high-quality paint and apply it in three separate coats, allowing each to dry for eight hours before adding another coat. Stain the unit with a stain product that includes polyurethane as part of the mix if you will use stain. Brush on three separate coats of stain, allowing each coat to dry for 24 hours before adding another coat.