How to Create Office Furniture Using Shelves

Save Money by Building the Shelving Yourself

• 1

  Align the melamine panels to the dimensions desired, then disassemble the panels and run a bead of melamine glue along the parts of the panels that will be touching. Reassemble the pieces and use masking tape or clamps to hold them together until the glue has dried (see the glue label for drying time).

• 2

  Insert wood screws using a drill or screwdriver. Place a plastic screw cap or self-adhesive screw covers to cover the screw hole.

• 3

  Iron on edge banding for a clean, finished look. Cut a strip a little longer than the edge, place it adhesive side down (on the edge of the melamine) and iron (set the iron on high). Let the edge banding cool for 5 minutes and trim to fit the length of the edge with a utility knife. Use coarse-grit sandpaper to file away any overhang on the shelf.

Customize Ready-Made Shelving

• 4

  Spray paint your ready-made piece if you wish to paint it. Allow to dry.

• 5

  Place the L-brackets on the back side of the unit so the top of the bracket is placed on the counter top and the bottom of the bracket is on the top of the shelving or drawer unit. Mark the drill holes with a pencil, remove the bracket and pre-drill the holes with a power drill and drill bit (the drill bit should be slightly smaller than the width of the wood screw).

• 6

  Attach the countertop by screwing in the wood screws. Use a drill or screwdriver, either Phillips or flat-head, depending on your screw head.

• 7

  Tack on base molding and top trim with wood glue (if gluing on a wood surface) or melamine glue (if using a melamine surface) to change the look of a basic bookcase.

• 8

  Attach doors to the shelves with hinges, if desired. Place the hinges so they touch the inside of the door and the inside wall of the shelves (you’ll need someone to hold the doors), and mark the screw holes with a pencil. Pre-drill the holes, then screw in the hinges.