How to Make a Bookcase for a Child's Room to Hold Clear Bins for Toy Storage

Measure the height of the plastic bins to determine the height for the bookcase shelves and the length of the bins so that you know how wide to make the sections. Record these numbers.

Cut the 12-inch wide boards into the proper lengths to create the top, bottom and sides of the bookcase. A good, child-friendly height is three feet. The width of the bookcase depends on the amount of space you have available.

Lay the boards on the floor along their long ends so that they stand up on their 1/2-inch sides. Position them in the form of a box with the top and bottom boards set between the side boards flush at the ends.

Nail the bookcase frame together along each corner.

Stand the bookcase up on its bottom side. Measure out the correct size for the plywood backing. Cut the plywood so it fits exactly over the back of the bookcase from top to bottom and side to side, touching each outside edge. The plywood backing stabilizes the bookcase.

Nail the plywood backing into place onto the bookcase.

Stain the wood bookcase with the wood finish, applying it evenly with a paintbrush. Stain the plywood backing as well. Allow the wood finish to dry completely before adding the shelves.

Cut the shelf pieces to insert into the bookcase frame. The shelf pieces should be the same length as the top and bottom pieces of the bookcase. Stain these pieces the same color as the rest of the bookcase.

Measure the proper distance to position the shelves so that the plastic bins fit onto the shelves. Hold an L-bracket near the back of the bookcase at the first shelf position and drill the pilot holes for that L-bracket. Insert the screws and tighten them.

Repeat Step 9 for three more brackets--one at the back on the other side and one on each side near the front.

Drill holes into the bottom of the first shelf to line up with the L-brackets. Put the shelf in place and insert the screws to secure it in place.

Repeat Steps 9 to 11 for each additional shelf.

Measure the boards to create the separators between the plastic bins. Cut the boards to the proper dimensions, which equals the depth of the bookcase by the height of each shelf.

Position each cut board into its position on the shelf, measuring from the end of the shelf to the required position. For the next section on the same shelf, measure from one board to the next. The boards will form separate sections for each plastic bin.

Hammer nails into the boards through the plywood backing of the bookcase to hold them firmly in place. You may also hammer nails from the top and bottom of each shelf if you want for a firmer hold.

Slide the plastic bins onto each shelf into their individualized sections.