How to Make a Tall Slim Bookcase

Measure the distance between your floor and ceiling with a tape measure, and then decide how high you want your bookshelf to be. Since you will attach the bookshelf to the wall, you can make it any height as long as it will fit against the wall.

Cut two pieces of 1-by-6-inch wide furniture grade pine boards to the length you decided on in step 1. If you choose, use hardwood, such as oak or exotic woods to achieve a high-end look to your bookshelf. However, with wood stain, you can use pine and achieve the look of just about any type of wood.

Measure the width of space on your wall with the tape measure. Decide how wide you want your bookcase. Cut pieces of 1-by-6-inch wide furniture grade pine boards to that measurement. Keep in mind that you must subtract 2 inches from the width of the board you cut to compensate for the thickness of the vertical boards that will hold the shelves. To determine how many boards you must cut, divide the height of your bookshelf by the overall spacing you want between each shelf. For instance, 12-inches is a good spacing, but you can choose any spacing you want.

Place both boards you plan to use for the sides of your bookcase beside each other so you can see the 6-inch wide faces.

Measure up from the bottom of the board 12 inches (or your preferred spacing) and then scribe a line across the boards. Measure up 1 inch and scribe a second line. The gap between both lines denotes the location of the bottom shelf. Repeat this process as you work your way up the shelf until you reach the top of the boards.

Drill three evenly spaced ¼-inch diameter holes across the 6-inch face of each board between the 1-inch gaps where you will install your shelves. These are the pilot holes needed for driving the screws through the sides of the bookcase and into the shelves.

Place the sides of the bookcase on their 1-inch edges and then place the shelves between the sides. Line the shelves up with the lines you scribed on the shelves.

Drive 2-inch drywall screws through the outside of the bookcase sides and into the shelves. Drive the screws in straight to ensure the bookcase stays square.

Stain the bookcase with your preferred color of stain. If you choose, you can paint the bookcase with a latex interior paint. Wait 24 hours for the stain or paint to dry.

Place the bookcase against the wall. Place L-brackets on the top shelf at each end of the bookcase. Mark the mounting holes on the L-brackets onto the bookcase and onto the wall.

Drill a ¼-inch hole through the top shelf and then secure the L-bracket to the shelf with a ¼-inch bolt and nut. Tighten the bolt and nut with a wrench.

Drill a hole into the marked locations on the wall and press a wall anchor into the wall with a hammer.

Place the bookcase against the wall and line the L-brackets up with the wall anchors. Secure the L-brackets to the wall with the screws supplied with the anchors.