Bookending Spring Uncategorized

Bookending Spring 2020: My Very Own DIY Shelving System

I’m happy to be participating in Bookending Spring 2020 hosted by Fictionally Sam and Cuppa Clo! Today’s prompt is:

Smile for the Shelfie!

Take a picture of your bookshelves and/or stacks and explain how you organize your books!

Hello Readers! My new shelving system is finally done and ready to be seen! We recently had new flooring done throughout the house. We’ve lived in our current home for almost 18 years, and our kids (okay, teens and a young adult) still had the original carpeting in their rooms. Yuck! It was time for something better!

We had been told getting new floors was pretty much like moving, but we really had no idea. Everything had to be packed up and taken off the walls. (Whatever was left out ended up with a thick coat of dust.) But as I was packing up my books, shelf by shelf, I was already thinking of how much fun it would be when I got to unpack them. Fellow book lovers know what I’m talking about! πŸ˜‰

My books used to be spread out across the house. Three Ikea bookshelves were in the living room, two Ikea bookshelves were in a small office, and one large bookshelf in our bedroom, which we would keep. I’ve dreampt about how great it would be to have all my books in one room! My own personal library!! My husband conceded that they do take up a lot of room in the living room. πŸ˜‰ But we put those thoughts on hold until after the floors were done.

A few weeks later, the floors were done (and yes, yes, they turned out great, but we’re here for the bookshelves, right??), Covid-19 was closing in, and we realized shopping for bookshelves would mean online shopping. Until my husband decided to build me some shelves instead. Because he did have time to fill anyway, right?

I was a little nervous about this idea. He’s pretty handy, but he’s never built shelves. And my books are my babies!! But he sketched out what he was thinking (even leaving space for a desk), and I could finally see his vision–and was on board!


While he was working on my shelving system, I did get to unpack a few boxes of books and put them on the larger shelf we were keeping in our room, which helped the room start to feel like home again. I was happy to finally display all my favorite series together on one shelf. And I reserved one shelf as a kind of TBR library; as I read a book, I can move it off of the shelf and add another one on. Because I know I’ll never run out of new books to read. πŸ˜‰ The blank space in the middle is reserved for Bookstagram pics!


We ordered everything we needed for the shelving system online except the wood and stain. While my husband planned and built these himself, there are many DIY plans on Pinterest, too. Or you can simply google “DIY Shelving System”.

Once the shelves were attached to the wall, I let them sit overnight to make sure they were dry and acclimated. The next day felt a little bit like Christmas morning because I knew I had a blank slate for my books! I will admit I was overwhelmed at first. Where do I even start?? I decided to start with my collections and favorite books first, then work from there. I separated my books by genre and author before I started placing them on my shelves.

It took me all day and part of a second day, but I was finally happy with the result!

I left spaces to add more books, of course, and a few plants, plus I was able to display some of my kids’ art work and some of my favorite bookish items.

Next, we were waiting on the hairpin legs we ordered to attach to the desk. (We found some online at DIY Hairpin Legs and they shipped super fast!) We decided not to attach the desk to the wall or shelving system so it could be moved. The desk fits perfectly!

Now, we just need a chair and a rug! πŸ˜‰ Thank you for stopping by and indulging me!

Happy Wandering!

16 thoughts on “Bookending Spring 2020: My Very Own DIY Shelving System”

    1. Thank you!!! I just want to sit and stare at them. And then pull off all the books and rearrange them again. Ha!

  1. OMG this is so amazing I have no idea where to start with my comments! LOL I love the colour of your walls ? That colour makes me so happy! Haha I also absolutely love ALL YOUR SHELVES! Great job to your hubba for making those wall shelves. They’re really awesome and look nicer than the “standard” standing shelves! You’ve done up your shelves so nicely as well! Very organised πŸ™‚ I should be taking notes because I STILL haven’t unpacked from the time that I moved … Last month ? Great post, Dedra!

    1. Ha ha! I’m glad you like the color of my walls. It’s not everyone’s favorite, but it makes me happy. πŸ˜‰ I was fine with standard shelves, but now I’m loving all the possibilities! And it’s okay you haven’t unpacked yet. You’re just saving up that fun day! πŸ˜‰

  2. Wow, the shelves, the walls, the floor, it all looks amazing. It is so awesome to do a refresh like that. I love your shelves. They look wonderful and not just a bunch of big shelves lined up together. Enjoy them and your new desk.

    1. Thank you! I thought I just wanted regular big shelves, but he made me see the light. πŸ˜‰

    1. Ha! I totally get that! I’m glad I’m not the only one who finds rearranging my bookshelves fun. πŸ˜‰

  3. Ahahah, I love the floors <3 They would make a great background for bookstagram photos πŸ˜€ So many books! I'm still dreaming about my own little library. It will happen some day! πŸ˜€

    1. Thank you! Yes! They have already been used for some of my bookstagram pics. Ha! Keep dreaming, it will happen! I’m still determined to have a whole room just for books someday. πŸ˜‰

    1. Thank you! Yes, and now that I know what he’s capable of, I’m dreaming up new projects. Ha!

  4. First, your floors look amazing!!!

    Second, there is really no better feeling than unpacking books and organizing them! The DIY shelves that your husband made turned out really great as well, I love how the desk fits in there. Kudos to your burgeoning library!

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