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Eco Office Large Bookshelf - Made with PureBond Formaldehyde Free Plywood

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Free woodworking plans to build a large contemporary style bookcase for a modern home office. Featuring step by step diagrams, cut list and shopping list, these beginning do it yourself furniture plans are designed for anyone to build with simple tools and off the shelf materials.

Work smarter, not harder.
Some great words of advice one of our readers once commented right here on this very blog.  And those words have stuck with me, encouraging me to improve not just what I do, but how I do things.  
So as we went to build two desks in one tiny 8x8 office, I really wanted to create not just a double desk, but a desk system that enables us to work just as hard, but smarter, getting more done in the same amount of time.  And that means making things easier to use and easier to find and store.  
Top of the list, I wanted a permanent but accessible place for the printer.  And then some good storage for things you sometimes use, like copy paper, magazines I'm not ready to recycle, and certain craft supplies, and then additional storage for those things that we always use - things like envelopes, my jar of treasures (random hardware, screws and other life necessities for any DIYer), and current magazines.

And then of course, what team doesn't need some community space?
So we built the Double Bookcase component of our office, designed to separate the two desks, and provide shared storage and desktop space.  That way my clutter and random piles of notes stay on my side, and the Ram doesn't get too frustrated with me . . . hey I'm a creative type, I'm think best when I'm messy . . . yeah okay.
And like the rest of my new office, this double bookshelf is made of PureBond Formaldehyde Free plywood, available at the Home Depot.  It's made with soy based glue, so I'm comforted to know not only is the wood beautiful and comparable in cost, but our health and indoor air quality isn't being compromised by my new desk.

Special thanks to Columbia Forest Products and their beautiful Formaldahyde Free PureBond Plywood for supplying the wood for this project.

Dimensions
Dimensions are shown above.

Preparation

Shopping List

1 - Sheet 3/4" PureBond Hardwood Plywood (available at The Home Depot) 

2 - 1x2 @ 6 feet long (optional, see step 6) 
3 - 25' long rolls Edge Banding, in matching wood grain
Common Materials
2 inch screws
1-1/4" Pocket Hole Screws
Elmer's Wood Glue
Elmer's Wood Filler
wood conditioner
Cut List

2 - 1x17 @ 48" (Top/Bottom)
1 - 1x17 @ 34 1/2" (Shelf)
2 - 1x17 @ 25" (Ends)
2 - 1x12 @ 25" (Small Bookshelf Sides)
1 - 1x12 @ 12" (Small Bookshelf Shelf)
2 - 1x2 @ 45"
2 - 1x2 @ 15 1/2"

Tools
Tape Measure
Speed Square
Pencil
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
Kreg Jig
Drill
Circular Saw
Power Sander
Drill Bit Set
General Instructions

Please read through the entire plan and all comments before beginning this project. It is also advisable to review the Getting Started Section. Take all necessary precautions to build safely and smartly. Work on a clean level surface, free of imperfections or debris. Always use straight boards. Check for square after each step. Always predrill holes before attaching with screws. Use glue with finish nails for a stronger hold. Wipe excess glue off bare wood for stained projects, as dried glue will not take stain. Be safe, have fun, and ask for help if you need it. Good luck!

Instructions

Step 1

As mentioned with the Open Bookshelf Base it is important to cut your plywood square and with the grain of the plywood, also taking into account how a circular saw works, and the easiest method to cut. Have your Home Depot cut the plywood into 3 strips, 17" wide, and one strip 12" wide. Save the scrap strip - you may be able to use it for the footer if it's square and 1 1/2" wide. Once your strips are cut, you can use them like boards - I will refer to the strips as 1x17 and 1x12, although the strips are not true 1xs.

Step 2

I've included in the diagrams pocket holes for Kreg Jig users.  For those of you without, you can countersink 2" screws from the outside for joints with glue.  Attach shelf to ends as shown above.

Step 3

Now add top and bottom as shown above. Adjust for square.

Step 4

And now the small bookshelf sides - also attach from the back.

Step 5

Step 6

Finally, build your footer, and attach. I used pocket holes to attach mine, but if you don't have a pocket hole jig, you can cut corner bracing at 45 degree angles on both sides, and then attach as shown in the diagram above.

Step 7

Apply edge banding to all exposed plywood edges as recommended by the manufacturer. The edge banding we used was iron on, and it's very simple to do. We trimmed the excess off with a utility knife and then sanded outside corners for a smooth joint. Results? You can't tell what's the original plywood and what we ironed on!

Finishing Instructions
Preparation Instructions
Fill all holes with wood filler and let dry. Apply additional coats of wood filler as needed. When wood filler is completely dry, sand the project in the direction of the wood grain with 120 grit sandpaper. Vacuum sanded project to remove sanding residue. Remove all sanding residue on work surfaces as well. Wipe project clean with damp cloth.

It is always recommended to apply a test coat on a hidden area or scrap piece to ensure color evenness and adhesion. Use primer or wood conditioner as needed.
Project Type
Desk, Desk Systems and Project Table Plans
Bookshelf and Bookcase Plans
Room
Storage Solutions
Craftroom
office
Style
Green or Eco-Friendly Style Furniture
Modern Style Furniture Plans

Comments

Erica Havey (not verified)

Thu, 06/30/2011 - 14:16

How much did this cost you Ana? Or maybe how much did the whole desk cost if you don't know each individual piece?

Ana White

Thu, 06/30/2011 - 14:25

Hi Erica, for the entire office with desktop (so one bookshelf base, one double bookshelf "fence", and one drawer/file base (plans not yet published and desktop) requires about 3 sheets of plywood. I used PureBond, which runs in the neighborhood of $50 a sheet. Add in varnish, drawer slides, 1x2s (if you used them and not plywood) and hardware, we estimate the entire office to be in the $200 range. That's a steal, considering it's made of hardwood 3/4" plywood, and the plywood is uses soy based glue and is formaldehyde free.

Hunter (not verified)

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 17:38

I am so excited to build this for my office! Do you know when you will be posting the drawer/file base plans?

Beth Mosier (not verified)

Thu, 06/30/2011 - 16:54

I love this. I am trying to make a table/desk for my sewing machine. This is great for this end. What plans would be best for making the other end for a single desk?

Beth

Pam the Goatherd

Fri, 07/01/2011 - 11:04

I have been trying to adapt one of your other plans to build this very thing as my media console! I'm glad now that I waited to build it until I finished a couple other projects first. I'm going to make it 24" deep instead of the 17" so it will hold our clunky old-fashioned tv which we use for watching DVDs and ancient VHS videos. The bookcase end will hold my husband's "to go" stuff that he takes out of his pockets when he gets home after work as well as his briefcase. I'm also planning on adding at least one more shelf to each section so we can store all our CDS/DVDs/VHS right under the tv and will also use a shelf as a charging station where we will have ALL of our battery, phone, etc. chargers in one place. I can't wait to get it built and get things organized. Heading to Big Blue next week to buy the wood.

tootspyrus

Fri, 07/01/2011 - 17:29

That is beautiful ! I was trying to draw some plan to make my own working desk at home, but honesty, you rock ! That's what is going to be in my computer room ! Thank you so much