Three-Tiered Children’s Shelf

How was your Labor Day weekend?! And how great is it that our work week doesn’t start with a Monday this week?

We’ve been plotting away at some really amazing ideas for the shared kids room at the new house, and I can’t wait to share details with you later this week! But today I want share a super cute organizational piece of furniture that will end up in their room. We’re not really sure what to call it, so we’re just going with ‘Three-Tiered Children’s Shelf’. But the truth is, it doesn’t have to be for kids stuff. It could be used in so many different ways! And now that it’s done, I’m giving it the side-eye for my future craft room. *devious laughs*

*This post is sponsored by Build Something and Kreg Jig. Thank you for supporting the fabulous brands that make Reality Daydream possible! This post contains affiliate links.*

Nick took the lead and ran with this build, so I’m going to turn this over to him!

Hey Guys,  Nick Here!  Bethany came up to me recently and mentioned that she was wanting a shelf that matched our sweet kids convertible craft table.  Remember how it awesomely swings into a long narrow craft table?

Anywho,  I hopped right onto it and started modifying the plans from our table.

For Free Plans, Cutlist, BOM, and Cost Click HERE

Let’s get into it shall we?

I can tell you that this project took me an afternoon to complete. And, since we had all the hardware in the shop, it only cost about $60.00 to build.  If you really wanted to cut the cost out you could probably build this shelf for less than $20.00.

Building Material

• (1) 4×8 sheet 3/4″ plywood
• (1) 5/4 x 6″ x 96″ Pine (Select)

 

Check it out, we created this cut list to make things easier.

Extra (Tid-Bits and Blades)

• 5/64 Drill bit – Use as a pilot drill for finishing screws.
• T10 torque bit – Use for finishing screws
• #2 Square Bit – Use for Pocket Hole Screws
• 1/4″ Roundover Bit – Use for rounding edges.
• 60 T Frued ATB Table Saw blade – Used for Cutting Plywood and Melamine
• 40 T Frued ATB Table Saw blade – Used when Ripping and Cross-Cutting Dimensional Lumber
• 1/8″ 14 TPI Olson Blade – Used for cutting tight radius on a band saw.

We started by cutting down the sheet stock, to make the pieces manageable,  we used a circular saw got a rough dimension then cut to the specified finished dimensions on the table saw.  Then we cut them to length using a miter gauge.

After cutting the sheet stock we laid out all the drawers and marked where the shelf fronts met the sides and dividers, then cut them on the table saw using a cross cut sled.

Once all the sheet stock was cut, using a digital angle gauge, we tilted the table saw blade to 80 degrees and cut the shelf fronts to match the angle.

We laid out the recessed area and cut it out on a bandsaw for the bottom drawer front.

We then took and drilled pocket holes with our Kreg Jig.

• 2 each side on the back of the Drawer Fronts
• 2 on the inside of the Drawer sides
• 2 each side of the back of the Drawer Backs
• 3 each side on the bottom of the Drawer Bottoms
• 4 on the front edge of the bottom of the Drawer Bottoms

Assembling the drawers was pretty straight forward.

1. Screw the Shelf Sides to the Shelf fronts.
2. Screw the Shelf Backs to the Shelf Sides.
3. Using a brad nailer, Nail the Shelf Fronts to the Dividers.
4. Drill a pilot hole through the Shelf Backs into the Dividers.
5. Screw the Shelf Backs into the Dividers with the finish screws.
6. Drill a pilot hole through the Shelf Bottoms into the Dividers.
7. Screw the Shelf Bottoms into the Dividers with the finish screws.

Now set the drawers to the side and lets bring this project home.

Rip and cut the miters for the legs on the table saw.  Then Drill pocket holes (2) per side on the inside of the Leg Tops (be sure to make a right and left leg).  Assemble!

This part is totally optional. We wanted those top corners rounded, so we drew 1 1/4″ radius on the leg corners and cut them out on the band saw.

Next we layout the shelf positions, place the shelves on the legs and trace around them with a pencil. This will tell us where to start and stop when we round the corners with the router, router table, and a roundover bit. Route!.

We are so close to glorious bliss! We filled/glued the exposed pocket holes with a 3/8″ dowel and the cut off the remaining dowel, sand them smooth and slap on some paint!

Grab your little helpers and get it,  Time to Assemble! Booh YA! Assemble shelves to the legs with the 1 1/2″ finish screws.

Stand that sucker upright and admire your work! There were a couple visible pencil lines that needed to be erased off at this point. But other than that, she’s ready to be loaded up with stuff!!

Sorry about that creepy baby staring at you. Some things you don’t notice until it’s too late.

This shelf is so handy! And we love that there are compartments within the shelves to help organize things and keep the room tidy. Although… kids. Our standards aren’t that high.

We can’t wait to show you more details about what’s going down in the girls’ new room! The above pics are in their current room at the old house, so don’t be confused about the purple carpet. Stay tuned later this week!

~Beth & Nick