DIY Book Display Stand
Display your beautiful coffee table books with this simple DIY. It takes minimal tools and is an easy two day project. And the only reason it took two days is because of dry time!
The original inspiration behind this book display was from McGee and Co. and I found a helpful cut guide from Joinery & Design Co. that I used as a reference to create my own! Below I’ve outlined exactly how I built this beautiful DIY book display stand, down to the exact measurements and angles.
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Materials Used:
- 6ft – 1×6 Wood Board*
- Wood Glue
- Stain
- Staining Pad
TOOLS Used:
*Any type of wood will do, just make sure it’s a solid board and not plywood. The look of the wood comes down to preference—be mindful of the type of wood/grain pattern if you plan to stain or have something specific in mind.
What You’ll Need to Get Started
I built this book stand from materials I had on hand, using a few of my essential DIY tools.
I used a 1×10 piece of select pine and cut it down to size—this step isn’t necessary if you use a 1×6. If you don’t have a wood scrap hoarding problem like myself and are buying your wood new, opt for a 1×6 board. While I cut my board down to 6 inches, a 1×6 will provide a width of 5.5 inches. Using two boards, it provides a final width of 11 inches. Honestly, I’ll be using a 1×6 next time because I think it will look better aesthetically.
With that being said, I will be providing steps on how to make this book stand using a 1×6 piece of wood.
Remember, You’ll be making two exact copies!
After assembly, these two pieces will slide into one another. I’ll be walking you through the cuts for one of these, but make sure to make two copies of everything!
STEP ONE
Make Your Cuts
We’ll be making a few angled cuts on the miter saw. I want to quickly explain why these cuts vary, because 40° cuts are not a standard angle I use. However, as I was researching different designs and this angle allowed for a much more open design. When you make 45 degree cuts, your opening becomes 90 degrees, whereas when you make 40 degree cuts, your opening becomes 100 degrees. Believe it or not, that 10°makes a huge difference in my opinion. Does that make sense?
CUT #1
Your longer board will have 90°and 45°angles, so you’ll only be making one cut. Make a 45 degree mitered cut at 13.5 inches—this measurement is from the 90°end to the toe of your mitered cut.
CUT #2
One of your shorter boards will have 90°and 40°angles. Make a 40 degree mitered cut at 8 inches—this measurement is from the 90°end to the toe of your mitered cut.
Although my final measurement of this piece was 7-15/16 inches, cut at 8 inches because this can be trimmed down later. It’s better to have a little extra than not enough in this instance!
CUT #3 & #4
These last two cuts are a little more complicated—one will be at 40 degrees and the other at 45 degrees. Make your first cut at 40 degrees and then measure 6 inches for your next cut. Cut a 45°mitered cut, so that the toe of each angle measures to 6 inches.
STEP TWO
Glue and Clamp
After all cuts are made, it’s time to assemble! But before I started gluing, it was important to make a few marks. I used a spare piece of wood to determine the distance between the two 40°angle boards. This would ensure the appropriate amount of space, which will allow the stand to be assembled without any problems later.
This is where this DIY turns into a two-day project. Allow the glue to sit overnight, so that it can properly dry. Did you know wood glue is just as strong as nails? Incredible this thing will be held together by wood glue alone.
After everything has dried…
Look at the 90°angle side of your boards. If they are uneven (like mine were), simply trim them using your miter saw! Try to take off as little as possible.
STEP Three
Add Decorative Detail
This step is not necessary, but it does create something a little extra for the design of this book stand. I used a 2.5 inch hole saw to cut a semi-circle in the bottom end—the end with a 45°cut.
I used my table saw because it had holes throughout that I knew would allow the drill bit to pass through if needed. I put a scrap board below my piece I wanted to cut and positioned those next two two other scrap pieces stacked to the same height (you’ll notice I positioned the toe of that angle up). Then, I clamped everything tightly to the table.
I put the bit on the scrap wood piece side and drilled as straight down as possible, going all the way through and a little into the scrap piece below.
STEP FOUR
Sand and Stain
Even if you don’t plan on staining, sanding is a crucial step to make sure the wood is smooth to the touch. After sanding with my orbital sander, I applied a pre-stain wood conditioner. This step is important because it helps the wood accept the stain better, preventing uneven absorption and a blotchy appearance. Remember that pre-stains and stains come in water and oil-based varieties. Stick with them one throughout—don’t mix oil and water!
You can also apply a top coat if desired, but that step is optional. After the stain has dried, it’s time to assemble. Simply slide both pieces into one another—they should fit snuggly.
Such an easy, inexpensive and relatively quick DIY. My interior design coffee table books look lovely closed, but there’s such beautiful content inside, I love that I can show that off. I think this book stand could also work well in the kitchen to hold up cook books!
Is this a DIY you would try? If you give it a go, let me know how it goes and tag me if you post your completed DIY. Happy building, friends!
