Dr. Suess Themed Book Nook – Bench

Hello again everyone!  You may remember back at the beginning of the year when I shared how I turned an  unused coat closet into a kiddos storage book nook. Today I’m finally getting around to sharing how I built the bench. 

 

Some of you may remember the before…

 

I wanted the kiddos to have a little space to sit and read. However, I also I wanted to have a shared space for them to store all their books. So, thus the idea of the book nook was born. The first thing I had to do was rip everything out.  I wanted shelves up the side so the kids could actually reach the books and then storage under the bench for bigger books.  When you don’t have the right size shelves, the books end up looking like this.

 

All the time.

I was dead set on building this book nook out of scrap wood.  It’s pretty cool what you can come up with when you set your mind to something and don’t have any money :).  I had a bunch of leftover 2x4s, so I decided this would be the perfect project for them.

 

I created the top of the bench first and started by connecting the 2x4s together with clamps, wood glue and pocket holes to make a flat surface.

 

First, I built the top to make sure the fit was correct and then did the sides and the bottom in the same manner.  I used the biggest book we owned to measure and built the bench around that. It was just wood glue and pocket holes everywhere.

 

 

Plywood would probably have been a better choice, but since I had leftover 2x4s I went with it and I like the way it turned out. The side flushed against the wall is screwed into the drywall, but that’s it.  I didn’t drill anything into the brick or floor.  I didn’t want to ruin those in case I change my mind and want to do something else in here later.

 

I squeezed the top in and attached it to the base with pocket holes that I had pre-drilled on the side pieces.

 

Stella’s testing it out.  She also says she did not eat the corner of the book, but I think she may be lying.

I have separated this post into three posts to keep it from getting so long.  Read all about the floating shelves I built on the side HERE. If you are interested in the accessories – including the custom wall art and rag rug – HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

April

Dr. Suess Book Nook – Bench

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