DIY Under $10 Bookshelf Redo

Usually on a typical Saturday afternoon, after all the yard sales of course, you will see unfinished or boring wood furniture that is sitting on the side of the street. Now some people may think... why in the world would anyone want to save that thing, but the second my mom and I saw it we saw the POTENTIAL! 

To me this bookshelf is beautiful because it is like a blank canvas... lets see what we can do with it :) 

Materials:

Bookshelf - $5 at a local Thrift Store

Spray Paint & Primer - $3 

Wallpaper or Wrapping paper - $0 - Left over from Christmas!

Glue 

Scissors

Ruler

Paint Brush

1. Prep your bookshelf/furniture and fix any flaws before you begin painting. 

 

When we started with this bookshelf, the back was completely open, causing it to be very unstable. To reinforce it, my dad and I cut out a piece of cardboard the size of the rectangle and fixed it to the wood with small nails or tacks. If you have sturdy and long staples - you could also use a staple gun. 

I used a gloss spray paint because it makes the piece look more finished. 

You could also use a satin finish.

Be sure to either prime the wood first or buy a 2 in one like the one pictured above.

2. Spray paint the bookshelf (usually will need 2 coats). You do not need to worry about getting the cardboard backing because we will be applying wallpaper/wrapping paper to it. 

3. After painting, pick out the wrapping paper you want to put inside the bookshelf. 

Below is the patter that I used!

4. Measure the inside rectangle of the bookshelf. then remove a 1/4th of an inch from each side to be sure that it fits perfectly. 

5. Once you have cut the rectangles, place the paper inside the shelves to be sure that they fit. 

6. Prepare the glue. 

You can use Mod Podge or watered down Tacky Glue or Elmer's Glue.

7. Put a layer of glue on the back of the bookshelf. 

8. Place the wrapping paper on the cardboard starting with one of the edges. If the paper wrinkles a little bit - do not worry! You won't even be able to tell at the end. 

Here is the finished product!

And a before and after picture :) 

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