DIY: The Magical Floating Book Shelf

Alright, my long-suffering laptop is pretty much IN its death throes as I type so let’s get right into it, shall we?
Let’s talk books. The same problem I have with paper, I have with books. I’ve lived in the same place for two years and still have boxes (yup, multiple) of books. The library keeps calling asking when I’m going to return my massively overdue books (when I’m done with them, dammit!). And I just borrowed yet another Sookie Stackhouse novel from my bestie (thanks honey!). I can’t help myself, but I can help myself from leaving my paperback friends in a heap in the corner by making myself some David Copperfield-worthy invisible bookshelves.

Ooh! It’s like magic!

Here’s what you’ll need in order to do the same: One neat-looking, hardcover book (that you don’t mind putting holes in). A comparably sized “L” bracket, a carpet knife, a handful of wood screws (flat-headed, smallish), couple of larger wood screws, ruler, glue.

Example of what the bracket should look like in the book.

Now flip open the back cover of your book, measure a mark about the middle of the last page, mark your place and place your bracket down. Draw an outline, then cut out space for the bracket to sink into the book. (Make sure to also cut space in the cover, so the “L” bracket will sit flush between the book and the wall.) Use the small wood screws to fasten all the pages together, but proceed carefully – they’ll bunch up if you rush it.

Note the screws holding the pages together

Next, glue your bracket to the back cover. Let that sucker sit for at least (seriously. at least) overnight. When you’re all set, use the larger screws to fasten the remaining side of the “L” to the wall. Ta-da! Magic!
For a three-step slacker version, use three “L” brackets in a triangle shape and slide your book between them!

The simple slacker version!

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