Bi-fold door bookshelf
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How to make a bi-fold door bookshelf using two doors and scrap wood.
Use Two Bi-Fold Doors
The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a great resource for buying surplus building materials such as doors. Bi-fold doors can be purchased at a reasonable price that doesn’t break the bank.
Please excuse the less-than-perfect photos taken in the basement shop. To begin, I removed the hinges and added 1x4s to the top and bottom of each door. If you look closely, you will see this was done with pocket hole screws from the inside.
Add Shelves
Shelves were cut from plywood. In this photo, I am trying to figure out how to space the shelves connected to the doors. Clamps are helpful to “hold” the shelves during this process.
How To Use Edge Banding
Have you ever used this Wood Veneer Edge Banding? This was my first time using it on the raw edge of the plywood.
To show you the difference in the outcome, here are two boards, one with and without it.
After ironing on the edging with my iron, I used the Quad Trimmer to cut off the overlapping edge.
I added cleats to the inside of the doors to support the shelves.
Cleats Help Support Shelves
I added some front facings to make the doors look a little less like doors. You can also see that I added a top and some trim.
Trim and Beadboard
You can see the bead board on the back and some extra trim around the bottom.
This thing is so tall that it barely fits in the basement because of the rafters and ductwork. To make painting easier, I set it up on some sawhorses and gave it a couple of coats of primer.
I decided to paint the bead board gray.
It sat finished in the basement for over a week while I waited for help to get it outside.
Recycled Bi-fold Doors Make a Great Bookshelf
A project like this may seem daunting. Breaking the task down into steps, I hope this tutorial will help you make your own bi-fold door bookshelf.
A bookcase like this is useful for corralling your books and displays your decor in a nice way.
It took me weeks to finish this because I worked on it here and there and painted many coats of primer and paint by hand. I’m so glad it’s done!
gail
It is beautiful Gail!! I really love it, and especially how you did the grey beadboard in the back! Your staging looks great too! Fun fun fun!!
This is a great piece, Gail! I love it. Were these doors solid rather than hollow? I wouldn’t have thought you could attach cleats to them!
Looks really good! I have never used that edging; looks like you do! I like your staging also.
That looks fabulous, Gail. I think I have the same doors, been sitting in my shop for a few years unfortunately. I have used the edging, it comes in white as well for melamine shelving. It’s great to use for plywood to make the edges look like real wood.
I love this Gail. The beadboard and the outside details of the bifold doors give it character. Well, that and the extra trim you added around the top and bottom. What a great idea!
Adina @ Simply Country Life
such a great idea! i love the size of this piece, too!
You brilliant woman! Now I know what to use to build a bookcase I need!
Thanks Gail!
xox
looks great! great job staging! 🙂
It turned out great! And I love the gray beadboard!
This is amazing! I can picture it in a bathroom filled with plush towels and toiletries! Beautiful job…as always!
I love it! I have louvered bifold doors that I saved and now I can tell my husband I wasn’t crazy for saving them! Perfect project to use up spare trim and tidbits.
You did a great job, I love it!