My handmade bookshelf (Top), Martha Stewart bookshelf (Bottom)

A great way to organize your children’s books and stimulate reading is by making—you guessed it—a bookshelf. After researching bookshelves online I finally decided to brave it and build one myself. I was up to the challenge, and i figured it would be a great way to keep me busy. I bought the necessary materials from lowes: wood, dowels, nails, and screws. Ladies, if you own a power drill or screw gun i promise that you can make this too. I kept the project simple by making all the measurements 4-feet wide by 4-feet high, thereby eliminating any confusion. The great news is that Most Home Improvement stores will custom cut your wood so you won’t have to. After 3 hours of drilling and nailing I constructed the bookshelf that i wanted.

More great news: The bookshelf cost less than $60 to make, and I felt a huge sense of accomplishment and enjoyment making it; Shall we say, therapeutic! After hanging the shelf on the wall (you’ll need some help for this part) I arranged the books according to whatever holiday was approaching on the bottom shelf. I have to tell you that I must have read Clifford’s first Halloween a “zillion” times in one night.  I love this bookshelf. It was a great solution for de-cluttering the books that were accumulating on the floor in Sophie’s room, and it truly encourages them to read before bedtime.

If you would like to offer any ideas or tips on how to arrange or organize your children’s room I would love to hear your suggestions. Please feel free to comment.

By: Anne Pham