Ready-made bookshelves are usually wooden or metal shelves that require very little work to erect and secure to the wall. In most cases, you simply attach the shelf to a wall bracket; drill a few mounting holes in the wall and the shelf stays attached to the wall for as long as you need it. There are many things you can do to personalize ready-made bookshelves. For example, you can customize your ready-made shelving by installing permanent bookends, painting or laminating them. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Matching Bookends
1. Purchase brackets that match the brackets supplied with the bookshelf. If you cannot locate matching brackets, buy decorative angle brackets that enhance the decor of your room. The brackets must be long enough to fit on the shelf without an overhang and they must be tall enough to act as bookends.
2. Place the mounting surface of the first bracket onto the end of the bookshelf and mark its drilling holes in the shelf and on the wall. Do the same with the second bracket on the opposite end of the shelf.
3. Drill holes in the wall for the wall anchors and then press the wall anchor into the wall.
4. Secure the brackets to the wall with the wall anchor screws and a screwdriver.
5. Secure the opposite end of each bracket to the bookshelf with 3/4-inch screws and a screwdriver. There is no need to drill pilot holes. Given the short length of the screws, you will not crack the shelf when securing the screws in place.
Painting a Shelf
6. Remove the shelf from the brackets. If desired, you can also remove the brackets and paint them to match the shelving.
7. Scuff the surface of the shelf with a sanding block. This will help the paint adhere to the shelf.
8. Wipe the shelf off with a tack cloth to remove any sanding dust.
9. Paint the surface of the shelf. If the shelf is wood, use a paint roller and a high-gloss latex paint. If the shelf is metal, use a spray can of enamel paint.
10. Allow drying time per the instructions on the paint container and then reattach the shelf to the mounting brackets.
Laminate the Shelf
11. Cut laminate strips slightly wider and slightly longer enough than the edges of the shelf with a utility knife.
12. Apply laminate glue to the backside of the laminate strips with a paintbrush and then apply laminate glue to the edge of the shelf. Allow the laminate glue to dry to the touch.
13. Place the strips onto the glued surface and press them into place with a laminate roller.
14. Trim the laminate flush to the shelf with a laminate trimmer.
15. Repeat the process for the laminate cover for the top and bottom of the shelf.
Tags: shelf with, laminate glue, brackets that, holes wall, laminate strips, screws screwdriver, shelf wall
