Children's Book Shelf Up Cycle

3 Materials
This bookshelf will be sure to spark some interest in reading! Turn any beast of a wood shelf into a completely custom beauty with this easy technique!
This bookshelf was one of my favorite and quickest up-cycles to date! I was so excited to start working on it that I almost completely forgot to take the “before” picture. I bought this sad little bookshelf from an online yard sale. It was in terrible condition and desperately needed some life breathed back into it. Something about it was crying to be bright and boisterous. So I went with a green that made me feel happy.


First, sand down the wood completely. It needs to be a smooth surface. If there are multiple layers of paint already on there, try to get as much off as you can.
Second, wipe down the surface so that all dirt (which there was a TON of), dust, or grime is removed.


Third, you’re ready to paint! I did three coats because I loved this color so much. Each time it got a new coat, the color became more vibrant. Don’t be shy with paint coats!


After I painted the entire piece and I let it dry for 24 hours, I measured the areas I wanted the fabric to fill. It’s better to have a little extra than to cut your fabric too short and have gaps to work around.


Put down a thick layer of Mod Podge over the area the fabric will be placed. You’ll need to work quickly, this dries fast! Place the fabric over the layer of Mod Podge. Be sure to pull the fabric tight and push out any wrinkles. Once you’re satisfied with the way its positioned, add two more layers of Mod Podge on top of the fabric to seal it in. If the fabric hangs over anywhere, a box cutter can be used to cut away the excess.


I repeated this process 3 times to give the shelf a fun background.
When that’s completely dry, take an old rag (that will not fray) and go over the entire wood area with the finishing wax.
Suggested materials:
  • Paint
  • Fabric
  • Mod podge
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Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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 4 comments
  • Linda Sikut Linda Sikut on May 20, 2017

    What a great job you did! I love the green and the fabric just make it a happy bookcase. I'm going to use almost that same green to update some side tables for the master bedroom to give it a brightness that it needs.

  • Patricia Patricia on May 21, 2017

    The bookcase looks fantastic! I love the fabric and overall color scheme.

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