Learn how to build a DIY Dollhouse Bookcase with just a few tools and five boards. Free plans and a how-to video included.

I am so excited about this project! My friend asked me if I could build her a bookcase, that looked like a dollhouse, for her friends new baby. She wanted her to have a book shelf for nursery books but something that the new baby could grow and play with. I’ve never built a doll house but I have built some bookcases in my day. This sounded like a fun challenge, so I got busy designing. I was able to build this 5′ dollhouse bookcase with only five 1×12 boards and a few basic tools.

You can watch the how-to video below!

How fun is that?

Click here to jump to the free printable plans.

How to Build a DIY Dollhouse Bookcase

Supplies:

Tools:

Attaching the Shelves to the Dollhouse Bookshelf

Step 1: The Windows and Doors

Cut the side and shelf pieces to size. Note the miter angle cuts at the top of the side pieces on the cut list. Use a jigsaw to cut the windows and doors in the side pieces.

Kreg Jig 720Pro

Drill 3/4″ pocket holes into the ends of the shelf boards. Make sure the pocket holes are on the inside of the boards.

Step 2: Attaching the Shelves to the Sides of the Bookcase

Attach the shelves to the side pieces with 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws and wood glue.

Attaching the dollhouse bookcase dividers

Cut the room dividers to size and attach them to the shelves with a nail gun, 1 1/4″ brad nails and wood glue.

Step 3: The Roof

Assembling the roof

Cut the roof boars to size and attach them together, at the mitered ends, with 1 1/4″ wood screws and wood glue. We love using SPAX screws because they are self-tapping and don’t require pilot holes.

Note: I didn’t attach the roof at this point because I wanted to paint it a different color than the bookcase. This helped me to avoid using a lot of painters tape. You can attach now or wait until after adding a finish. I cover how to attach the roof down below and in step 3 of the free printable plans.

Step 4: The Base Trim

Attaching the side base trim

Cut the side base trim to size and attach it to the sides of the bookcase with 1 1/4″ brad nails and wood glue.

Attaching the front base trim

Measure and cut the front piece to size and attach it the same way.

Note: I also waited until after painting the base trim to attach. This is an optional step based on what your finish preference is.

Step 5: Framing the Windows and Doors

Window and door frames

Cut the door and window trim pieces to size and attach them together with 1″ pin nails and wood glue.

Attach door frame to the side of the book shelf
Attach the window frames to the windows

Attach the window and door frames to the inside and outside of the bookcase sides with 1″ pin nails and wood glue.

Step 6: The Railing

Building the dollhouse railing

Cut the remaining trim pieces to size. Attach the short pieces to the long pieces with 1″ pin nails and wood glue.

Attaching the railing to the bookcase

Attach the railing to the top shelf with 1 1/4″ brad nails and wood glue, from the sides of the bookcase, into the rail and from the bottom of the shelf, into the rail.

Step 7: The Finish

Wood filler

Now it’s time to fill all of the screw and nail holes. Use wood filler with a putty knife to apply to all of the exposed holes.

Sanding the dollhouse

Once the wood filler is dry, sand the entire piece down. I used an 80-grit followed by a 120-grit and then a 220-grit sanding pad on my corner cat sander.

Spray painting the shelf

I applied 2-coats of white spray paint to the bookcase and 2 coats of black spray paint to the trim pieces, base trim and roof. I spray painted everything before attaching them to the bookcase.

DIY Dollhouse Bookcase

I am so excited to hand this cutie over to my friend! It’s the perfect piece to add form and function to a kids room. I had to get a pic of it “styled” before I sent it off! Check them out!

How to build a dollhouse bookcase
DIY dollhouse book shelf

My friend filled it up with goodies for the baby shower and she did an amazing job! I’m not picturing a DIY Firehouse Bookcase with a pole!

DIY playhouse bookcase

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Happy Building!

Check out some of our other free plans for kids projects!

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DIY Play Kitchen

DIY Sand Box Table

DIY Sand Box Table

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DIY Kids Vanity

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DIY Dress Up Cart

5 from 1 vote

DIY Dollhouse Bookcase

Learn how to build this DIY Dollhouse Bookcase with just five boards with free plans and a how-to video by Shanty2Chic!

Tools

  • Drill
  • Miter Saw
  • Kreg Jig
  • Nailer
  • Pin Nailer (optional)
  • Jigsaw
  • Table Saw (optional)
Keyword: bookcase, diy, dollhouse, how to, kids bookcase

Supply List

  • 5 1x12x8 Pine or Common Board
  • 1 1/4" Pocket Hole Screws
  • 1 1/4" Brad Nails
  • 1" Pin Nails
  • 1 1/4" Wood Screws
  • Wood Glue

Instructions

Cut List

  • Cut List 1
  • Cut the side and shelf pieces to size. Use a jigsaw to cut the windows and doors in the side pieces. Drill 3/4" pocket holes into the ends of the shelf boards and attach them to the side boars with 1 1/4" pocket hole screws and wood glue.
  • Cut the dividers to size and attach them to the shelves with 1 1/4" brad nails and wood glue.
  • Cut the roof boards to size and attach them together at the mitered ends with 1 1/4" wood screws and wood glue. Attach the roof to the bookcase with 1 1/4" wood screws and wood glue.
  • Cut the side base trim to size and attach it to the sides of the bookcase with 1 1/4" brad nails and wood glue. Measure and cut the front piece to size and attach it the same way.
  • Cut the door and window frames to size and attach them together with 1" pin nails and wood glue. Attach the window and the door frames to the inside and outside of the bookcase with 1" pin nails and wood glue.
  • Cut the remaining trim pieces to size. Attach the short pieces to the long pieces with 1" pin nails and wood glue.
  • Attach the rail to the top shelf with 1 1/4" brad nails and wood glue, from the sides of the bookcase, into the rail and from the bottom of the shelf into the rail.
  • Now, just fill your screw holes, sand it down and add a finish!
    Make sure to share your builds with us on social media and use #shanty2chic so we can share them too!
    Happy Building!
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5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    The bookcase appears wonderful! One of the things I want to get better at is tool proficiency. Compared to buying mass-produced goods, completing a job on your own is more fulfilling and substantially more cost-effective.

  2. The bookshelf looks fantastic! Being skillful with tools is one of the things I wish to improve. Doing a project by yourself is more satisfying and significantly more economical than purchasing mass-produced goods.

  3. The bookcase looks perfect! One of the things that I want to hone is to be handy with tools. It’s more rewarding to finish a craft by yourself, and a lot more affordable than mass-produced items

  4. One of the worst websites I have found. I find the plans I like but I cannot find a way to print or save them.

  5. Hi, what angle do you have the roof point and top of sides cut to? Is it just a 45? I don’t see that on the cut list, thank you!