DIY Bookends from Drawer Fronts
An Easy to Make Accessory for the Home!
My husband and I are regulars at our local ReStore, and one day when we stopped by we scored a ton of solid oak drawer fronts. These fronts are obviously perfect for making signs, and maybe boxes or organizers for the top of a desk or dresser. There are so many ways to use them but I decided to make DIY bookends using the drawer fronts!
We have a tremendous ton of books in the house and any sort of bookends are a great idea. The cool part about these drawer fronts is that the edges are already routed and they’ve at least been partially sanded. Plus, they are a great size to make these easy DIY bookends.
As always, the bookends can be made from scrap boards, or any regular lumber. And yes, the Snoop Dogg cookbook is mine – I received it as a gift from the hubs. Word to tha D-O-Double-G…
Materials:
- Two drawer fronts measuring approximately 6″ x 12″ (or a 1×6 board)
- 2″ brad nails
- Wood glue
- Corner clamps (<– affiliate link!)
- Sandpaper (80, 120, 220 grits)
- Finishing supplies
Notes About the Project:
- Thoroughly sand the pieces before assembly
- I used a miter joint to make these but butt joints will work equally well and are outlined in the post
- The clamps are critical to keeping the pieces at a 90° angle while the glue dries
Step One
Mark the center of the drawer front, then draw a line 3/4″ off the center (this is the cut line so that the “legs” are even – see the drawing). Cut the board in half along this line.
Step Two
Apply a bead of glue on the edge of the shorter piece. Butt the other piece against it to form a 90° angle, and use the corner clamps to hold the pieces together. Install a couple of the brad nails using a pneumatic nailer.
Step Three
When the bookend assemblies are dry, thoroughly sand the piece then finish as desired. I used Golden Oak stain then sealed with polyurethane. I also added felt pads to the bottom of the shorter leg to protect the surface where the bookends will sit.
Now here’s where you can have fun with this project and make it your own… The bookends can be left plain or something like a small vase, ceramic figure or a candleholder can be added to the flat leg. I purchased these glass houses at Target and thought they’d be the perfect size for the bookends. I used a couple of beads of hot glue to attach the houses to the wood because we have cats (the Parkour Champs) and they like to knock stuff over on a regular basis.
Here are a couple other ideas for bookends:
These simple wooden bookends are a really great project for any skill level, and can be completed in a few hours. Have questions about the DIY bookends using drawer fronts? Leave a comment below!
